Rep. Allen West: I’m A Threat To Liberals Because ‘I’m The Guy That Got Off Their 21st Century Plantation’

Tea Party Rep. Allen West’s (R-FL) misogynistic comments have provoked a serious backlash. After shooting off an incendiary email demanding that the “vile, unprofessional, and despicable” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) “shut the heck up” and act like a lady, furious women lawmakers and advocacy groups “lined up to exorciate” the GOP freshman for his own “unprofessional, vitriolic and offensive personal attacks.” The Congressional Black Caucus may even seek to discipline its only Republican member.

Koch And Exxon Pay To Write State Legislation Repealing Climate Change Laws

According to tax records and other materials acquired by Bloomberg News, Koch Industries, Exxon Mobil, and numerous other corporations paid tens of thousands of dollars to write legislation for lawmakers that would repeal carbon pollution reduction programs in various states around the U.S.

ANIMATION: The 400 Wealthiest Americans Could Pay Off Everyone’s Student Loans

As the government moves into the final days of negotiations over the debt ceiling — negotiations most likely to be concluded by a budget deal that will do significant harm to the poor, the working class and middle class Americans throughout the country — it seemed worthwhile to revisit the bizarreness of the Republicans’ refusal to consider tax hikes on the wealthy of any sort, while the accumulation of wealth at the very top of America’s economic ladder continues to reach staggering levels.

Fox Host: Free Birth Control Is Liberal Conspiracy To ‘Eradicate The Poor’

Public health officials and women’s rights groups are cheering the recent recommendation of the Institute of Medicine that “health insurers should pay for a range of services for women at no cost, including birth control, counseling on sexually transmitted diseases, and AIDS screening.”

Heat Wave 2011: States Cut Programs Helping Families Pay Electric Bills

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Many states hit hardest by this week's searing heat wave have drastically cut or entirely eliminated programs that help poor people pay their electric bills, forcing thousands to go without air conditioning when they need it most.

Cenk Uygur On Leaving MSNBC: Network Told Me To 'Tone It Down,' Didn't Want To 'Challenge Power' (VIDEO)

Cenk Uygur--the progressive online talk show host whose brief tenure as an MSNBC anchor ended on Wednesday--tore into the network in a lengthy monologue on Wednesday night, saying he had turned down a smaller role on MSNBC because he had been told he was too combative towards "those in power."

Major American Brands Silent on Alleged Rights Abuses At Overseas Factories

A month after a prominent human rights group accused major American brands of purchasing clothing from a factory in Jordan that systematically abuses workers, the companies have yet to declare any public action.

Nearly 10 Years Ago Today, The U.S. Began Borrowing Billions To Pay For The Bush Tax Cuts

As debates about deficit reduction continued to be heavily tilted toward cutting spending, which threatens to undermine a fragile recovery, rather than raising revenue from those who can afford it, it’s important to remember the budgetary impact of the Bush tax cuts.

Gang Of Six Plan Reduces Social Security Benefits By $1,300 A Year, Cuts Corporate Tax Rates

Yesterday, President Obama all but endorsed the deficit reduction plan outlined by the Gang of Six senators. The plan still faces numerous obstacles— it’s incredibly vague on the details, has critics on both sides of the aisle, and may not even be ready by the Aug. 2 default deadline. Liberal Democrats have pointed out the plan is far from a balanced approach, asking seniors and the working poor to bear the brunt of the pain without asking the wealthy or corporations to sacrifice at all.

Republican Rep. Tom McClintock Takes Credit For Stimulus Project Creating 400 Jobs In His District

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) has been a vocal critic of President Obama’s Recovery Act, which was enacted in early 2009 despite McClintock’s “no” vote. The northern California congressman even compared the program to the economic policies of the Soviet Union. “We know of many cases where massive government spending and borrowing has destroyed economies and brought down great nations – one need look no further than the old Soviet Union,” McClintock said.

Alabama Continues To Tax Citizens To Pay For Confederate Memorial Park

The GOP has long possessed an almost religious hatred of taxes on the wealthy. Whether it be to protect the social safety net or prevent a fall back into recession, Republicans simply refuse to raise the tax rate on millionaires and billionaires,corporate jets, corporate meals and entertainment,oil companies, hedge fund managers, or horse breeders. But in the GOP-controlled state of Alabama, it appears Republicans have found one group they are perfectly willing to support with taxes: Confederates.

Allen West’s Women Problem

As has been widely discussed, Florida Rep. Allen West (R), perturbed by an incident on the House floor yesterday, attackedRep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) via e-mail, calling her the “most vile, unprofessional, and despicable” member of the House of Representatives and saying she has “proven repeatedly” that she is “not a Lady.” Wasserman Schultz dismissed the attacks on MSNBC Wednesday, saying she was “unfazed” and “unsurprised” by West’s comments, given the pressure he is under to defend his votes “to end Medicare as we know it.”

Florida GOP Rejects Money To Fight Child Abuse And Neglect

In a partisan stand against the Affordable Care Act, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) and GOP lawmakers are turning away much-needed federal funds aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect. According to Linda Merrell of the Florida Child Healthcare Coalition, the state has missed out on up to $52 million in federal funding — $3.4 millionof which Scott turned down this year and millions more in grants available underSection 2951 of the Affordable Care Act for home health visits.

Poll: 59% Of Americans Support Repealing Fossil-Energy Subsidies To Reduce Deficit

For-Profit College Lobbying Group Sues Obama Administration Over Regulations

More than a month after the Obama administrationissued weaker-than-expected regulations aimed at reining in abuses at some for-profit colleges, a trade association for the industry filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to strike down the new rules governing excessive student debt.

A few Offbeat Alternatives To Netflix: Crackle, Vudu, And More

After publishing a list of the best alternatives to Netflix in the wake of the company's surprise price hike, many of our readers took to the comments section of my piece to explain to me how stupid I was for overlooking their favorite services, and for only covering the largest, most mainstream options instead of more deserving underdog websites.

Health Group Backs Free Birth Control For Women

A U.S. medical advisory group recommended providing women free birth control and other preventive health services under the nation's healthcare overhaul.

Cenk Uygur Out At MSNBC

Cenk Uygur's run at MSNBC sure was short. The news network says that it has "decided to make a change" at 6:00 PM ET, the time slot when since January Uygur has hosted MSNBC Live. "It's unfortunate that Cenk has declined our offer to have him develop and host a program for another time slot," MSNBC adds. The Turkish American radio talk show host plans to hold a teleconference with the press on Thursday where, the invitation says, he will "boldly discuss his departure from MSNBC." The change comes amid reports that MSNBC may turn the time slot over to controversial civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton who generated decent ratings filling in for Uygur while he was on vacation.

Federal Reserve Actively Preparing For The Possibility Of U.S. Default

The Federal Reserve is actively preparing for the possibility that the United States could default as a deadline for raising the government's $14.3 trillion borrowing limit looms, a top Fed policymaker said on Wednesday.

Musicians Are Probably Smarter Than The Rest Of Us

Want to keep your mind healthy and sharp throughout your life? Pick up an instrument. A new study found that musicians might have brains that function better than their peers well into old age. Bet you wish you stuck with those piano lessons after all.

FAMiLY LEADER’s Bob Vander Plaats Erupts In Laughter At Faggot Joke: ‘That’s Pretty Good’

The FAMiLY LEADER’s 14-point marriage fidelity pledge has divided the GOP’s 2012 presidential field and raised concerns among GOP operatives that the group and its president — three-time failed gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats — may be too extreme for the Republican state party and could be alienating moderate and independent voters. For instance, Vander Plaats regularly compares same-sex marriage to polygamy and incest, and the group’s pledge requires candidates to affirm that being gay is a choice and that homosexuality is a public health risk.

Sen. Coburn Proposes Eliminating The Dollar Bill To Reduce The Deficit

Yesterday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) unveiled his dead-on-arrival plan to reduce the nation’s debt by $9 trillion over the next 10 years. Coburn, who stormed out of debt talks a few weeks ago in a temper tantrum, hailed his own 614-page report as taking on both sides’ sacred cows. “Nobody is going to like what we’ve done because everybody gets a pinch,” he said at a press conference. Coburn proposes major cuts to veteran’s benefits, student aid, and Medicare. He also includes an assortment of off-the-wall ideas, like completely eliminating the $1 dollar bill.

Fair And Balanced: During Murdoch Testimony, Fox News Chyrons Parrot Murdoch Talking Points

Today’s extrodinary testimony of James and Rupert Murdoch before the U.K. Parliment is being covered live by all the major cable networks, including Fox News. But while other networks chyrons are displaying the “news” — including Rupert Murdoch’s refusal to take any responsibility for the misconduct of his company — Fox News, owned by News Corp., is comically repeating Murdoch’s talking points. A few examples:

With One Day Left, Muslim Hate Crime Victim Tries To Save His Shooter From Execution

On September 21, 2001, a 41-year old white supremacist from Dallas walked into a gas station and opened fire on people he believed to be Arabs. Enraged by the 9/11 attacks, the shooter, Mark Anthony Stroman, killed an Indian man who was Hindu and a Pakistani man who was Muslim.
Rais Bhuiyan, a 37-year old Muslim Air Force pilot from Bangladesh, was Stroman’s third victim. Shot in the face at close range with a double-barrel gun, Bhuiyan survived the attack, suffering now from partial blindness. After admitting to the attacks, Stroman is scheduled to be executed tomorrow in Texas.

PLURALITY OF TEA PARTIERS, MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY NOT RAISING DEBT CEILING WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll finds that a clear majority of Americans — 55 percent –”believes a failure by Congress to raise the nation’s statutory debt ceiling would be a real and serious problem, dismissing arguments by some Republicans that the coming debt ceiling deadline is no big deal.” Republican leaders like John Boehner (R-OH) have frequently citedtheir Tea Party base as the reason they can’t compromise to strike a deal to increase the debt limit. But according to this poll, 47 percent of self-identified Tea Party supporters say it would be a serious issue. Only one-third say failing to lift the ceiling would present no significant problems.

Allen West: Obama Supporters Are ‘A Threat To The Gene Pool’

Rep. Allen West (R-FL) is no stranger to controversy and seems to relish in making outrageous statements just to provoke a reaction. But the freshman congressman may have outdone himself with a rambling, far-ranging post on the site “Red Country” in which he calls supporters of President Obama “a threat to the gene pool”:

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER REP. JOHN LEWIS: ‘VOTERS ID LAWS ARE A POLL TAX’

Joining in abicameral effort to combat the large number of voter ID bills being pushed by Republicans across the country, long-time civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) slammed these “all too common” bills as “a deliberate and systematic attempt to prevent millions of elderly voters, young voters, students, minority and low-income voters from exercising their constitutional right to engage in a democratic process.” Recounting the U.S.’ dark history of voter suppression efforts, Lewis said, “Make no mistake, voter ID laws are a poll tax.” Watch it:

Glenn Beck Moved Israel Rally Location Fearing Horde Of ‘40,000 Muslims’

Yesterday, Glenn Beck announced he is moving hismuch-discussed upcoming rally in Jerusalem away from the base of the Temple Mount, one of the most sacred and fraught places in the world, over security concerns. Speaking on his radio show yesterday, Beck said that while he was reluctant to change the location because “it was selected for me” (i.e. by God), the notoriously paranoid and security-conscious talker said his security consultants were insistent the spot is too dangerous.

130 Republicans Who Are In Congress Today Voted To Hike The Debt Ceiling Under Bush Without Hostage Threats

White House and congressional negotiators are currently in the process of striking a deficit reduction deal, as most Republicans in Congress are refusing to raise the federal debt ceiling without deep cuts to public investments and social insurance programs like Social Security and Medicare. By doing so, these Republicans are essentially holding the country hostage, threatening the United States with default unless Democrats agree to these cuts.

Michael Vick Lobbies Congress To Punish Dog-Fight Attendees

WASHINGTON -- The latest step in Michael Vick's road to redemption took place on Tuesday in Washington, where the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback appeared for the first time on Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress to pass the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, a bill to prohibit attendance at organized animal fights.

Michael Jordan Dunks: 48-Year-Old Legend Still Able To Throw It Down (VIDEO)

At a recent Charlotte Bobcats' fantasy camp, 48-year-old NBA legend Michael Jordan gave the fans in attendance quite a treat. He showed that, despite his age and well-chronicled knee issues, he was still able to dunk a basketball.

Birth Control May Become Free Under All Health Insurance Plans

WASHINGTON -- A highly influential panel of medical experts recommended to the U.S. Department of Health on Tuesday that all health insurance plans be legally required to offer free birth control to patients.

