Obviously, we're all watching the Murdoch hearings. But lots more is in the wind tonight. Here's today's Morning EDition:
TODAY
- House votes on Cut, Cap and Balance Act tonight.
- Wisconsin holds one primary election and two recall primaries.
BUDGET
- The parties edge closer to a deal based on the plan proposed by Sen. GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
- Tea Party, Club for Growth, threaten GOPers who sign on to the McConnell plan.
- Club for Growth president voted to raise the debt ceiling.
- Red State vows to oppose any GOP senator who supports McConnell's leadership.
- Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) fights back against the Club for Growth's pro-default ads.
- House GOP anonymously admits the McConnell plan is now Plan A.
- And House GOP hopes to tank Plan A.
- The exact contours of Plan A are still evolving.
- Plan B is now...ummmm.
- The White House wants to backload the cuts in the McConnell plan. (Meaning, maybe, future Congresses can undo them?)
- DC oracle Charlie Cook finds the GOP putting off independents.
- Fears of default are already roiling the markets.
- Another fusillade from David Brooks against his right flank.
- Fmr. Pres. Clinton says he would rely on 14th Amendment to blow through debt ceiling without congressional approval.
- Warren Buffet calls for an end to the debt ceiling.
- Norm Ornstein says Cut, Cap and Balance would cripple our ability to climb out of recessions.
- Remember those GOP rules on time to read bills? Not so much for Cut, Cap and Balance.
- Analysis: Wall St. doesn't realize just how batty this Congress can be.
- VIDEO: Speaker Boehner (R-OH) responds to Obama's veto threat on Cut, Cap and Balance.
- AUDIO: Democratic web video has Reagan's speech on the need to raise the debt ceiling.
- Poll: Most Republicans believe a default won't be a problem.
- Poll: Most Americans support tax increases. Hear that, Village?
- Polls: And support for raising debt ceiling is growing.
CLASS WARFARE
- Just 29 companies had more cash on hand combined than the US Treasury.
- Reich analyzes the cause of the consumer downturn -- their relative wages have gone down.
HOUSING
- After admitting he fell short aiding homeowners, Pres. Obama declines to try anything else.
WALL ST. / BANKS
- GOP vows to block any consumer-finance-protection chief because they don't like the law.
- Fraudulent foreclosures continue unabated.
- Banks sold off mortgages without even keeping a paper trail.
- A year after Dodd-Frank, big parts of the derivatives market that brought down the economy remain unregulated.
- Brokers who invest on behalf of ordinary Americans praise the new rules, the Wall St. rich are still fighting against the new rules.
- Former commodities trader pleaded guilty of threatening to kill US regulators.
EDUCATION
- Some states are just ignoring No Child Left Behind. #Bushlegacy.
TERRORISM
- al Qaeda shifts its efforts away from US.
ISLAMOPHOBIA
- Richard Land schools Herman Cain on Islamophobia. RICHARD LAND.
WISCONSIN
- First attempt to recall a Dem is today. It's expected to fail.
- Outside money means unprecedented ad wars.
2012
- RNC claims Obama campaign broke the law by taping ad in the White House. Bush lawyer calls the claim an "embarrassment."
- Christie Vilsack will take on Rep. Steve King (R-IA).
- Former Bush spokesman eyeing run against Sen. Maria Cantwell (R-WA). Please oh please.
- Rove group targets Latino voters. The ones whose vote hasn't been disenfranchised by politicians elected by Rove's group.
- Poll: Bachmann moves up nationally.
MITT ROMNEY
- Romney's donor base is wealthy, but may not be large enough.
- Romney's Utah money lags his 2008 pace.
- Romney backtracks on carbon.
MICHELE BACHMANN
- Mother Jones looks at Bachmann's home-school army.
- Word comes that Bachmann is incapacitated for days at a time by headaches. Her VP pick just got a lot more interesting.
RICK PERRY
- At the time, Perry supported the biggest tax hike in Texas history.
CHRIS CHRISTIE
- The co-founder of Home Depot tries to get Christie into the presidential race.
RIGHT-WING MEDIA
- News Corp. exec. had concerns watching Murdoch rehearse for today's testimony.
- 9/11 families seek FBI meeting regarding the Murdoch probe.
(What I'm reading: Greg Sargent's Plum Line, Think Progress, Matt Yglesias, Talking Points Memo, TPMDC, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, the Washington Monthly, CNN's PoliticalTicker, the National Journal, Ezra Klein, Politico's Playbook and Huddle, Dave Weigel, Wonkette, Firedoglake, the NYT Caucus, Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars. What MSNBC has me listening to: Testimony by Rupert and James Murdoch.)
Follow Senior Producer Jonathan Larsen (@jtlarsen) on Twitter
Leave a Comment:
al Qaeda shifts its efforts away from US.
Thank You Mr President and all our Military and Support civilians as well!
but shows you what a good command and chief can get done in a short time with good intel and backing of his leaders!
What???
