TPM’s Eric Kleefeld explains the latest phenomenon/tactic/gimmick in political campaigns: the ‘Moneybomb‘.
What’s the deal with so many ‘wingers giving themselves doofusy hip-hop nicknames?
Did the White House botch the deal on recess appointments? Ezra Klein makes a convincing argument that it did.
Jon Stewart agrees with Minority Leader John Boehner about the peril of televising next week’s health care summit: “It’s a trap! They’re gonna have tigers there!” Watch.
A lot of people are saying that John Brennan went too far by saying that “politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda.” Given the past administration’s habit of arguing that dissent or questioning of counter-terrorism policies played into the hands of the terrorists, the words may have been ill-chosen. But it is simply wrong to equate the two things. Indeed, it’s the kind of distinction, regrettably, the daily press is seldom able to grasp, putting simple, structural equations above the substance of what is actually being said.
If you look at what Brennan actually said it was that sowing panic, telling people that the terrorists are far more powerful than they are and that our institutions are incapable of defending us against them just makes them seem more frightening than they are. That seems qualitatively different than trying to forbid any question of just how great the threat is or the means we’re using to counter it. In both cases, in and out of power, the Republicans are about the political mobilization of fear.
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin took out a full-page ad in today’s Washington Post in memorial to Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), the chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee who died this week.
The kicker is Lockheed’s company slogan at the bottom of the ad: “We never forget who we’re working for.”
See the entire ad here.
Joe was on TV yesterday suggesting the White House was improperly charging critics of its handling of the Christmas bomber with aiding and abetting al Qaeda.
We take a look back at some of Joe’s most provocative Bush-era denouncements of Iraq War critics. Ah, the memories.
Bill Clinton arrived home early this morning after a successful heart procedure yesterday. That and the day’s other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup.