Check out this amazing photo from the volcanic eruption in Chile (as well as our just debuted new TPM slideshow viewer.)
Olbermann with special video message for TPMers. No really …
Video after the jump. Read More
In a major upping of the ante, the top three Democratic leaders in the House (DCCC Chair Israel, DNC Chair Wasserman-Schultz and Leader Pelosi) have simultaneously called on Rep. Anthony Weiner to resign from Congress.
Late Update: The latest round of calls for Rep. Weiner’s resignation were apparently sparked by news reports that he exchanged online messages with a 17 year old girl in Delaware. There’s no question that if it were discovered that Weiner knowingly exchanged sexually charged messages with a minor that he would become more politically radioactive than Chernobyl. And it’s not surprising to me that these Dem leaders don’t want to wait to find out more given how this whole thing has escalated.
However, it is worth noting that there is as yet zero evidence that the messages were of a sexual nature and clear denials of the same from the girl and from Weiner. Indeed, the local police have issued a statement suggesting that they have no evidence that the messages were of a sexual nature. And it appears that the original news report was a Fox News set up. (Note that the Fox reporter was waiting outside the girl’s home when the police arrived to speak with her.) So until we learn more, I think it’s worth keeping these salient facts in mind.
Rep. Weiner now channeling Amy Winehouse. But saying, Yes, yes, yes.
He’s also apparently requesting a “leave of absence” from Congress, a status which of course does not exist.
Rare Elite Dem Support for Weiner Update: Recently-departed State Department official and major Dem foreign policy thinker Anne-Marie Slaughter tweets: “#Weiner has made his name by following his own course; he should stand up to Dems and stay in office. His constituents can then decide.” Read More
So does Weiner’s trip to rehab and request for a leave change Leader Pelosi’s judgment? It would seem not.
An aide to Pelosi just told TPM’s Benjy Sarlin: “At the time of her statement this afternoon, Leader Pelosi was already aware of Congressman Weiner’s intention to take a leave of absence in order to seek treatment.”
Researchers at IBM make major breakthrough on creating the next generation of computer chips.
As one who’s been arguing that the US is sleep walking off a cliff by flirting with defaulting on the federal debt for the first time in the nation’s history, even I’m a little stunned to see news that some of the biggest US banks are already making plans (sub.req.) to cut their use of US Treasuries in August as a preparation for default.
In light of that I’d really urge you to read the piece we published last week which reports that in addition to potentially catastrophic effects on the economy this Fall, default could end up adding as much as $1 trillion to the US debt over the next decade. A trillion more in debt because of this suicidal move.
Republicans are playing Russian Roulette with the US economy. But with like three or four bullets in the chamber.
Mark Meckler, co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, says Tea Partiers should be targeting Democratic primaries.
Is it too much to hope for that the GOP presidential candidates will be pressed in tonight’s debate in New Hampshire on their party’s gambit to drive the U.S. into default?