Ed,
Thanks for bringing the Wisconsin problem, which is now a national problem, to the attention of the nation. The GOP that we have now is not the historic GOP that we had in the past. They are now run by corporations and greedy people. I was once a proud Republican and voted GOP all the time; but I cannot do so any more. But I am not a Democrat either. I am an Independent that doesn't like the policies and greed of the GOP. I will sign the recall petition against Walker and work to bring him down when the time comes here in Wisconsin.
Tom- I don't think you want to be a Democrat either. We are full of them in Illinois, and the only difference is in party label and as such, Ed and the other commentators won't publicize Democrats behaving badly. If Illinois had a Republican Governor doing what our Democrat is doing, Ed would be on him or her like a fly on dung.
TomInWI, you don't need to explain party platform or ideology to anyone! You said what you said, and that's all good. I respect fully your decisions and opinions.
I don't give a rat's backside for ANY of these weak-kneed, so-called Republicans to question anything that I, as a Republican since voting age, support or believe. This is where "some" who question others on miniscule issues fail to understand that this is why the Republican party has fallen in to the hands of these extremists. WE WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO PRINCIPLES, JUST PARTY LINES - AND WE LET PRESIDENT BUSH NEARLY DESTROY AMERICA - Distractions, Obstructions, Destruction - Those are three of the platforms that this current class of Republicans supports. If President Obama said we should cut Social Security 100%, Republicans would say "No, he's a Communist dictator." If the POTUS agreed, and said let's keep it then, Republicans would say "No, he's a Socialist!" The current Republican class has NO genuine platform; it is a party running straight into a brick wall, and taking the country with it. Any questions for me as to what the Republican platform SHOULD be?
Tominwi:
You have your right to your opinions. Just be careful not to paint everyone in WI with the same brush stroke. Madison,WI where all this excitement is going on has approx. 250-300,000 people in it. I live a mere 20 miles east of Madison and the attitude for Gov. Walker is not the same. The "haters" of our Gov. may talk loud but you do not outnumber the supporters of his ideas. Looking at the bigger picture, Madison is just a small speck on the map that channels like MSNBC seem to present as the hub of all action, thought, and ideals but is grossly mis-representing the majority of the people of WI. Also if it is fair to place the GOP in WI as being run by big corporations and greedy people, I think we should also be able to pair together that the unions are running the DEMs. Which as a whole is a much larger group/entity when added up, and if you go strictly by the numbers is more susceptible to corruption just by default.
To All
I am now an Independent because, I want to think for myself. Not play into anyone's tactics or fearmongering.
Thanks Tom
But not needed, we all here less a few and we know them, can understand and see pass party lines and out right distortions.
Handshake.
Pilotshark
Handshake and thanks for your remarks. LG wants to know why I changed, well, it totally wasn't the policies or agenda, but it was the people who changed me. Their arrogant attitude, the "my way or the highway"; it was what they said and how they said it. They showed no respect for others who may disagree with them. They don't like or tolerate any other opinions other than their own and they don't want to negotiate. The entire party has been hijacked by the Tea Party. And I think any other former Republicans would agree with me on the present attitude of the politicians in the GOP. Abraham Lincoln sure wouldn't recognize the Republicans of today.
Ierxst,
I respect your views though I disagree with them. Walker has done more damage than you think. While I will always agree that all budgets have to balance; I don't agree on giving tax breaks to the wealthy when you are cutting expenditures. Those taxes which were given away could have been used to help balance the budget. Also what do you think about the surplus that was "found" almost a month ago? That too could be used to help balance the budget. I believe that a budget has an expenditure side and a revenue side. If you are spending too much(and tax breaks are an expenditure), then you have to raise the revenue. Some cutting of expenditure can be done but some revenue may also need to be raised. Working with only one side, revenues or expenditures, is not balancing a budget.
If Republicans were smart they would try to pass Tom Coburns Back In Black policy. It is the only thing they have come up with that includes raising taxes and controling subsides. Coburn was on Dylan Radigan show explaining it yesterday and it made sense. Imagine that!
I encourage Ed to give us an oppertunity to look at this "Back to the Black" perposal, Louis....Coburn said to hell with the republican Tax Pledge. He might have something. I looking to find the 614 page perposal....Have a clue?
Perry, is another republican who talks out of both sides of his mouth, No wait, is that back peddling? Any lie will do!
Yes, Perry talks out of his mouth and his rear orifice. He refused stimulus funds in order to deny that Federal spending help his state to progress. However, stimulus funds were good enough to help balance his state's budget. Perry said Texas doesn't need the Feds, and then when brush fires begin to ravage his state, he accused the Feds of turning a blind eye toward Texas. Bluntly put, he can burp heartily and fart loudly at the same time!
Hey, SURPRISE! Fox news is doing a fair and balanced coverage of its own Maggots, this morning.
smiling it is getting very lonely in this cult troll sock puppet with out beckerhead crying and whining about total needless crap.
maybe he got sucker into buying gold and survive kits.
Let's go - Nice one! My wife and I invested a boat load of money in gold in 2006. We've more than doubled the investment in just five years.