Rupert Murdoch And James Murdoch Appear Before Parliament To Take Questions On Phone Hacking

Rupert Murdoch and his son James have been quizzed by MPs at a hearing about the phone hacking crisis, in an appearance that the News Corporation chairman described as the "most humble day" of his life.

The Republican Light Bulb Joke

By a voice vote on Friday, the House passed a “light bulb ban” amendment to the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act (HR 2354). The amendment, offered by climate denier Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), prohibits spending to enforce the incandescent lighting efficiency standards in the 2007 energy law signed by President George W. Bush. These standards have already spurred the lighting industry to create innovative new incandescent bulbs that are dramatically more efficient than the century-old design the Tea Party is bent on defending. This amendment will hurt jobs, hurt manufacturing, and hurt the environment — helping insteadcoal-powered electricity producers who depend on wasteful use of energy. The standards were originally proposed by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), who turned his back on better light bulbs in order to curry Tea Party favor and get the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. This is but the latest example of House Republican leaders promoting aright-wing, dirty energy agenda that harms families and businesses rather than investing in innovation, new products, and jobs — even if they came up with the idea in the first place.

Al Sharpton: MSNBC's Next Host?

Al Sharpton could be made MSNBC's next host, TVNewser reports.

Sharpton has suddenly become a frequent presence behind the anchor desk for the network. He hasguest hosted "The Ed Show" multiple times and, for the past two weeks, has been filling in for Cenk Uygur at 6 PM. It is in that slot that Sharpton may emerge victorious, TVNewser writes, with Uygur being pushed aside.

10 Nelson Mandela Quotes Of All Time

South Africa is celebrating the 93rd birthday today of its most prized national figure, anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

29 Companies Had More Cash Than The U.S. Treasury As Of July 13

As of July 13, 29 public companies had more cash on hand than the U.S. Treasury Department, according to the site Zero Hedge based on numbers from Capital IQ. It’s a stark reminder that if Congress refuses to raise the debt ceiling, the government won’t have nearly enough money to continue funding essential services and programs.

Rep. Louie Gohmert Wonders If Obama Chose Debt Ceiling Deadline To Coincide With His Birthday Party

While a startling number of House Republicans refuse to accept experts’ dires warnings about the possibility of default come Aug. 2 if Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) thinks he has stumbled across the Obama administration’s real motivation behind choosing that date. Many Republicans think the August date is a phony deadlineDemocrats invented to scare Congress into raising the ceiling, but Gohmert sees a more personal significance for President Obama — his 50th birthday on Aug. 4 and his birthday party on the 3rd.

Republicans Backing A Balanced Budget Amendment Refuse To Say How They’d Balance The Budget

This week, House Republicans plan to engage in some political theater, voting on a plan that would only allow the debt ceiling to be raised if a balanced budget amendment (complete with a cap on federal spending) is approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) has said that the so-called “cut, cap, and balance” plan is “a solid plan for moving forward.”

Congressman Who Harassed Elizabeth Warren Showered With Donations From Banks And Predatory Lenders

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) gained infamy in May when he went on a childish tirade against Professor Elizabeth Warren, who is currently setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a special adviser to President Obama. McHenry, a former College Republicanhack, repeatedly accused Warren of lying about the agreed-upon time for testimony she gave before Congress.

FLASHBACK: Rick Perry Once Supported The Largest Tax Hike In Texas History

Since moving into the governor’s mansion, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) has governed his state with extreme right-wing priorities. His latest budget shortchanges school children with $2 billion in education-spending accounting tricks, while creating a special tax loophole for yacht owners. His refusal to raise taxes has resulted in a ballooning of the Texas state debt, which rose to over $34 billionin 2009.

SEN. RAND PAUL TO BRITNEY SPEARS: ‘WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THE DEBT CRISIS?’

Lacking any real solution, Republicans are reaching out to just about anyone for help on the debt ceiling. Last week at the congressional baseball game, Glittarazzi told Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) that Britney Spears will be in town on July 31 (conveniently right before the Aug. 2 deadline) and asked, “If you could ask her any question, what would that be?” Paul’s answer: “What should we do about the debt crisis?” In a famous 2003 interview with Tucker Carlson, Spears offered some political advice: “Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes and should just support that.” Maybe she’ll just suggest dancing until the world ends.

Federal Judges Are Retiring At Twice The Rate New Judges Are Being Confirmed

Later today, the Senate will hold aconfirmation vote on Paul Oetken’s nomination to a federal judgeship in New York City. If confirmed, Oetken will be the first of President Obama’s three openly-gay nominees to join the bench — but he will also be only the fourth new federal judge in two months.

Republican ‘Cut, Cap, And Balance’ Plan Would Require A 25 Percent Cut In Every Government Program

House Republicans are planning to hold a vote tomorrow on the radical “cut, cap, and balance” plan, which stipulates that the federal debt ceiling only be raised if a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution is sent to the states for ratification. As we’ve noted time and again, such an amendment is a phony solution to the nation’s budget challenges, and would force the government into actively making economic downturns worse.

Borders Bookstore Will Eliminate 11,000 Jobs, Close 400 Remaining Stores

Bankrupt Borders Group Inc said it has canceled its auction and will sell itself to a group of liquidators.

Borders announced the decision on Monday, saying it was not able to reach a deal for a going-concern sale to salvage its 400 remaining stores and 11,000 jobs.

A liquidation group led by Hilco Merchant Resources will begin liquidations as early as Friday, Borders said in a statement. The bookseller will seek bankruptcy court approval of the closing procedures at a hearing set for Thursday.

Elizabeth Warren Challenging Scott Brown Would Have Voters 'Thrilled': Massachusetts Democrats

WASHINGTON -- In the most overt sign of political courtship to date, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party said on Monday state voters would be "thrilled" to have the consumer protection advocate Elizabeth Warren take on Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in 2012.

Heat Wave 2011: High Temperatures Bake Central U.S., May Expand Eastward

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A heat wave with oppressive temperatures and stifling humidity lingered and intensified in the midsection of the country on Monday and was expected to expand eastward as the week continued.

EX-NEWS CORP. EXEC REBEKAH BROOKS ARRESTED

This morning, British policearrested Rebekah Brooks, the executive at the center of the News Corp. hacking scandal, just days after she resigned in disgrace as CEO of the company’s News International group. Former editor Andy Coulson has already been arrested. Meanwhile, the U.K. Telegraph reports that the News of the World tabloid, which Brooks edited during much of the alleged hacking, hacked into the voicemail of actor Jude Law while he was in the U.S., which could open News Corp. to further American prosecution.

