Four Army soliders were brought up on state charges in the killing of a young couple last year in Georgia. One of the victims was a fellow solider. They and he were allegedly members of a loose-knit militia group. Yesterday, as one of the defendants changed his plea and prepared to become a state’s witness against the others, prosecutors divulged that among the group’s activities was a plot to assassinate President Obama. How far along that plot got and how serious it was remains one of the unknowns of the case. Perhaps the lack of any federal charges so far suggests it was more aspirational than operational. Nick Martin has more on what is known.
Mitt Romney seemed to indicate Monday to CBS News that presidents are essentially powerless when it comes to abortion policy. Abortion rights advocates beg to differ.
TPM obtains mugshot of accused Family Research Council shooter Floyd Lee Corkins.
The odd, not-really-opening day of the Republican National Convention in 100 wind-swept seconds:
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From TPM Reader RP …
What Akin said was tremendously stupid and disqualifying, but ultimately based on a misunderstanding of the mechanics of conception from rape. Tom Smith’s statement is pure condescension to rape victims. If faced with a woman impregnated by a rapist, who doesn’t want to carry the rapist’s child, Tom Smith says, “I empathize, my family’s been in a similar situation. My daughter’s boyfriend got her pregnant.”
A federal three-judge panel today began considering whether South Carolina’s voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act, and TPM’s Ryan Reilly was there.
For more background on creeping voter IDism, we put Ryan in front of the camera to explain.
Pennsylvania Senate candidate Tom Smith says his daughter’s decision to give birth to a child conceived out of wedlock is “similar” to deciding to give birth to a child conceived from rape.
Isn’t that kind of ridiculous? “Put yourself in a father’s position, yes, I mean it is similar,” said Smith.