1.) Busy signal at the White House — Remember during the ’08 campaign, when Obama told his acolytes to argue with their neighbors and “get in their faces”? Now it’s his face that’s being visited. Well, at least his ear. TheDC’s Amanda Carey reports: “After President Barack Obama called on the American public Monday night to contact their members of Congress, phone lines and websites were jammed. Almost immediately, websites for members of Congress — both Republicans and Democrats — became inaccessible due to high volume. In some cases, telephone callers were not even able to leave voicemail messages. In other words, the president’s cattle call worked. It also worked for the conservative movement, as White House phone lines appear to have been down for the better part of the day. Both the comments line and the central switchboard have been jammed. Activists and other dissatisfied Americans began calling the White House Tuesday morning, to protest higher taxes and urge support of entitlement reform and a balanced budget amendment. American Action Network started the effort last night in response to Obama’s call for constituents to call their members of Congress. After the speech, spokesperson Jim Landry and digital director Chris Georgia started their own call to action. Early [Tuesday] morning, it went live. But that’s when they realized the White House phone lines already appeared to be down, Georgia said.” The White House probably just took the phone off the hook. Why waste time listening to people who disagree with them?
2.) When is a cut not a cut? — When it’s made by Congress. Amanda Carey reports: “Speaker of the House John Boehner was dealt a potentially devastating blow Tuesday when a Congressional Budget Office scoring of his debt limit proposal showed the plan would save significantly less than the $1.2 trillion promised. According to the CBO, the plan would only cut $840 billion. When the dismal score was made public, Michael Steel, a spokesperson for Boehner, said staff members were busy rewriting the legislation. ‘We’re here to change Washington — no more smoke and mirrors, no more “phantom cuts,”‘ said Steel. ‘We promised that we will cut spending more than we increase the debt limit — with no tax hikes — and we will keep that promise. As we speak, congressional staff are looking at options to rewrite the legislation to meet our pledge. This is what can happen when you have an actual plan and submit it for independent review — which the Democrats who run Washington have refused to do,’ he added.” That’s not fair. The Democrats have an actual plan. Their actual plan is to wait for the Republicans to come up with a plan, do whatever they can to thwart it, and then blame the Republicans. Assuming the Republicans don’t screw it up on their own, of course.
3.) ATF: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fabrications — The ATF stands accused of allowing known criminals to buy thousands of guns and “walk” them into Mexico. The guns have now been involved in over 150 shootings, including the fatal shooting of United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Here’s the latest, according to TheDC’s Matthew Boyle: “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agent Brian Newell continues to deny Operation Fast and Furious allowed for guns to be ‘walked’ into Mexico. ‘Sir, in this investigation, we did not let guns walk,’ Newell told House oversight committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican, at a Tuesday hearing. Newell was the lead agent in ATF’s Phoenix field office throughout Operation Fast and Furious. ‘You’re entitled to your own opinions, not to your own facts,’ Issa responded. ‘But, there comes a point when I go, “Wait a second: 730 weapons bought by a man who had no money. Every penny he bought with he had to get from somebody.” You knew that at some point. You knew who was buying them and you allowed it to continue…’ Newell did, however, admit ‘mistakes were made’ with Fast and Furious. In response to that, though, Issa said the American people deserve answers. ‘There comes a point when we have to have more than just “mistakes were made,”‘ Issa said.” Come on, the guy SAID mistakes were made. By… um… mistake-makers unspecified. Isn’t that enough?
4.) Wu to bid adieu? — Apparently, Anthony Weiner has served as an object lesson for members of Congress who get caught red-handed with no way out. First, say you’re resigning. Then wait to see if anybody pressures you to actually do so. TheDC’s C.J. Ciaramella reports: “Oregon Democrat Rep. David Wu tendered his resignation under pressure today after an allegation surfaced that he had an unwanted sexual encounter with a young woman a year ago. Wu announced his resignation in a statement, but said he will remain in office until the current debt crisis is resolved. ‘It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be a United States Congressman,’ Wu said in the statement. ‘Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become a national political figure…’ This is not Wu’s first time at the scandal rodeo. During the 2004 elections, it came to light that he faced allegations of similar unwanted sexual advances with a girl during his time at Stanford. Then in 2010, former campaign staffers came forward with claims of Wu’s erratic behavior. It was revealed staffers had urged Wu to seek psychiatric help. He also took unprescribed Oxycontin from a campaign donor. Wu sent staffers bizarre and inappropriate emails and photos, including a picture of Wu in a tiger suit, which has since become a favorite at The Daily Caller.” It certainly has. If and when Wu actually resigns, maybe Kellogg’s will have a job for him? Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become the new Tony the Tiger!
5.) Nancy and Newty, sittin’ on a settee — Three years ago, Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich cuddled up on a couch in front of the Capitol Building and shot a PSA. In it, they said that even though they don’t see eye to eye on much [cue nauseating “bemused” glance between the two lovebirds], they can agree on one thing: We’re all going to die from global warming. Gingrich has been taking crap for the ad ever since, and up until now he has defended himself. He’s finally given up, as TheDC’s Caroline May reports: “In a radio interview Tuesday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich admitted that he regrets making a climate-change advocacy advertisement with California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi in 2008… ‘I was trying to make a point that we shouldn’t be afraid to debate the left, even on the environment,’ the Hill reported Gingrich said on WGIR radio about the television commercial. ‘Obviously it was misconstrued, and it’s probably one of those things I wouldn’t do again.” Apparently, Gingrich’s idea of debate is mewling, “Yes, Nancy. Of course, Nancy. Whatever you say, Nancy.” Unfortunately for him, the global warming fad has passed but YouTube is forever.
6.) Today’s words of wisdom from Alec Baldwin’s Twitter feed — “Ok. You get drunk- fall asleep at a party in Hollywood. next day, she’s pregnant. Who do you want to get pregnant by? Guys… Impregnate?”
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VIDEO: Too late, Newt