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1.) Obama finally reveals master economic plan — The president has finally figured out what is necessary to revive America’s economy. This is probably going to be great! TheDC’s Patrick Howley reports:
“President Obama has laid out a new set of economic priorities heavily focused on protecting American workers from companies outsourcing their jobs overseas. … The White House released a promotional video for Obama’s ‘A Better Bargain for the Middle Class’ campaign last Wednesday, and Obama devoted his weekly address Saturday to his ‘better bargain.’ The official White House website currently lays out his campaign’s central talking points. …Obama’s four strategies to ‘Create good jobs,’ however, includes more traditionally progressive talking points. Obama wants to ‘Put construction workers on the job rebuilding our infrastructure,’ ‘Expand our network of high-tech manufacturing hubs,’ ‘Strengthen job training at community colleges,’ and ‘Raise the minimum wage.'”
So let’s get this straight. After four and a half years in office with the unemployment rate at 7.4 percent and the economy continuing to stagnate, the president’s master plan is to raise the minimum wage and provide community college job training? Holy hell Obama.
2.)Let them go — Like most of Europe, Congress is taking August off. TheDC’s Alexis Levinson reports:
“You can still smell the jet fumes of the planes that ferried members of Congress away from Washington for their five full weeks of congressional recess Friday — but not everybody wanted to go. Some members of Congress are still hoping that leadership may call them back before September, when they will face a looming deadline to agree on a deal to fund the government before the fiscal year ends on September 30. Republican Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia spent the final few weeks before Congress went into recess calling for the House of Representatives to stick around and finish the appropriations process.”
Sure, it sounds bad. But when you think of it, perhaps it is best Congress won’t be around trying to pass terrible laws.
3.)How to be a man — According to Mitch McConnell’s primary challenger, it requires you to support something that has no prospect of success. TheDC’s Alex Pappas reports:
“The new Republican challenger to Mitch McConnell got fired up on Saturday at a Kentucky rally, telling the Senate minority leader to ‘be a man’ and support a new strategy favored by conservatives to defund Obamacare. ‘Be a man,’ Kentucky businessman Matt Bevin told a rowdy crowd, his voice rising at the Fancy Farm picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky. ‘Stand up and put your money where your mouth is! The people of Kentucky deserve better!’ Bevin argued in favor of a strategy being pushed by a number of conservatives in Congress who say they will not support any spending resolution that continues to fund President Obama’s health care law, even if it means forcing a government shutdown.”
4.) A new national holiday? — Sunday marked the birth of one of America’s greatest heroes. TheDC’s Taylor Bigler reports:
“August 4 should be a national holiday. Each year on this day, we should recognize the birth of one of the greatest Americans who has ever lived. This day should be more important than Christmas or Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday combined. On August 4, 1955, the world welcomed Billy Bob Thornton with open arms. He is but one of the finest wearers of questionable facial hair in America — and perhaps the world.”
Also, President Obama was born Sunday. We’ll leave it to history to decide who was more significant.
5.) Tweet of Yesterday — Conan O’Brien: President Obama said he’s urging his daughters not to get caught up trying to act like celebrities. He’s particularly worried about Sa$ha.
6.) Today in North Korean News — BREAKING: Greetings to Kim Jong Un from Guinean President
VIDEO: Liberal radio host says Media Matters’ anti-Limbaugh campaign hurt progressive talk radio