Horrible: The NY Times reports that “a Christian fundamentalist with right wing connections” has been charged in the bombing and shooting in Norway yesterday that killed 91 people.
Today In the Opposite of Getting Shit Done: Head Government Oompa Loompa House Speaker John Boehner announced today that negotiations with the White House on a large-scale deficit reduction package are dead. Obama is reportedly pissed, and Boehner is whining about how the White House is like a bowl of Jell-O, or something.
The Furloughed Skies! Because Congress didn’t approve a routine spending extension for the Federal Aviation Administration, it will be partially shut down on Saturday in a furlough affecting 4,000 workers in the country and 217 in Washington.
There Is Officially No Good News Today: Lucian Freud, realist painter of giant nudes, father of many illegitimate children, and grandson of Sigmund has died.
Womp Womp: While Seattle enjoys flannel weather in July, apparently the rest of America is getting real summer. And hating it.
It’s the Final (60-Day) Countdown! …until DADT is done, Obama announced yesterday.
Happy Animal News: Washington has a new wolf pack!
Sad Animal News: Conservationists are working to save 60 stranded pilot whales in the Outer Hebrides.
You Listen Here, MARY ANN! Loose cannon and Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel got all angry and lashed out at a reporter yesterday, because, whatever, his kids are going to private school, OKAY?!?!!! (Jerks.)
Most of that was terrible, so here’s something funny. Good morning!
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Obviously, the only way to settle which is the real news intern is a knife fight.
Also, what an astounding amount of bad news. I feel awful for the people of Norway, and pretty bad for the people in the USA who are about to be totally hosed by a government spending crisis (that is, all of us.)
Gosh, how many unpaid interns are you guys exploiting?
today is the birthday of one of hollywood’s great bad guys…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjalawNtX…
Obama seems to have no strategy for dealing with the gop other than to beg them to compromise.
sad.
but, we told you so. turns out it DOES take more than an ability to make nice speeches and unite america and say you’re for hope and change and unity blah blah blah blah blah it takes a good deal of fucking LBJ style gumption fight conflict polarization.
why doesn’t he say come august 2d as exec he has the power to decide what bills to pay and he won’t pay any flowing to any district whose congressperson acted to create a default? I mean, in a banktruptcy court the debtor doesn’t have to pay the creditors who are breaking the law, and by not raising the debt ceiling those representatives are clearly questioning hte public debt of the usa like confederates in violation of the 14th amendment.
obama even when he has the legal tools and powers and arguments is simply afraid to make them. he’s taught the gop he will cave in every time. he’s like a carter. what better teaching moment could you have to show america the gop is a bunch of idiots bent on enriching the rich and explointing america like the sopranos exploited that sporting goods store? but no, he wants to make his principle COMPORMISE well ever try it with an abusive partner? at some point you have to say fuck you, the relationship is over, we’re done with you, and no you don’t fucking get jack shit you get booted out the house and too bad for you.
he lives for the adulation of the gop.
I think Megan’s commentary on the debt ceiling talks are superior, while Peter gets the prize for the Norway business.
Obama should be able to continue negotiation with the rest of the House while their speaker is off stamping his little frustrated feet. Come ON, people!
Apparently Amy Winehouse just died too. I scooped you both!
@9 – No shit! 27! Oy Vey!
Lucien Freud died three days ago…
Yup. But it’s Slog. What the fuck did you expect?
I hadn’t seen Lucien Freud’s work before. I expected it to be indicative of conflict with his feelings about his mother
6
“and he won’t pay any flowing to any district whose congressperson acted to create a default? …”
of course, you are referring to the Democrap congressmen in the last session who spent trillions more than there was revenue to cover.
Right?
those are the default-causing-assholes you’re angry at.
Right?
15
of course, you’re aware that repugnants have been flooring the spending pedal whenever they’re in power for at least 30 years, creating deficits in better economic times that vastly exceed anything that’s happened in the current massive business-created depression?
that they spent hundreds of billions again and again on batshitcrazy defense creampuffs like the “strategic defense initiative” not to protect the nation, but to enrich themselves and their buddies?
that they started wars under false pretenses that have cost $1.5 TRILLION already and will unavoidably spend $2-3 TRILLION more in the years to come?
all without “revenue enhancement” and with nary a peep from their credulous, masturbating fanboys?
RIGHT?
those are the deficit-causing, country-ruining thugs you’re angry at.
RIGHT?