Stories to Watch: 6/11/11

As news that Republicans plan to run phony Democrats in recall primaries sinks in, Wisconsin Democrats realize that two can play that game.


Attacking beer in Wisconsin isn't going to help Republicans here any either.


John Stossel is having a hot, torrid love affair with the straw man argument.


That Washington Post poll that put Mittens ahead of Obama is beginning to seem like an outlier. Yet another poll is out showing that the President leads all Republicans and that Romney "performs the best of a poorly performing group, trailing Obama by six points, 39% to 45%."


A former top Gingrich aide confirms the obvious; that Newt's campaign is "essentially over." Cause of death: the impression among staffers that the whole thing was just a scheme to sell books and videos -- or, at least, that a fire sale on all things Newt was taking precedence over actual campaigning. "We didn't sign up to be hucksters for products for sale," ABC quotes one senior staffer as complaining in an email.


Finally, the next time you hear the words "David Barton" and "historian" in the same sentence, go ahead and laugh until you cry.

Related articles

• David Barton belongs in a tent in Tennessee in 1911. But he's a right wing fav instead just like 'Pastor' John Hagee who says the Catholic Church is the anti-Christ. Oh I could go on . . . I do go on. And on. (maureenholland.wordpress.com)
• How Serious Is Newt Gingrich's Candidacy? (abcnews.go.com)
• Why Gingrich's campaign is taking on water (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Newt Gingrich was for Shariah law before he was against it (americablog.com)

Stories to Watch: 3/24/11

I'm stuck on how to open here. It's 32 degrees outside. Thirty-freakin'-two degrees Fahren-freakin'-heit. I'm speechless. Now here's the news...


The Obama administration is studiously avoiding calling military action in Libya "war." While most are painting this a political stance, others see it as a legal one.


One thing that no one is asking -- surprisingly, I think -- is how this whole "non-war" is going. If Juan Cole is to be believed -- and I think he is -- it's going gangbusters.


Just reminder: John Stossel is a lunatic.


Is Trump's possible presidential run a PR bluff to grab headlines (and ratings)?


The GOP's ongoing war on workers goes federal, with a bill that would cut off food stamps for families where a worker goes on strike. Want to fight for a fairer wage, better working conditions, or better benefits? Fine. Then the baby starves.


I'm tired of following every stupid, hate-filled, un-American thing the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer says on a nearly daily basis. Seriously, the guy is just an awful, awful human being. We have all the proof of that we'll ever need.


Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to drug-test state employees. The problem is, it's already been ruled unconstitutional and drug-addled state employees haven't actually been a problem. So why would he want this? Did I mention Scott owns a string of clinics that do employee drug screenings? I probably should have.


Finally, remember when Gov. Scott Walker told a guy he thought was David Koch that he'd thought about hiring some "troublemakers" to make pro-worker protesters look bad? An Indiana prosecutor took that idea a step farther and emailed Walker to suggest he get some stooge to take a potshot at him. Seriously, stage an assassination attempt. Not surprisingly, Carlos Lam is not an Indiana prosecutor any longer, although he probably has a great career ahead of him as the next Karl Rove.