Tuesday, July 16, 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. ***Update: Today's Commentary was written and published prior to the last minute deal made on the Senate floor, to avert the "nuclear option." We'll have more on that tomorrow.*** Light 'Em Up  **Last Minute Update#1 ** Nuclear Option Averted: Senators Strike Tentative Deal To Confirm Nominees Without Reforming Filibuster  **Last Minute Update#2 ** Senate Advances Cordray Nomination To Run Consumer Financial Protection Bureau **Last Minute Update#3 ** Greg Sargent: By standing firm, Dems win nuclear standoff, though filibuster remains Reid Edges Closer To Nuclear Option As Lengthy All-Senator Meeting Ends With No Deal With NLRB As Example, GOP Sabotage Governing Forcing Filibuster Crisis The Nominees: Who is the Senate fighting over with its filibuster fight? Reid To Republicans: If You Want Me To Back Down On Filibuster Reform 'Stop The Filibusters' As Senate nears filibuster showdown, Reid says Republicans can still avoid fight Greg Sargent: Time to go nuclear Ending the Tyranny of the Mitch McConnell Minority Steve Benen: Assessing the 'nuclear' fallout in the Senate Business Groups Watch Senate Action on Filibuster Ban Carefully Harkin Accuses Senate GOP Of 'Nullification' By Filibuster Top Senate liberals: We support changing rules no matter who controls Senate Injustice In America Federal hate crimes charges for Zimmerman? Experts say, 'Not likely' Jury talked Stand Your Ground before not-guilty Zimmerman verdict, juror says Persistent Tweeter Ends Juror B37's Book Deal Juror B37 Suddenly Drops Plans For Zimmerman Book: Claims 'Best Direction For Me To Go Is Away' Zimmerman trial juror B37: Why did prosecutors even let her on the Trayvon Martin jury? After the Verdict: The Zimmerman Non-Riots Race In America Jelani Cobb: What Hasn't Changed in Post-Racial America Eugene Robinson: Black boys in America, denied the right to be young Jonathan Capehart: Trayvon Martin and the stolen youth of black children Charles M. Blow: The Whole System Failed Roger Simon: Like it or not, the Zimmerman trial was all about race Errol Louis: America Isn't Colorblind: We Need to Talk About Racism The Spying Game Fugitive Edward Snowden applies for asylum in Russia Nations In Turmoil Deadly clashes erupt in Cairo after U.S. diplomat's visit Violence overshadows new Egyptian cabinet; seven killed Pakistan Taliban says its fighters are now in Syria International News Mexico captures leader of brutal drugs cartel North Korean ship carrying hidden 'missile equipment' detained in Panama after leaving Cuba Gay Marriage Bill Clears Britain's House Of Lords National Politics Rising interest rates could mean the window to fix America's infrastructure on the cheap is closing FiveThirtyEight.com: Senate Control in 2014 Increasingly Looks Like a Tossup Midwest Roundup CRP land opened to haying/grazing in 50+ Nebraska counties Alliance, Nebraska set to take over quirky Carhenge site Report: 3,200 government plates annually elude Iowa's speed, red light cameras Des Moines police make largest heroin bust in city's history Time To Light 'Em Up While the temps near our DC offices are forecast to get near 100ºF this week, we have no doubt that inside the Old Senate Chambers last night, and inside the normal Senate chambers today, will be where the real heat is at. As you may know, the full U.S. Senate - all 100 members - met yesterday evening in the Old Senate Chambers to discuss a possible way around Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid invoking the infamous "nuclear option" in the U.S. Senate. Since no deal was reported out of that meeting, we fully expect Majority Leader Reid to push ahead with all seven votes on President Obama's nominees this morning. If Sen. McConnell and the Republican leaders in the Senate balk, stall, or try to obstruct a vote on any of those nominees, Sen. Reid has confirmed he will push the metaphorical button, and use the so-called nuclear option to change the rules in the U.S. Senate. That the Republicans' obstructionist ways will finally blow up in their faces shouldn't surprise anyone - and frankly, this rule change isn't anything to fear. The level of rule change Majority Leader Reid is looking for isn't a complete elimination of the filibuster in the Senate. Rather, it's an adjustment that actually brings the Senate closer to both the letter and the intent of the Constitution, specifically Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 - The Appointments Clause... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for July 16, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Industrial Production in U.S. Rises by Most in Four Months Gasoline lifts consumer inflation in June Some McDonalds Now Tell Workers To Budget By Getting A Second Job And Turning Off Their Heat The living wage war: D.C. Wal-Mart battle goes national Wall Street Watch Federal Reserve delays debate over stimulus exit strategy, eyeing investor anxiety David Cay Johnston: Corporate Tax Rates Plummet As Profits Soar Goldman Sachs profit doubles on investment gains, lower tax rate Andrew Ross Sorkin: On Wall St., a Culture of Greed Won't Let Go Sequestration Nation How the Sequester Hurts Poor People - And Squeezes Them The Most | Jared Bernstein: Sequester Watch Report #13 Immigration: Reform Coming? Legal Immigrants Seek Reward for Years of Following the Rules Greg Sargent: For the Hispanic media, it's all about John Boehner | The Reason for GOP Fear: Gallup Poll - Hispanics of All Ages Tilt Democratic House GOP's endgame on immigration: Do nothing? War on Women Rand Paul, Ted Cruz join Kirsten Gillibrand push on military sexual assault North Dakota Law Banning Abortion Drug Ruled Unconstitutional Health Care Checkup Study: Mandate delay won't hurt ObamaCare's bottom line savings Readers have lots of Obamacare questions. WonkBlog has more answers! Energy, Climate & Environment 25 Years After Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Company Still Hasn't Paid For Long-Term Environmental Damages | Keystone pipeline may add 40 cents to Midwest gas prices, report says And now, for your Weekly OK Gazette Toon preview for July 09, 2013  (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update Obama takes push for immigration reform to Spanish-language TV today News From Capitol Hill Senate reaches tentative deal to avoid nuclear option on filibuster On The Left Fear & Consequences: George Zimmerman and the Protection of White Womanhood Senate Deal Breaks Some Gridlock, But This Isn't the Filibuster Reform That's Needed On The Right The ravings of a mad woman; Rep. Michele Bachmann explains 'the way we spank the president' Bachmann Aide Fired After Theft Arrest From Capitol Hill Office States Of Confusion Nation's hottest heat this week to focus on D.C. area | Public Policy Polling: Virginians souring heavily on McDonnell 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.