Monday, May 13, 2013   Published Weekday Mornings   To see the full version of today's cartoon, click on the preview graphic of the cartoon (below the Commentary) to be taken to the full version in your favorite web browser. An Ill Wind Blowing Earth's Carbon Dioxide Level Passes Long-Feared Milestone Carbon dioxide level breaks 3-million-year record Steve Benen: An alarming climate milestone Greg Sargent: Maybe we should talk about climate change? President Obama on climate change: 'The science is undeniable' Obama's top donors ask him to say no to Keystone XL Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: Time to Wake Up - The Magical Thinking on Climate Change Timelapse: Landsat Satellite Images of Climate Change, via Google Earth Kevin Drum: It's Time for the EPA to Bypass Congress and Regulate Carbon Emissions on Its Own David Sirota: Would we give up burgers to stop climate change? It would help. More Favorable Winds? Tax break for wind energy sweeps forward in Nebraska Legislature Nebraska rural utilities group opposes NPPD spending on wind, energy efficiency Sierra Club, utilities spar over Nebraska wind power Iowa blowing Nebraska away on wind power Nebraska wind power continues to lag behind Iowa Buffett's MidAmerican Plans $1.9 Billion of Wind Farms in Iowa MidAmerican Energy's Iowa Wind Project Will Cost $1.9 Billion, A Major Step In Iowa's Clean Power Development Nebraska unicameral has golden opportunity with wind energy Smarter Power Bladeless, funnel-based wind turbine claims huge efficiency gains 2014 Is Looking To Be A 7,000 Megawatt Year For Wind Power Capacity And Innovation Fluorescent Dye Boosts Solar Cell Efficiency by a Whopping 38% Spain Produced 54 Percent of its Electricity from Renewable Sources in April 2013 Benghazi Baloney Bush's Secretary of Defense Mocks GOP Attacks On Obama's Handling Of Benghazi Former SecDef Robert Gates: Some Benghazi critics have "cartoonish" view of military capability Flashback: Petraeus Says U.S. Tried to Avoid Tipping Off Terrorists After Libyan Attack Sen. Dick Durbin: Republicans targeting Clinton on Benghazi with 2016 in mind Republicans raising money off Benghazi effort Congressman Adam Smith Tears Into Fox News Host For Obsessing Over Benghazi Talking Points A look at the Republican Benghazi talking points as they've been laid out so far Co-chairman of Benghazi Review Board Thomas Pickering defends Benghazi report, says GOP criticisms not based in fact James Warren: What the Benghazi baloney really means Michael Tomasky: The Coming Attempt to Impeach Obama Health Care Checkup Budget request denied, Sebelius turns to health executives to finance Obamacare HHS: Nothing improper about Sebelius's ObamaCare fundraising Dangers found in weak Medicare Part D oversight; Is Medicare Part D taking safety seriously? Real competition: Insurance companies in Oregon hastily move to lower premiums as state posts first-ever rate comparison Energy, Climate & Environment Melting Ice Opens Fight Over Sea Routes for Arctic Debate 30 Million People Worldwide Displaced By Climate- And Weather-Related Events Last Year Nations In Turmoil Syrian troops take full control of strategic town After Syrian bombings inside Turkey, Turkey says world must act against Syria International News Bangladesh ends search for collapse victims; final death toll 1,127 Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif wins third term; Begins assembling new Pakistani government Egypt Arrests 3 in Plot to Attack Cities and an Embassy National Politics Postal Service posts $1.9 billion loss despite efficiency efforts Joan Walsh: Go away, 2016 presidential obsession! Midwest Roundup Neb. legislature rejects plane purchase by Governor, calls for study Don Walton: Political theater in the Nebraska Legislature Due to drought, report anticipates smallest Nebraska wheat crop since 1944 Deal signed on 2016 US Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha In Iowa, Extremist Republican Rand Paul Already Trolling For 2016 Mountain lion sighting in Oskaloosa, Iowa An Ill Wind Blowing As the Beltway media continued blathering on this weekend about the ridiculous Benghazi baloney, we looked ahead at the forecast for a ninety degree Tuesday for our Nebraska office and had a thought similar to the one Greg Sargent of the Washington Post had last Friday afternoon. Maybe it's time we talk about climate change. Again. Last Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Mauna Loa, Hawaii science station confirmed the level of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere just recently passed the 400 parts-per-million range - a higher level than has ever been recorded in history. As Steve Benen astutely noted, "The last time the planet topped 400 ppm, there were no humans. What's more, there has never been an increase comparable to the accelerated increases we're seeing now." Of course, if you're like some members of our staff, your immediate reaction - after a stunned expletive or two - won't be just to toss another pointless idea into the wind. You're probably wondering what can actually be done about the problem. At least in Nebraska, something can be done to fight one of the causes of climate change...   