Thursday, September 05, 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. Red Lines & Syria Pres. Obama Says 'World Set a Red Line' on Chemical Arms As U.S. pursues Syria strike, much of the world resists France will not act alone against Syria, prime minister says Pope Francis To Lead Vatican In Vigil Against Syria Strikes Sweden offers residency to all Syrian refugees As Syria deteriorates, neighbors fear bioweapons threat Official U.S. Assessment of Syrian Use of Chemical Weapons Russia warns of catastrophe if Syrian nuclear reactor is hit by U.S. strike The Reality Of Syria Rand Corporation Study: To destroy Syria chemical weapons, "boots on the ground" would be needed U.S. spies missed signs of Aug. 21 Syrian WMD Strike The Brutality of Syrian Rebels Posing Dilemma in West Brad Plumer: Everything you need to know about Syria's chemical weapons Syria: Legislating Permission Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. narrowly approves resolution authorizing strike on Syria, 10-7 How the Senate Foreign Relations Committee members voted Syrian War Resolution Will Require 60 Votes to Pass in Full Senate Full Senate to Return Briefly on Friday to Expedite Syria Vote; First Test Vote Could Be On 9/11 Kerry, Hagel Urge House Panel to Support Syria Strikes House members also now drafting Syria resolution Boehner: It's up to Obama to get the votes from Congress on Syria Greg Sargent: White House working hard to woo House liberals on Syria The Iraq Hangover: Lawmakers Who Backed Iraq War Now Skittish On Syria House GOP to let Democratic Senate vote first on Syria Syria: Dissent & Disbelief James P. Rubin: Syria Is Not Kosovo Kevin Drum: Would Bombing Syria Deter the Use of Chemical Weapons? Probably Not. Ezra Klein: Why Do We Even Care About Syria's Chemical Weapons? Jon Soltz: The Military Case Against Syria Strikes E.J. Dionne: Syria and the return of dissent Charles Blow: Syria & The Era of Disbelief Dave Weigel: GOP opposition to airstrikes is a legacy of the debacle in Iraq Clive Crook: The Moral Case for a Syria Strike Nicholas Kristof: The Right Questions on Syria Matt Fuller: 20 House Members to Watch on Syria Energy, Climate & Environment The People Living At The End Of The Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Are Already Sick And Dying Ted Genoways: Port Arthur, Texas: American Sacrifice Zone Nations In Turmoil Egypt's interior minister survives bomb attack Libya still roiling, as it plunges unnoticed into its worst political and economic crisis since the defeat of Gaddafi International News G20 summit leaders to discuss Syria in St Petersburg Syria strike possibilities set to overshadow G20 summit International Criminal Court: Trials of Kenyan leadership must go ahead Earthquake hits off Costa Rican coast; no damage reported States Of Confusion Police: DeKalb, Georgia police officer shot teen who was skipping school Student charged in fatal Texas high school stabbing George Zimmerman gets speeding ticket in Florida Democratic voters heavily outvoting GOP in early recall totals in Colorado Midwest Roundup Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley set to enter 2014 Republican gubernatorial contest Nebraska rancher: Producers will have to fight through second year of drought Iowa Board of Regents to ask for funding for 2nd year of tuition freeze, hold public hearing Deere & Company buying assets, manufacturing facility from Iowa company Red Lines & Reality   For most of the last week, we've discussed the looming potential for military action by the U.S. in Syria, at least mentioning the subject, if not focusing on the subject every day we've published. We've discussed the pundit class who continue to push for military action and the world that wants America to be their Supercop. We also discussed the reticence of many in Congress to get involved, and - spurred by comments from Greg Sargent - we came up with specific examples of why the American people might be skeptical of their government, outside of the disastrous and politically polarizing war in Iraq. While we were discussing these topics with you, the Obama Administration has continued to drag a feckless and selfish Congress and a screaming American public towards the responsibilities of a very definite red line that our nation agreed to long ago. Excluding a few of our more intelligent media colleagues, there's been very little discussion by either pundits or politicians of the reality behind that red line. President Obama however, addressed that red line reality directly during a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday. The President pointedly said, "I didn't set a red line. The world set a red line." Obama continued, "My credibility's not on the line. The international community's credibility is on the line." This argument by President Obama, and those in his administration who are tasked with carrying out his instructions - including Secretaries Kerry and Hagel - may indeed be the only valid part of the argument in favor of action against the Syrian government of Bashar Al-Assad... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for September 05, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Jobless claims improve more than forecast, remain near six-year low Private Payrolls in U.S. Increased by 176,000 in August | U.S. automobile sales hit pre-recession high GM sales up 14.7%; Ford rises 12.2%; Chrysler jumps 11.5% Wall Street Watch Debt Collectors Get More U.S. Consumer Bureau Oversight The Euro Zone ECB Keeps Rates at Record Low Amid Euro Zone Recovery Economic Inequality Jim Tankersley: Born poor? You want to live where the middle class is Walmart Workers Nationwide To Protest Today; Biggest Mobilization Since Black Friday One In Seven American Families Now Faces Food Insecurity Joshua Holland: Low-Wage Employers Have Fought Hard to Keep Their Workers Poor - Now Workers are Fighting Back Fight For The Fed U.S. Economy Continuing To Grow at 'Modest to Moderate' Pace, Fed Reports Zachary Goldfarb: Here's what Larry Summers would do at the Fed (It's not good) Why Obama might tap Summers for the Fed despite harsh criticism from the left Jackie Calmes: If Summers will be stopped, it's up to the Senate to do it Sequestration Nation Budget cuts hindered embassy security upgrades | How Syria Will Affect the Ongoing Sequester Fight Health Care Checkup Former Pres. Clinton says GOP has duty to help fix ObamaCare 'glitches' Clinton Explains Obamacare (Better Than Obama) & Gives the Big Picture | Obamacare Insurance Costs Affordable, Kaiser Survey Finds Ed Kilgore: The GOP, Still Tag-Teaming Obamacare Obstruction Ethics & The Media Jeff Bezos Makes It Clear: He Thinks Ad-Supported Businesses Are Bad For Users | New owner Jeff bezos to his future Washington Post journalists: Put the readers first Media Matters New York Times, AP Will Keep Using 'Redskins' Name, For Now Communications Breakdown Layoffs at ABC Stations Eliminate Last Political Reporters in San Francisco Bay Area It's Your Cap News Toon for September 05, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update With smiles, Obama, Putin greet each other at G-20 meeting President Obama continuing to weigh suspension of aid to Egypt News From Capitol Hill Jonathan Bernstein: Time is a luxury the House does have As Debate Reopens In Congress, Food Stamp Recipients Continue to Be Squeezed On The Left Greg Sargent: Syria provides tough challenges for anti-war left Thomas Edsall: How Fragile Is The Democratic Coalition? On The Right GOP Sources, Expect House Speaker Will Step Down After 2014 Elections Right Wing Lunacy: Sorry, Evangelicals, Syria Will Not Spur the Second Coming Sports Take David Cay Johnston: On NFL concussion settlement, taxpayers, not just fans, will pick up the tab | Dave Zirin: Tommy Morrison, Concussions, Brain Damage and the Legacy of Rocky V 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.