Herman Cain: Americans Have The Right To Ban Mosques

To rise above the myriad of GOP presidential candidates, pizza mogul Herman Cain is standing firmly on his anti-Muslim platform. Taking advantage of the Islamophobic atmosphere, Cain consistently vilifies American Muslimsand Islam, even declaring that he would not consider hiring a Muslim to serve in his cabinet. Last week, Cain waded into mosque controversy in Murfreesboro, TN, declaring the Muslim community’s plan to build an Islamic center “an infringement and an abuse of our freedom of religion” as it “is not an innocent mosque.” To Cain, the center is a definitive example of what he sees is the infiltration of Sharia Law.

Giuliani: ‘The Republican Party Would Be Well Advised To Get The Heck Out Of People’s Bedrooms’

When New York legalized marriage equality, conservatives decried the law, with Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York calling it a form of government tyranny. But former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has some advice for his party: He suggested Republicans should stop worrying about what happens in people’s bedrooms and instead focus on the party’s economic roots. In an interview this morning with CNN’s Candy Crowley, Giuliani said the issue of marriage equality should be left up to the states.

CNN Ignores Piers Morgan’s Connection To News Corp. Scandal

The ongoing News Corp. hacking scandal has given competitors a likely long-sought chance to tear into Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, with CNN leading the way. According to a Media Matters report, CNN reported on the scandal 107 times over the same period of time MSNBC and Fox News reported on it 71 and 30 times, respectively. But while the Time Warner news network may smell blood, some may be emanating from their own studios.

OBAMA TO NOMINATE FORMER OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LEAD CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that President Obama will nominate former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to be the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, officially passing over Professor Elizabeth Warren. Cordray is currently the CFPB’s director of enforcement. He was at the forefront of the foreclosure fraud investigation last year, before losing his bid for reelection.

BREAKING: UK FRAUD WATCHDOG OPENS NEWS INTERNATIONAL PROBE

Britain’sChannel 4 News is reporting that the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the agency charged with investigating and prosecuting large and complex fraud cases, has begun a preliminary investigation into News International, the parent company of News Corp’s UK newspapers.  The probe comes after Labor MP Tom Watson wrote a letter to the SFO, in which he called News Corps alleged payments to police a “gross misuse of shareholders’ money.” This latest revelation in the ongoing scandal comes just hours after former News International executive Rebekah Brooks was arrested in London.

Rebekah Brooks Bailed After 12 Hours Of Questioning

Rebekah Brooks has been released on bail, the Metropolitan Police confirmed early on Monday.

The former News International chief executive went to a London police station by appointment on Sunday at noon, and was arrested on suspicion of corruption and phone hacking.

In Egypt, Fighting For $50-A-Month Factory Jobs

TALKHA, Egypt — The sun was already searing the pavement on the early June morning when Mariam Hawas and her co-workers from the garment factory descended on the bank.

Scott Walker Concedes Mistakes, Defends Policies

SALT LAKE CITY, July 16 (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, whose moves to curb state workers' bargaining power brought massive protests, said this weekend he made mistakes but defended the policy steps of his rocky first term.

Is the US government at war with whistleblowers?

The Obama administration is facing criticism for prosecutions brought under the US Espionage Act against government employees accused of leaking sensitive information. Some accuse the US government of over-reacting, following the release of files by Wikileaks.

Jane Fonda: QVC Canceled My Appearance Because Of Vietnam Protest Boycott By Conservatives

Actress, advocate and author Jane Fonda ripped television shopping network QVC on Saturday for canceling the appearance slot she had scheduled on their airwaves to introduce and promote her new self-help memoir, "Prime Time." The cancelation, Fonda said in a post on her website, came as the network feared blowback promised by rightwing groups still unhappy with her outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War.

The States That Spend The Most (And Least) On Healthcare For The Poor

The federal and state governments spend approximately $5,296 a year on medical treatment for each poor and disabled person on Medicaid. Over 58 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid. These average payments per patient swing widely from state to state, as does the federal government’s contribution to each state’s Medicaid fund.

iPhone Security Hole Plugged By Apple's Anti-Hacker iOS Software Update

BOSTON (Reuters) - Apple Inc has plugged a hole in the software that runs iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch music players that could allow hackers to take remote control of those devices.

Dalai Lama Visit: President Obama Meets Spiritual Leader, China Complains

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama held a White House meeting Saturday with the Dalai Lama, a fellow Nobel Peace laureate, hours after China called on the U.S. to rescind an invitation that could sour relations with Beijing.

Europe Debt Crisis: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou Says It Is Time For Europe To Wake Up

ATHENS, July 16 (Reuters) - Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou ruled out bankruptcy for his debt-choked country and said it was time for Europe to wake up and take brave decisions, according to a newspaper interview to be published on Sunday.

Bachmann Preemptively Ditches Her Church To Avoid Association With Its Radical Views

GOP presidential contender Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and her husband Marcus preemptively left their church of more than ten years just weeks before she announced her candidacy to avoid association with its extremist views. Salem Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Minnesota, has faced criticism this week for its anti-Catholic views, including preaching that the Pope is the Antichrist.

The Right-Wing War On Women’s Rights

As states around the country wrap up their legislative sessions, it’s a good time to assess what their priorities have been. Republicans swept into power last November on a platform of economic populism, vowing to do their part to help the millions of American families struggling in the wake of the worst recession in 80 years. Instead, they’ve focused relentlessly on a narrow set of social issues — in particular, scaling back women’s reproductive rights and family planning services. The consequences of the GOP’s war on women have been nothing short of disastrous, jeopardizing access to basic health care for millions of American women. According to the Guttmacher Institute, states enacted a record number of anti-abortion laws in the first six months of 2011 alone. The 80 abortion restrictions passed this year are more than double the previous record of 34 in 2005 — and more than triple the 23 enacted in 2010. Meanwhile, fivestates have defunded Planned Parenthood, which one in four American women have relied on for health care. To top it all off, fringe proposals are rapidly seeping into the political mainstream, with several states backing “fetal personhood” laws that effectively outlaw contraceptives like birth control pills and criminalize women who miscarry.

