A series of tubes filled with enormous amounts of material
How We Got Here: A Timeline Of The Syria Chemical Weapons Saga
While the White House insists in public that no decisions have yet been made, it seems increasingly likely that the U.S. will join in with several of its allies in launching limited punitive strikes against Syria for the use of chemical weapons against civilians. While the wisdom of setting so clear a trigger for action has been questioned since Obama first set chemical weapons use as a so-called “red-line,” the international norm against their use has been growing since the horrors of mustard gas were first observed in World War I.
Read More: From NPR: Striking Syria Still Seems A Question Of When, Not Whether
Read More: British Parliament Closes Door On Syria Intervention
Read More: White House Briefs Congressional Leaders On Syria
Read More: Wesley Clark: Syria vs. Kosovo
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Merrill Lynch Set To Pay Largest Racial Discrimination Settlement Ever
Eight years after a group of black financial advisers filed a lawsuit alleging their bosses systematically steered the most profitable business to white employees, Merrill Lynch is preparing to pay the largest racial discrimination settlement ever. […]
Merrill’s specific history aside, the financial world as a whole is an inhospitable place for women and minorities. Both groups remain hugely underrepresented in management positions within the industry, with minorities holding just one in ten management positions. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform law included new requirements for both racial and gender diversity at private financial firms and government regulatory offices.
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President To Issue New Executive Orders On Guns
The White House says President Obama will issue two new executive orders on guns – one to curb the import of military surplus weapons and another that closes a loophole allowing some felons to get around background checks.[…]
According to the statement, “felons, domestic abusers, and others prohibited from having guns” can skirt background checks by registering the weapon as a trust or corporation.
“The proposed rule requires individuals associated with trusts or corporations that acquire these types of weapons to undergo background checks, just as these individuals would if the weapons were registered to them individually,” the statement says.
Read More: Biden Hints At 2014 Push To Elect Gun Control Advocates To Congress
Read More: Why It’s Easier To Buy An Assault Weapon Than To Vote, In One Graphic
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Republicans in the news …
Maine Town Official Visited By Secret Service For Racially Charged Obama Post
David Marsters, a retired Massachusetts police officer and a candidate for selectman in Sabattus, Maine, posted a photo of Obama along with a link to a story about a Republican push to impeach the president at 8:17 p.m. Friday, writing “Shoot the N***er” above it, according to the newspaper.
He said he told the Secret Service agents who questioned him that he didn’t intend to threaten the president.
Marsters told the Press Herald in a telephone interview that his post was taken out of context.
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How The Uber-Conservative John Cornyn Ticked Off The Tea Party
On paper, the Republican minority whip is an unusual target for Tea Party guns. Cornyn has been one of the most conservative members of the Senate since he was first elected to the chamber in 2002. National Journal ranks Cornyn the second most conservative member of the Senate. He has an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, has won multiple awards from the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform, has a 0 percent rating from the pro-choice NARAL and a 100 percent rating from the National Right To Life Committee.
That’s not good enough for some Tea Partiers now.
Tea Party groups’ ire centers on Cornyn’s decision in late July to remove his signature from a letter by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) expressing strong support to defund Obamacare in any debt limit or government funding bill. Cornyn was one of a number of senators who had originally signed the letter a few days before he changed his mind and removed his signature.
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Heritage’s Fun With ‘Defund Obamacare’ Polling Numbers
The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank that has been a leader in the Defund Obamacare movement, appeared to go through a small crisis in the last 24 hours over just what percentage of Americans support their cause.
Wednesday morning, Heritage debuted a poster asking if “you” were a part of the 57 percent of Americans who support defunding Obamacare. That same morning, the Kaiser Family Foundation, one of the most respected health policy think tanks, released a monthly tracking poll that found the exact opposite: 57 percent of Americans opposed defunding the health care reform law.
Facts, Schmacts! We don’t need no stinkin’ facts!!!
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More Lousy Poll Numbers For Pennsylvania Gov. Corbett
Only 20 percent said Corbett deserves re-election, down from 25 percent in the May poll. The latest poll showed 69 percent of Pennsylvania voters believe it’s time for a change.
In fact, Corbett is struggling to win support from his own party, with only 38 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans saying he deserves a second term. Only 30 percent of in-state Republicans rate his performance as “excellent” or “good.”
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Quick Takes …
OOPS: Senator Who Advocates Arming Teachers Accidentally Shoots Teacher With Rubber Bullet
The experience gave [Arkansas Sen. Jeremy] Hutchinson “some pause” but failed to shake his confidence in the plan.
NFL, Retirees Reach $765M Settlement On Concussions Suits
The NFL and more than 4,500 retired players have reached an agreement calling for the league to contribute $765 million to a fund that will pay “medical and other benefits, as well as compensation” to those who suffered concussions and related injuries during their careers.
Justice Department Won’t Challenge State Marijuana Laws, Major Shift In Law Enforcement Policy
U.S. Government Will Recognize Same-Sex Couples For Tax Purposes
Judge Apologizes For Saying 14-Year-Old Rape Victim Was Just As In Control As Rapist Teacher
Study Finds Obamacare Won’t Hike Workers’ Premiums: ‘The Rate-Shock Concerns Were Overblown’
Poll: McAuliffe Leads Unpopular Cuccinelli By 7
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