To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for May 13, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy U.S. Economic Road Ahead Clearing, but the Going Is Still Slow Not All States are Equal: The 10 Worst States In Which to be Unemployed Mike Konczal: Thinking Utopian - How about a universal basic income? Housing improvement may herald return of U.S. workforce mobility Wall Street Watch IPOs Set to Raise Most Cash Since 2007 Crisis Wall Street Rating Firms' Controversial Business Model Looks To Steer Clear of an Overhaul Fed Begins To Map Exit From Stimulus Practices Evan Soltas: What The Hell Is the Fed Thinking? The Euro Zone Europe Eases Corporate Tax Dodge as Worker Burdens Rise | Europe Tries to Boost Economy After Pressure From U.S. Sequester & Budgets Neda Semnani: Paris Air Show - Now Begging for U.S. Senators? Who Can Take Republicans Seriously on the Budget? | Steve Kornacki: Austerity - Debunked and destroying our economy Stuckler & Basu: How Austerity Literally Kills A Real Scandal? Maybe. IRS targeted groups critical of government, documents from agency probe show IRS Apologizes for Targeting Tea Party Groups New Details: IRS kept shifting targets in tax-exempt groups scrutiny Kevin Drum: The IRS Shoots Itself in the Foot, Then Reloads Lauren French: 5 questions on the IRS debacle Ezra Klein: The IRS was wrong to target the tea party. They should've gone after all 501(c)4s. Guns & America At least 19 injured in New Orleans Mother's Day shooting Chicago Tribune: Gun sale loopholes can often put weapons in felons' hands 8-Year-Old Texas Boy Shoots Friend In The Head Texas: 5-year-old accidentally shoots brother, 7, with rifle Newtown Moms: A Mother's Promise - We are not going away E.J. Dionne: Raising the political heat on opposition to gun control is beginning to work Unbecoming Conduct Pentagon grapples with sex crimes by military recruiters Female Veterans Blast Military Leadership For Failing To Address Ongoing Sexual Assault Crisis Rep Tammy Duckworth: The U.S. military is currently incapable of fixing its sexual assault problem Immigration: Reform Coming Green card lottery, a ticket to hope for many,could be eliminated Author Of Right-Wing Heritage Immigration Study Resigns Amid Racism Scandal Justin Green: The Immigration Bill Does NOT Create a 'Biometric Database of All Adult Americans' War On Women Judge Slams FDA's 'Sweetheart Arrangement' With Big Pharma That Limits Access To Morning After Pill How Cleveland Kidnapping Trial Could Turn Into A Proxy War Over Abortion Marriage Equality Minnesota poised to become 12th state to adopt same-sex marriage Gallup Poll Confirms: Same-Sex Marriage Support Solidifies Above 50% in U.S. Ethics & The Media Bloomberg News Admits Financial Terminal Snooping Greg Sargent: Long past time for media caution in scandal coverage Media Matters Barbara Walters to Announce 2014 Retirement on 'The View' Seth Meyers will move to NBC 'Late Night' as Jimmy Fallon's successor Did You Miss It On Friday? Here It Is Again! Your HuskerNutz Preview for May 13, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan to air policy differences with Obama Thursday at White House News From Capitol Hill G.O.P. Delays on President Obama's Nominees Raise Even More Tension in The Senate On The Left Cliff Schecter: America - Grow up already Andrew Goldman: What PPFA's Cecile Richards Has Learned From Todd Akin On The Right GOP Senator Suggests Efforts To Implement Obamacare Are 'Illegal' New Jersey's GOP Gov. Chris Christie goes negative in new ad buy States Of Confusion Even After Fertilizer Plant Explosion, Texas Remains Wary of Regulation | New Jersey hostage horror: Gunman held three kids in same room as mother's decomposing body Education In America Joseph Stiglitz: Student Debt and the Crushing of the American Dream Other Notable News The modern history of swearing: Where all the dirtiest words come from We hope you enjoy "The Daily Felltoon" every business day. Thanks for continuing to be a member! Paul Fell Shawn "Smith" Peirce Paul Fell Cartoons, Inc.