REPORT: OBAMA HAS ELIMINATED ELIZABETH WARREN AS CHOICE TO LEAD CONSUMER BUREAU

Bloomberg is reporting that “President Barack Obama has chosen a candidate other than Elizabeth Warren as director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.” The report says the person chosen “already works at the consumer agency” and that the choice may be announced as early as next week.

Hundreds scramble for Dallas County rental vouchers

"This Took Place at the "Jessie Owens Memorial Complex!" Looking at this is just some crazy stuff.  Man, my people! I really believed the lady was joking seeing all the people running then mentioning Jessie Owens."

DALLAS — At least eight people were hurt Thursday morning while scrambling to line up for a limited number of Dallas County rental vouchers — after waiting for hours in their cars.

Black Men's Death Rate Lower in Prison Than Outside It?

Fresh from the "SMDH" files, a new study says that African-American men survive longer in prison than on the outside.

The Bible: History or Myth?

When you hear the word "myth" associated with the Bible, what is the first thought that comes to your mind?

Underage Sex Ring Run By Florida School Bus Monitor

A Florida cop and a school bus monitor were arrested Thursday in connection with a child prostitution ring, Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Progressive Change Campaign Committee Threatens To Pull Obama Support Ahead Of 2012

CHICAGO — A liberal group upset over potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security delivered pledges Friday to President Barack Obama's national campaign headquarters threatening to pull its support.

'Carmageddon' Could Curb Carbon Dioxide Emissions -- Or Cause Them To Climb

On an average July weekend, 500,000 cars drive on I-405 in the Sepulveda Pass. But this is no average weekend: Carmageddon has descended on Los Angeles.

PALIN FILM PREMIERS TO EMPTY THEATER IN ORANGE COUNTY (LOLLLLOOO)

After much hype, Sarah Palin’s poorly-named documentary The Undefeated premiered last night in a whopping 10 theaters around the country, but that may have been too many because in Orange County, California, no one showed up. Literally. The area is a bastion of conservative politics and Palin herselfvisited the affluent OC as recently as October, but when Atlantic editor Conor Friedersdor attended the premier last night, he “sat through the whole movie alone.” Friedersdor reflects:

Fox And Friends Defends News Corp’s Hacking Scandal: ‘We Should Move On’

Fox News finally addressed their parent company’s hacking scandal head on this morning, with Fox and Friends launching a comically sycophantic and pathetically inaccurate defense of News Corp. Host Steve Doocy and guest Robert Dilenschneider, a media consultant, agreed News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch has done “all the right things” and argued that the scandal is way overblown. “For some reason, the public, the media, keep going over this, again, and again, and again” the guest said. “It’s too much,” he added, “We should move on.” Doocy agreed, scolding the media for not devoting its time to covering more important issues. (His show later featured a segment on actress Mila Kunis and a performance by second-tier boy band Lifehouse, popular in 2001.)

GOP Senators Get Cold Feet Over Standoff: ‘Maybe The Debt Ceiling Was The Wrong Place To Pick A Fight’

As Republican attempts to hold the country hostage over raising the debt ceiling look increasingly likely toend in disaster, some GOP senators appear to be getting cold feet. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bob Corker (R-TN) have both indicated they are rethinking the wisdom of tying a debt ceiling increase to a drastic deficit reduction package now that the country is on the brink of economic disaster:

BREAKING: Attorney General Says Justice Department Investigating News Corp.

On Tuesday, ThinkProgress launched a petitionrequesting a Department of Justice investigation into potential violations of U.S. law by News Corporation. In the last four days, over 13,000 people signed the petition and eight members of Congress joined our call for an investigation.

House Passes Tea Party Light Bulb Joke By Voice Vote

By a voice vote, the House just passed a “light bulb ban” amendment to the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act (HR 2354). The amendment, offered by climate denier Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), prohibits spending to enforce the incandescent lighting efficiency standards in the 2007 energy law signed by President George W. Bush:

News Corp. Scandal Spreads To Murdoch’s Native Australia Where PM Is Interested In Investigation

With investigations into News Corp. already underway in the U.S. and the U.K, the prime minister of Australia has expressed interest in launching Australia’s own investigation. PM Julia Gillard told the National Press Club today that she is “shocked and disgusted” at allegations of improper information gathering by Murdoch’s British tabloids and predicted a “long debate about media ethics in this country.” The head of Australia’s Green Party, Senator Bob Brown, is leading a campaign to investigate the media conglomerate, which controls a large portion of Australia’s newspapers and airwaves, and Gillard said she is open to such a probe:

GOP Rep. Steve King Would Reject Debt Ceiling Deal With $3 Trillion In Cuts And Just $8 In Revenue Increases

Even as President Obama offers up trillions of dollars in cuts and reforms, Republican intransigence has prevented the two sides from reaching a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and stave off a credit default. The threat of a downgrade to the United States’ credit rating has not yet been enough to force a compromise from GOPers, who have thus far been unwilling to see any revenue increases in a debt ceiling deal.

EXCLUSIVE: As Ralph Reed Steers ‘GOP Israel Primary,’ Documents Reveal Right-Wing Israeli Group Is Paying Him

Hawkish pro-Israel positions have become a litmus test for Republican candidates, particularly in the 2012 presidential campaign. And one of the political operatives driving this phenomenon is none other than Ralph Reed, the disgraced lobbyist who left the Christian Coalition to form Century Strategies. Reed’s newest group, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, has actively encouraged Tea Party activists and GOP politicians to champion far right Israeli priorities. Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Danny Danon helped headline Reed’s last Faith and Freedom conference, where nearly every GOP presidential candidate spoke.

Romney: Jobless Americans Have To Bear Burden Of Budget Cuts Because Corporations Need A Tax Cut

A member of the local Rotary Club stood yesterday to ask former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) a question weighing on the minds of millions of jobless Americans: At a time when corporations are sitting on record amounts of cash, why are the Americans who can least afford it being asked to shoulder the burden of trillions of dollars in potential budget cuts?

FLASHBACK: Rupert Murdoch Smacks Down Fox News Host For Bringing Up Hacking Scandal

As authorities in both the U.S. and U.K. consider investigations against News Corp. for its systematic hacking of phones and e-mail, CEO Rupert Murdoch has spoken little publicly about the allegations. Tom Rouse, a blogger at the UK progressive blog Left Foot Forward, has a flashback to the first time Murdoch avoided scrutiny over the issue.

Will Gov. Nikki Haley Personally Drive South Carolina’s 178,000 Disenfranchised Voters To The DMV?

