Monday, May 24, 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. What America's Learned Full Transcript of President Obama's May 23 speech on national security, as delivered President Obama Vows to End the Perpetual War President Obama: 'This war, like all wars, must end' Obama shifts U.S. from 'perpetual war-footing,' limits drone strikes Pivoting From a War Footing, Obama Acts to Curtail Drones, Limit His Own Power Protester interrupts Obama speech on drones, Guantanamo Obama's toughest GOP foreign policy critics weigh in Ed Kilgore: A Speech Being Chased By Memes Greg Sargent: Obama's speech - An imperfect effort to reconcile national security with American values Dave Weigel: Obama says Drones, Benghazi, and Gitmo responsibility also lies with Congress Spencer Ackerman: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) Prepping Bill Now to End The AUMF Heather Hurlburt: Three Takeaways from President Obama's Terrorism Speech Our Broken Infrastructure Bridge Collapse in Washington State Sends People, Vehicles Into River Officials say truck striking bridge may have caused Washington state bridge collapse Transportation For America: The Fix We're America's In For - The State of Our Bridges Joe Weisenthal: The Collapse Of Infrastructure Spending In One Chart The IRS Mess IRS official Lois Lerner placed on administrative leave Republican Rep. Issa inclined to recall Lois Lerner to testify on IRS scandal WSJ: Emails Suggest IRS Targeting Developed by Lower-Level Workers Noam Schieber: The conservative plan to starve government has finally paid off with the IRS scandal Filibuster Reform Fight "Nuclear" skirmishes continue in Sentate, as Reid gets the upper hand McCain To GOP: Stop Blocking Budget Negotiations Or Dems Will Change The Rules McConnell gets worried: Claims Democrats are seeking 51 votes to 'blow the Senate up' Democratic leaders: Pact that prevented use of the 'nuclear option' is dead, thanks to GOP Communications Breakdown Google faces new Federal anti-trust probe over display ads Energy, Climate & Environment Autsch! Fracking Now Threatening The German Beer Industry! Eugene Robinson: President Obama's mission on climate change Nations In Turmoil Russia Says Syria Will Attend Geneva Peace Talks Syrian opposition leader suggests transition plan Sectarian unrest rises in Lebanon International News UN hails 'historic' Obama drone vow Two more arrested over UK soldier's killing Woolwich murder: UK Government defends security services Rioters continue to battle police in Sweden Money in Politics Kevin Drum: Mitch McConnell's Friends Are Being Oppressed By Liberal Thugs! Ed Kilgore: Mitch McConnell & The Return of the Poor Little Rich Boys Midwest Roundup Feds want Nebraska to repay $3 million in wake of audit Sen. Johanns cosponsoring amendments to Farm Bill Sen. Tom Harkin will leave all his professional papers to Des Moines' Drake University Poll: Majority of Iowa voters clueless about 2014 Senate candidates Jim Zabel, Iowa broadcasting legend, dies at 91 What Have We Learned? As we put the final touches on today's work and get ready to enjoy three days off, we have three things on our minds: the school year is ending, this is Memorial Day weekend, and President Obama's speech on national security and the drone program on Thursday was a stunningly frank and necessary next step in America's path forward. What Americans hopefully learned from the President on Thursday reminds us of some of the parting words of wisdom we've given or received at the end of school years past. Ed Kilgore of Washington Monthly may have been the first major member of the media to understand those words of wisdom that President Obama was imparting - wisdom many Americans have yet to truly grasp. Whatever your personal political beliefs are, based on both the speech on Thursday and the series of actions the President has set in motion - drafting an official drone policy, admitting responsibility for killing innocents with our drones, publicly taking responsibility for initiating the end to Guantanamo - it should be obvious to anyone with a solid grasp of foreign policy that the era of "perpetual war" in America is finally coming to an end. This era won't be ended by President Obama alone, though... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for May 24, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Jobs, housing data show economy has some muscle New Home Sales Rise 2.3%, Hit Record Pace as Buyer Demand Picks Up Ongoing weak economic recovery still evident in too many states Poverty still growing twice as fast in the suburbs as in cities Sequestration Nation Four Federal agencies - IRS, EPA, HUD, OMB - closed for business today due to sequestration Post-ABC poll: Most Americans still disapprove of sequester Senior Senate Repubs Oppose Budget Blockade By Tea Party In GOP Feud Budget Cuts Get Personal; Those Who Are Hurt, Holler Wall Street Watch Trouble Brewing: Banks' Lobbyists Helping in Drafting Financial Bills To Soften Financial Regulations Obama nominates Stein and Piwowar to fill expected vacancies on SEC Worldwide Economics With 'Abenomics,' Japan's economy catches a sense of revival Paul Krugman: Japan, The Economic Model For The World - Again? Maybe. Immigration: Reform Coming Poll: Most Americans back 'path to citizenship,' setting up tough choice for GOP lawmakers House Republicans send warning on immigration | GOP House Speaker John Boehner: 'Don't ask me how' House immigration reform will happen Cillizza and Sullivan: How the IRS scandal helped immigration reform Associated Problems Holder OK'd search warrant for Fox News reporter's private emails, official says Obama Shows His Concern: Leak Investigations 'May Chill Investigative Journalism' Health Care Checkup Great News: California Obamacare premium rates are falling; No 'rate shock' here The Fact Checker: Michelle Bachmann's absurd claim of a vast health database earns four Pinocchios Equality Boy Scouts to Admit Openly Gay Youths as Members | Nevada Assembly backs resolution to end ban on gay marriage Here It Is! Your HuskerNutz Preview for May 24, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update Pres. Obama nominates Victoria Nuland for assistant secretary of state Obama nominates former campaign aide to head Ofc of Personnel Mgmt News From Capitol Hill Senate Unanimously Confirms Sri Srinivasan To Powerful D.C. Circuit Court Ugly GOP student loan bill clears House, likely to fail in Senate On The Left David Sirota: There's no substitute for government disaster relief Dylan Matthews: Sorry, Grassley. Obama isn't 'packing the court.' Capehart: Laugh all you want, New Yorkers - Take Weiner seriously David Cay Johnston: Separate But Unequal - Apple Defers Its Taxes, You Foot The Bill Dwight Garner: These Artists Draw Blood - 'The Art of Controversy' by Victor Navasky On The Right Alex Roarty: The Republican Blueprint for 2014? Scandal, Most of the Time Greg Sargent: Tea Party Senators jump the shark Kate Nocera: How Much Longer Can House Republicans Go Before Turning On Each Other? Jonathan Chait: Josh Barro, the Loneliest Republican Ryan Cooper: Rebels Like Josh Barro are Useful for Any Political Party 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.