I'd better be careful or these left wingers will realize I've become one of those disgusting and rotten rich people. Hey, more good news! We'll have the house paid off in less than two years and be totally debt free! Thank you Dave Ramsey and Glenn Beck!
this is a little off topic but is OUTSTANDING!
this should be happening any time and any place he shows up, home, office, events. need to make his world so small he will get claustrophobic.
WALKER GREETED BY SCORES OF PROTESTERS SINGING ‘NA NA NA NA, HEY HEY HEY GOODBYE’ | Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), who will likely face a recall election next year, was in Beloit, Wisconsin yesterday to open a new Illinois Welcome Center. Walker was greeted by scores of protesters. They chanted “Recall Walker!” and at one point broke out into a rendition of “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”
LOL good on WI
Thanks Pilotshark. I love it. It will keep me smiing the rest of the day.
"Scores" of protestors... Is that a number? Like 20?
yes, kind of like 4 score and 7 years ago.
LOL
Polly wants a cracker, a white saltine cause gram crackers are brown and brown scares Polly.
Thanks Pilotshark. I live in the state and I didn't hear a thing about it. Well when the recall petition comes around, I will sign it with pride.
Anyone who actually thinks that either MSNBC or Fo are fair and balanced is an idiot.
It's unfortunate that they're trying to eat McConnell alive for trying to get this debt ceiling done for the country. But I suppose those the consequences of allowing to many idiots motivate your policy positions.
Sure,MSNBC leans tothe left, and I thank them for that. I am sick of listening to the right wing opinions stated over and over and over again.
Thank you Chris Matthews, Lawrence O'donnel, Rachel Maddow and mostly, thank you Ed Schultz
Keep up the good work MSNBC
Thanks to the night programs, we are kept up to date of those republicans that want to destroy our country. They have pledged their soul to the devil. Thanks Ed I watch you every night your on. Rachel and Lawrence, you do tell it like it is. Keep up the good work.
Evelyn, just learned about the "ALEC" organization that the kochroaches, other big business and the republican Govs, in Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey and other states are a member of. It is like the dishonest of their Tax Pledge. They sign up for any kind of corruption. I guess the Republicans will be glad to know that your party is selling you out with the rest of us. Hope your Gold saves you.
Go to: alec exposed.org and learn about this fraud against the American Public.
Real Republicans need to speak up, and stop caving to the Tea Party, Grover Norquist, big money, and these Foxsucking extremists who have obscured the TRUE ideology and philosophy of the Republican party - we can have a party of right, center, and left-leaning Conservatives once again.
sadly the Republican party is a brand that's RINO now a days.
they have let the experiment get out of control and they have no way of stopping it.
sadly like all their plans.
I cannot disagree with you Pilotshark. Even the elder congressmen are either leaving politics or siding with the TBP so they can keep their job. And correct again on the plans and policy - their proposals will require what the POTUS agrees to, so then they pull back and scrap the plan JUST because he agrees to it. Politically, it makes no sense.
The tea party is going to harm the republican name for many years to come.
That destruction started in NY26, will grow stronger in Wisconson this summer, and next year when they sing "nah nah nah nah, hey, hey, good bye" to Walker, and in 2012, when Pancy Pelosi returns as Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor sing the blues together in the unemployment line, Scott Brown drives his pickup back to Massacusetts, and joins Olympia Snow and others in the unemployment line.
It is a great time to be a democrat!
Eric is after Boehner's job....it will be funny when they are both unemployed.
Thanks to the Ed Show, Lawrence Show and Rachel Show, they keep the American people up to date on this country. Our beautiful America is being destroyed by the Republican party. The Republicans have pledged their soul to the devil, which is Grover Norquest and the Tea party. The Republicans seems to be set out to destroy this country.
I agree with you. The Republicans of the past are a vanishing breed. The pledges that they signed are being used to blackmail them into destroying the country because they want to be re-elected. That's why we should have term limits for all Federal and State elected positions; not too long, not too short. Then they wouldn't have to worry about being re-elected. Some of those guys, GOP and Dems, have been there too long and need to be replaced by the people or their party. They stagnate and become corrupt. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely".
LOL i see lets go Mikey change his sock again.
Looks like the Gang of Six have come up with a plan Obama can give a chance...got to hammer out the details. Hope at last. But we have been here before.
That top rate of 23% looks like a lot of people could agree with.
Nope, Sock puppets are gone. Sweet Sally zap them.
It is high time that the F.B.I. look into the ties of the current Republicans in Congress have. I have a very hard time believeing their alleagence is to this Government. Their goal is too make sure this country fails. There are too many Red Flags going up and our leaders are just looking the other way. History repeats itself and its clear what went on in Germany in the early thirtys is now going on in the United States of America. Too many good people died for this country, don't let these National Socialist win. What they are attemping to do is HIGH TREASON!!!!!! I bet many of them have Adolf in their hearts.
Pete- you are easily outed as a conservative calling for something stupid, acting as a liberal in order to make them look bad. First- McCarthyism is long gone, and liberals were the ones attacked by that move. For you conservatives to now act as a liberal and call for a return of McCarthey's moves is shameless. No liberals are as stupid as you are portraying.