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley(R) has a unique solution to the problem she created by signing a law in May that will require voters to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls — she will personally drive you to the DMV. As with any voter ID requirement, Haley’s law could have the effect of suppressing the vote of thousands of people who don’t currently have South Carolina IDs, especially minorities, college students, rural voters, and the elderly. For these people, it is often difficult or impossible to travel to the DMV to obtain a license, so many wind up not being able to cast a ballot come Election Day.

The Political Lessons Of ‘Harry Potter’

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels and the movies based on them have been the most important ongoing pop culture event in the world for the last decade and a half. As I wrote in the Atlantic, I think the reason they’re a permanent part of the canon is that Rowling achieved something really unusual in writing a moral novel that feels particularly applicable to contemporary politics, but that is timeless not just by dint of quality but by design.

Voters blame Bush more than Obama for the economy

Voters are increasingly displeased with President Obama's handling of the economy, but a new poll finds most Americans still think George W. Bush is responsible for the nation's dismal financial state.

Minority Banks Seek the Support of Minorities

The National Bankers Association and radio talk-show host Warren Ballentine have teamed to launch a campaign in effort to increase the clientele of minority-owned banks.

Will Black Male Achievement Programs Help Bridge The Gap?

Last week, the San Diego Unified School District unveiled its plan to bring Black students up to speed. Its course of action — a $3.5 million effort that incorporates college-preparation, parent workshops and centers, and faculty members that will serve as liaisons for families of Black students.

Minimum Wage, Overtime Laws Due For Reform: Republicans

In a Congressional hearing Thursday, Republican lawmakers indicated a willingness to reform the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the bedrock Depression-era statute that established a minimum wage and time-and-a-half overtime for American workers.

Kim Hyung-suk, South Korean iPhone User, Sues Apple Over Location Tracking--And Wins

SEOUL | Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:48am EDT

(Reuters) - Apple Inc's Korean unit has paid compensation to a user of its popular iPhone after collecting location data without consent, lawyers and court officials said, the first payout by the company over these complaints.

Somalia Drought: 300 Children Left For Dead In Journey To Refugee Camp

DADAAB, Kenya — Malnutrition stole most of Habibo's eyesight and left the 1-year-old close to death. Medical personnel tried to pump life back into the toddler, but she only moved when her stomach fitfully spasmed.

Drinking 8 Glasses Of Water A Day Is 'Nonsense,' Doc Says

The health recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water a day is "thoroughly debunked nonsense," a doctor wrote this week in a commentary in the British Medical Journal.

Mexico Marijuana Plantation Reportedly Biggest Ever

SAN QUINTIN, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican soldiers discovered the biggest marijuana plantation ever found in the country in a remote desert surrounded by cactuses, a top army officer said on Thursday.

Layoffs Return, Along With Fears Of Deepening Economic Stagnation

In recent months, as the unemployment rate has unexpectedly climbed, experts have put the blame on a lean job market, asserting that employers still spooked by the Great Recession have proven reluctant to hire. But a disturbing new trend appears to be emerging, one that may portend even deeper, longer-lasting problems for the American economy: Layoffs are again on the rise.

News Corp-Funded ‘U.S.’ Chamber Leading Campaign To Weaken Key Anti-Bribery Law

News Corporation faces a potential U.S. investigation and prosecution under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a law that bars companies with U.S. ties from bribing foreign officials to get or retain business, stemming from widely-reported allegations of bribing police. News Corp, like several other major corporations recently targeted under the law, would not only be liable for the costs of any investigation — whether or not it is ever charged — but could also face billions in fines and even jail time for its executives if it were found guilty of violating of the anti-corruption statute.

‘I’VE REACHED MY LIMIT. THIS MAY BRING MY PRESIDENCY DOWN, BUT I WILL NOT YIELD ON THIS.’

– Barack Obama at the conclusion of today’s debt limit talks, according to a report by Reuters

Oversight Chairman Issa ‘Very Concerned’ Elizabeth Warren And Consumer Bureau Will ‘Bully Banks’

Previewing a hearing he’s holding today on the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) told Fox Business yesterday that he plans to grill Professor Elizabeth Warren, who is setting up the Bureau as a special assistant to the president and could be nominated as its first director. Bank lobbyists and predatory lenders have lined up to generate opposition to Warren, who is a noted consumer advocate.

Mired In Scandal, News Corp Seeks New York State’s Signoff For $27 Million No-Bid Contract

Australian billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has been at the center of an explosive scandal as it has been revealed that a few of his publications hacked into the personal data of policemen, politicians, murder victims, and others. News Corp’s journalists may even have hacked into the phones of American victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Conservative Groups Rally Behind Bachmann’s Ex-Gay Clinics

LGBT rights advocates who’ve argued that conservatives’ anti-gay policies and positions are driven by a refusal to accept that people don’t choose to be gay must have felt vindicated earlier this week when mainstream “pro family groups” and even some media outlets jumped to defend the Bachmanns and their ex-gay therapy clinics. Rather than condemning these dangerous and discredited techniques, conservative groups either questioned the integrity of the under investigation — which revealed that therapists were telling gay patients they could become straight through prayer and therapy — or defended the practice:

Republican Congressmen Blame Sluggish Job Growth On Elizabeth Warren

Yesterday, House Financial Services Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) provided the novel theory that the nation’s current rate of sluggish job growth is due to former Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Today, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) found another culprit — Professor Elizabeth Warren, who is setting up the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

BREAKING: FBI INVESTIGATING NEWS CORP

The AP reports: “A law enforcement official says the FBI has opened an investigation into allegations that media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. sought to hack into the phones of Sept. 11 victims.”

Democrats Highlight Possible Perils Of Default: No Border Patrol Agents, Student Loans, Food Inspectors

This morning, a group of Democratic senators came together to warn the country about the disastrous consequences of defaulting on our debt for the first time in U.S. history. Their Republican counterparts are still denying the country would default if the debt ceiling isn’t raised by Aug. 2, and insist the Treasury hasplenty of money to pay all of our bills. Several GOP leaders have suggested we “pay China first” and fund the military, but leave all other government programs and services on the chopping block.

