Friday, July 26, 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. DC, Prepping For Vacation Obama support group OFA embraces tea party blueprint for August push House Republicans' August Recess Playbook: We're Fighting Washington For You Republicans prepare for 'Obamacare' showdown in August, with eye to 2014 elections No Summer Vacation For The Koch Brothers And Their Political Agenda Democrats plan over August recess: Joint, bipartisan town halls on immigration? Why immigration reform will be won or lost in August House Will Return From Monthlong Vacation in September To Grueling, 9-Day Work Month Legislation Congress Has Failed to Pass This Summer Congress Has Just 17 Working Days to Solve Huge Fiscal Issues Before The Oct 1 Deadline Want a Job With 239 Vacation Days? Become a Member of Congress Fools & Liars Anthony Weiner Admits to More Online Relationships as New Poll Shows Lead Evaporating In Mayoral Race Anthony Weiner: I sexted up to 3 women since quitting Congress Bob Filner Sexual Harassment Accusations Pile On From Multiple Women Democratic Party officials ask San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to quit Pelosi blasts both Weiner & Filner: Do your therapy in private 7 lavish gifts reportedly received by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell McDonnell shifts strategy in gifts scandal Fighting To Vote Justice Department to challenge states' voting laws Texas Tribune: Feds Seek to Restore Voting Law Restrictions on Texas Why the DOJ picked Texas first Why The Voting Rights Act May End Up Back In The Supreme Court Ed Kilgore: The Side Door to Voting Rights Preclearance North Carolina Legislature Approves Nation's Most Restrictive Voter Suppression Law Dahlia Lithwick: From tolerance to voter suppression; What the hell's wrong with North Carolina? Florida Set To Resume Voter Purge Immigration: Reform Coming? Steve King On Immigration: GOP's Worst Nightmare Related: Cantaloupe Growers Lobby Congress on Immigration Reform Jonathan Bernstein: Steve King and why Republicans should allow immigration reform to pass Steve Benen: Rep. King is 'hateful,' 'ignorant' - and getting exactly what he wants Education In America College Enrollment Falls as Economy Recovers College Professors Are About to Get Really Mad at President Obama Energy, Climate & Environment Not a joke: North pole turned into lake from global warming Halliburton to plead guilty to destroying evidence in BP spill Good News: World's Largest Solar Plant Ready to Shine in California's Mojave Desert Federal report: World energy consumption to grow 56 percent by 2040 Nations In Turmoil Arrest of former Egypt President Morsi ordered Aid to Egypt Can Keep Flowing, Despite Overthrow, White House Decides Tunisians stage street protests after opposition politician slain The War Over There Al-Qaeda tries to soften image - with ice cream International News Israel ready to make 'serious territorial concessions' as part of peace deal Iran Is Said to Want Direct Talks With U.S. on Nuclear Program Midwest Roundup Nebraska is King of Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcies, but how'd that happen? Iowa group says continued federal cuts will hurt dialysis patients Condemnation of Iowa's Rep. King mounts as Gov. Branstad adds to criticism The Usual? Not This Time... While this week we've been focusing on complex topics like the President's plan to tackle inequality, the ongoing sabotage governing by Congressional Republicans, and race issues, many of our professional colleagues were diddling around with Anthony Weiner stories. Others were grabbing quickie tales about Bob Filner, or creating Buzzfeed-like posts along the lines of 'The 7 lavish illicit gifts Virginia's Governor Bob McDonnell recieved.' For the record - if it wouldn't void our journalistic ethics - every member of our staff would like a ride in the Ferrari that Gov. McDonnell got to "borrow." It's not that there haven't been hugely important stories to cover this week. From Rep. Steve King's impressively ignorant and racist anti-immigration rants, to the blame-shifting blather and willfully wrong lies about who's to blame for Detroit's failure, to the Justice Department's new challenge of unjust voter laws in states like Texas and North Carolina, there's been no shortage of real news. Today is Friday though, and for members of Congress and their staff, it's almost time for their annual August recess, aka "summer vacation." We know many members of both the House and Senate have plenty of activities planned in their home districts, and some staff members we know personally are going to use their staycations to try to get caught up on things they've missed dearly - like sleep. We'd recommend to our friends on the Hill, however, that they hold off from getting too comfortable... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for July 26, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Business Spending Lifts Orders for Durable Factory Goods Wall Street Watch Banks shiver as UBS swallows $885 million U.S. fine Sequestration Nation CBO: Continued Sequester cuts would cost up to 1.6M jobs through 2014 Sequestration, Furloughs Slow Down Review of Federal Regulations Taxes & Budgets Reid Says Any Tax Overhaul Plan Must Boost Revenue White House hardens stance on budget cuts ahead of Republican's looming showdown mentality The Fight For The Fed In Tug of War Over New Fed Leader, Some Gender Undertones Neil Irwin: Yellen vs. Summers - Who would be a better Fed chair? Mike Konczal: Should Obama pick Larry Summers to head the Fed? Matthew O'Brien: Larry Summers Should Absolutely Not Be the Next Fed Chair Ezra Klein: Larry Summers isn't popular in the blogosphere. But he's got friends in high places. Evan Soltas: Yellen or Summers, It Will Be Obama's Fed Health Care Checkup Jonathan Cohn: The Right's Latest Scheme to Sabotage Obamacare Krugman: Repubs In A Desperate Panic, That Obamacare Will Work Senior GOPer: Try To Ditch Obamacare? Dream On, Guys Brian Beutler: The Republican's Undeniable Sabotage Jonathan Bernstein: The core contradiction at the heart of the GOP campaign to sabotage Obamacare Republicans had a plan to replace Obamacare. It looked a lot like Obamacare. The Spying Game Spy Agencies Under Heaviest Scrutiny Since Scandals of the '70s Greg Sargent: Reform of NSA surveillance is probably inevitable Justice & Injustice George Zimmerman Juror Says He 'Got Away With Murder' Charles M. Blow: Standing Our Ground Hypocrisy On Parade Inside Groundswell: Read the Memos of the New Right-Wing Strategy Group Planning a "30 Front War" | Ed Kilgore: Groundswell, The Right-Wing 'JournoList' And The Hypocrites Behind It Here It Is! Your HuskerNutz Preview for July 26, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update White House to focus comprehensive energy review of America's  infrastructure Amy Walter: Obama's Summer Poll Swoon Is No Real Dip At All Obama, at Florida Port, Vows to Speed Shipping and Transit Projects Obama hopes Congress will just stay out of the way News From Capitol Hill House appropriations bill would cut defense spending but prohibit 2014 furloughs Cantor: House won't vote on clean debt limit extension in September Amash, Conyers, and other mavericks from both parties: A fresh look on Capitol Hill Ed Kilgore: The Amash Coalition On The Left Ezra Klein: There's no such thing as 'the center' Sarah Kliff: Watch out, Republicans! You're helping Obamacare succeed. On The Right Eugene Robinson: GOP obstruction as the new normal Josh Marshall: The GOP and the Albatross of White Racial Panic 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.