FOX HOST ERIC BOLLING: ‘I DON’T REMEMBER ANY TERRORIST ATTACKS ON AMERICAN SOIL’ BETWEEN 2000 AND 2008

Fox News has certainly racked up its fair share ofembarrassing mistakes. (Egypt, FYI, is not next to Iran.) But given how often the network brings up the 9/11 attacks, the already gaffe-prone Fox News host Eric Bolling whipped up a doozy. Last night on Fox’s new show The Five, the new hosts rehashed President George W. Bush’s justification for the Iraq War. When co-host Bob Beckel asked why the weapons of mass destruction Bush claimed Iraq possessed were never found, Mediaite caught Bolling’s novel response: “Whether they did or didn’t, America was certainly safe between 2000 and 2008. I don’t remember any terrorist attacks on American soil during that period of time.” Watch it:

Eight States Revive Jim Crow’s Constitution To Enact Unconstitutional Gun Law

Montana’s Gary Marbut wants to sell his homemade rifles, but he doesn’t want to follow federal laws that require him to “to record transactions, pay license fees and open his business to government inspectors.” So Marbut’s come up with an unusual solution — convince state legislatures to pass anunconstitutional law saying he’s free to violate federal law:

CHART: PAST PRESIDENTS’ CUTS IN MILITARY SPENDING TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT

A new report released today by the Center for American Progress (CAP) outlines how President Obama and the Congress could cut military spending using bipartisan historical precedents without sacrificing security. “Defense spending helped create the fiscal crisis facing our nation today,” write CAP’s Lawrence Korb, Laura Conley and Alex Rothman, “and defense cuts must be part of the solution.” Levels of spending exceed the heights of the Reagan-era Cold War by $100 billion and the Eisenhower-, Nixon-, H.W. Bush- and Clinton-eras by more than $250 billion. “This ballooning defense budget played a significant role in turning the budget surplus projected a decade ago into a massive deficit,” the CAP experts write. This chart from the report maps out past presidents reducing military spending during similar budget crises:

BREAKING: REP. EARL BLUMENAUER CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE’ U.S. INVESTIGATION OF NEWS CORP.

Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) writes: “I am deeply concerned that the breadth of the alleged crimes and the seeming indifference to illegal activities at News of the World may be indicative of a patter of corruption at News Corporation. The pace at which this wide-ranging scandal is unfolding suggests that we may have only scratched the surface of potential illegal practices at the company.” Read the whole letter HERE. Blumenauer is at least the eighth member of Congress who has called for a federal investigation of News Corp.

Daily Pill Prevents HIV Spread Among Straight Couples: Study

ATLANTA -- Two new studies found that daily pills prevented infection with the AIDS virus in heterosexual men and women in Africa, bringing new hope for someday offering a medical shield against HIV infection.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES LOUISIANA FOR VIOLATING VOTING RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND DISABLED

The Justice Department is suing Louisiana for failing to provideadequate voter registration services for people who get food stamps, disability payments and Medicaid. Federal officials sued the Departments of Health and Hospitals and of Children and Family Services in Baton Rouge yesterday. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requires public assistance agencies to routinely offer voter registration services to residents who apply for public assistance, disability services and other benefits. Louisiana has a shockingly low number of voter registrations from those agencies compared to the number of people who apply for assistance.

Mitch McConnell: We Must Rewrite The Constitution Because ‘Elections’ Haven’t ‘Worked’

Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered what may be the most concise summary of conservative constitutionalism ever spoken — America must rewrite the Constitution to force conservative outcomes because we the people consistently elect lawmakers who disagree with McConnell:

162: NUMBER OF ANTI-ABORTION LAWS PASSED BY THE STATES IN 2011

Via the Guttmacher Institute: “In the first six months of 2011, states enacted 162 new provisions related to reproductive health and rights. Fully 49% of these new laws seek to restrict access to abortion services, a sharp increase from 2010, when 26% of new laws restricted abortion. The 80 abortion restrictions enacted this year are more than double the previous record of 34 abortion restrictions enacted in 2005—and more than triple the 23 enacted in 2010. All of these new provisions were enacted in just 19 states.”

BREAKING: MENENDEZ SENDS LETTER TO DOJ REQUESTING INVESTIGATION INTO NEWS CORP’S HACKING OF 9/11 VICTIMS

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has written a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, asking him to investigate reports that News International, a subsidiary of News Corp, hacked into the phones of terrorist attack victims, possibly including 9/11 victims. From the letter:

Despite Perry’s Tough Budget Talk, Texas’ Debt Growing Faster Than The Nation’s

For all his talk of fiscal conservationism on the national stage, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) hasn’t been so parsimonious at home, where his state is racking up debt at a faster rate than the national government and in greater amounts than most other states. Perry regularly attacks President Obama for engaging in “too much spending” and running up too much debt, but as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Mitchell Schnurman writes today, Texas’ refusal to raise taxes has led to its own debt ballooning faster than Washington’s:

REP. PETER KING BECOMES FIRST REPUBLICAN TO CALL FOR NEWS CORP INVESTIGATION

Joining a growing number of Democratic lawmakers seeking investigations into News Corp, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) today called for the FBI to investigate whether Rupert Murdoch’s company hacked into the voicemail accounts of 9/11 victims. “And as we approach 9/11, the tenth anniversary, it’s even going to get worse,” King told Politico, calling the allegations of hacking “disgraceful.”

74 PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS THINK DEFICIT REDUCTION SHOULD INCLUDE TAX INCREASES AND SPENDING CUTS

According to a new Gallup poll, only one in five Americans agree with Congressional Republicans that deficit reduction should be based on spending cuts alone. That includes 74 percent of Republicans who agree that a responsible deficit reduction plan should include both tax increases and spending cuts. The new data flies in the face of claims by GOP leaders that Americans adamantly oppose tax increases to reduce the country’s deficit.

Chris Matthews Clowns Steve King, Forces Iowa Congressman To Admit He Doesn’t ‘Trust The Words Of Any Source’

Reps. Steve King (R-IA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced a bill today that they claim would help manage a government default if the debt limit is not raised by Aug. 2. The legislation is motivated by the right-wing triumvirate’s view that the default would not have severe repercussions on our economy. “I think we have plenty of money to service our debt,” King said today.

Meet The Indonesian Workers Who Make Your Nikes: 50 Cent Hourly Wages, Beatings, And Humiliation

More than a decade ago, shoe giant Nikecame under fire for its use of sweatshop labor in the production of its products. Most of the criticism focused on its Indonesian workforce, where workers, largely young women, were forced to labor under harsh conditions and abusive supervisors. In 1997, filmmaker Michael Moore made Nike’s abuses a subject of his film “The Big One,” and met with Nike CEO Phil Knight. Knight explained that the reason his company was using low-wage labor in Indonesia is because “Americans don’t want to make shoes.” Watch it:

Authorities review black man's hanging in Mississippi

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) -- Authorities are reviewing the case of a black man found hanging dead from a tree after relatives claimed the state's deputy medical examiner can't be trusted because he falsified information about a woman's death while working in Africa in the 1980s.

Employers Still Ruling Out Jobless Applicants: Report

Employers are still discriminating against unemployed people in their online job ads despite an increase of scrutiny on hiring practices, a new report by the National Employment Law Project has found.

Keith Olbermann Issues Blistering Warning To Obama Over Potential Cuts To Social Security And Medicare (VIDEO)

Keith Olbermann tore into President Obama for contemplating a compromise with the Republicans over the debt ceiling that includes cuts in Social Security and major changes to Medicare.

Pro-Voucher Tea Party Group Admits It Wants To ‘Shut Down Public Schools And Have Private Schools Only’

As ThinkProgress has documented, a tightly-knit group of right-wing Political Action Committees (PACs) and corporate foundations have unleashed an assault on public education, pushing school voucher schemes nationwide that would funnell taxpayer dollars away from public schools and toward private schools instead. In doing so, many of these voucher advocates claim they simply want to expand school choice and improve the quality of education for all.

Bachmann: I’m ‘Very Proud’ Of Husband’s Ex-Gay Therapy Clinics

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) refused to comment on her husband’s Christian counseling clinics, dodging a question from a local ABC News reporter in Iowa about new video evidence showing one counselor telling a gay patient that he could change his sexual orientation through therapy and prayer. The revelations are the result of an undercover report conducted by John Becker of Truth Wins Out, an organization dedicated to combating discredited ex-gay therapy proponents, and a separate report in the Nation detailing the story of one patient who underwent reparative therapy at Bachmann’s clinics.

Cantor: Taxing The Rich Is Off The Table, But Making Students Pay More Immediately Is Fine

One of the major demands that almost all congressional Republicans have made about deficit reduction is that wealthier americans and large corporations shouldn’t have to pay any more in taxes. “The House has taken a firm position against anything having to do with increasing taxes or raising tax rates,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) at the onset of negotiations over the budget deficit in May.

Yet as the Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz reports, one group that Cantor is apparently fine with making pay more is American college students. Cantor, at the White House for budget negotiations, apparently proposed that students who take out student loans should immediately start paying interest, rather than getting to make payments after graduation:

OBAMA: ‘I CANNOT GUARANTEE’ SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS WILL GO OUT AUG. 3

In a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of not raising the debt ceiling by Aug. 2, President Obama said he cannot guarantee that retirees will receive their Social Security checks on Aug. 3 if Republicans and Democrats fail to reach a compromise. In an interview with CBS, Obama said, “I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven’t resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it.” The White House and congressional Republicans are currently locked in a stalemate over the GOP’s refusal to raise revenue.

MCCONNELL: DEBT DEAL ‘UNATTAINABLE’ AS LONG AS OBAMA IS IN OFFICE

This morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) raised the partisan divide over the debt ceiling standoff to a whole new level when he said that any deal is unlikely as long as President Obama is in office. “I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is unattainable,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. Yet in the same statement, McConnell also insisted that Republicans will “do the responsible thing and ensure the government doesn’t default on its obligations.” The nation will default on Aug. 2 if the limit isn’t raised, with catastrophic consequences. McConnell recently reaffirmed that defeating Obama in 2012 is his party’s “single most important” goal.

Boehner: Spending Cuts Are The Republican Concession In Debt Ceiling Talks

As the negotiations regarding raising the nation’s debt ceiling have ground on, Republicans have steadfastly refused to make any concessions. While Democrats have reportedly agreed to trillions of dollars in spending cuts, as well as cuts and changes to Medicare and Social Security, the GOP has refused to consider raising taxes on the richest Americans or oil companies, or closing tax loopholes that benefit corporate jet owners and billionaire hedge fund managers.

New McConnell Plan: We Get Everything We Want On Debt Ceiling, Plus 12 Opportunities To Bash Obama

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing a new plan that would give the Republicans everything they want — $2.5 trillion in spending cuts — plus 12 new chances to blame Obama for everything. Under the McConnell plan:

GOP Congressman: Government Needs To ‘Sacrifice’ And Lay Off More Workers

Just days after the nation’s unemployment rate hit 9.2 percent, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) said on CNBC that it’s a problem that the federal government isn’t “sacrificing” by laying off workers like the private sector. Last week’s dismal jobs report showed that the recovery has stalled and 14.1 million Americans are out of work, but Brady complained that government isn’t doing its part to “get our financial house in order” because it’s hiring workers while private companies lay them off:

BILL O’REILLY: ‘WE NEED TO RAISE MORE REVENUE’

As negotiations continue over a deal to raise the debt limit, Republicans claim they have the American people on their side in their refusal to raise new revenues. They don’t — 19 recent polls show Americans are willing to raise taxes. And now they’ve lost Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. In his “Talking Points” monologue last night, the prominent conservative said “Republicans need to accept the need to raise more revenue,” suggesting a 1 percent national sales tax to help deal with the deficit. Watch it:

HOUSE REJECTS TEA PARTY EFFORT TO SCREW UP LIGHT BULBS

Tea Party conservatives fell far short of the two-thirds majority required to pass Rep. Joe Barton’s (R-TX) BULB Act, which would have revoked lighting efficiency standards that are already reducing pollution, creating jobs, and spurring technological innovation. The 233 to 193 vote, although a majority, rejected the bill because it was being considered under suspension rules that allowed Republicans to avoid regular order. The five Democrats who voted in favor of this Republican joke were conservative Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Colin Peterson (D-MN), and Nick Rahall (D-WV). Ten Republicans voted against their party and for clean energy manufacturing, and one voted present.

White House Confirms Obama Floated Idea Of Raising Medicare Age, ‘The Single Worst Idea For Medicare Reform’

Reports surfaced last week that in his effort to reach a “grand bargain” with Congressional Republicans to raise the debt ceiling, President Obama refused to take cuts to Medicare off the table and said he would consider a proposal to raise the program’s eligibility age from 65 to 67, a plan floated by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Tom Coburn (R-OK). At the White House press briefing this afternoon, Press Secretary Jay Carney confirmed that raising Medicare’s eligibility age was under consideration: