Monday, September 09, 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. Syria: Against Action Obama: Decision To Strike Syria Shouldn't Depend On Public Opinion Gallup: U.S. Support for Action in Syria Is Low vs. Past Conflicts CNN poll: Nearly 80% of U.S. public against Syrian strike resolution Uphill battle for Obama: Where Congress stands on Syria In interview, Syrian President Assad notes there is no evidence he attacked his own people with chemical weapons Syrian forces may have used gas without Assad's permission Ezra Klein: Rep Alan Grayson notes Obama Admin. confirms; No smoking gun that attack was ordered by Assad U.S. military planners don't support war with Syria Why America's veteran generals are ambivalent over Syria Iraq joins Iran in opposing U.S.-led military strike in Syria Wonkbook: Seven hard truths for the White House on Syria Pew poll: In foreign affairs, Americans are less receptive to moral arguments Steve Benen: Karl Rove, George W. Bush, And The Long Shadows Of Failure & Decisiveness James Fallows: Why the case for war in Syria is weak Syria: In Favor Of Action Obama White House launches final push to win congressional support for strike on Syria Pres. Obama to address a skeptical nation Tuesday on Syria Sec. of State Kerry says Saudi Arabia has agreed to support military strike against Syria Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton plans to address Syria at the White House Monday Obama's push for a Syria strike depends on many factors other than presidential eloquence U.S. leaves door open to new U.N. vote on Syria Nicholas Kristof: Pulling the Curtain Back on Syria Fight For The Fed Joseph Stiglitz: Why Janet Yellen, Not Larry Summers, Should Lead the Fed Josh Barro: Why The Larry Summers Nomination Could Be In Trouble Thanks To Syria Cover for Summers? Top female Treasury official reported under consideration for lesser Fed post Terry O'Neil: The Case for Janet Yellen Gets Stronger Every Day The Spying Game Obama Admin. had restrictions on NSA data mining reversed in 2011 Report: NSA Can Now Access Everything On Your iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry Energy, Climate & Environment Drought Helped Spark Syria's Civil War - Is it One of Many Climate Wars to Come? Econbrowser: Syria and the world oil market Nations In Turmoil Rebels take hundreds hostage in Philippines India deploys army to quell communal violence The War Over There Drone and Taliban Attacks Hit Civilians, Afghans Say International News Kurdish rebel group PKK 'halts withdrawal' from Turkey Australia's new conservative government aims to re-boot heavily polluting mining industry Mexican President Pena Nieto proposes sweeping social changes States Of Confusion Public Policy Polling: de Blasio on verge of avoiding runoff in NYC mayoral race Former Marine recovering after fight with three beach bullies in Florida Midwest Roundup Omaha businessman, corporate Republican, and former failed Senate candidate Pete Ricketts announces run for governor Don Walton: Republican roster of 2014 candidates for Nebraska governor filling up Iowa Air Guard marks end of 72 years of manned flight in Des Moines Iowa Issues Gun Permits To The Blind, Allowing Them To Carry In Public Who's The Boss? Congress returns to work in DC this week, and for all the hand-wringing Reid Epstein at Politico did over the weekend about the calendar pressing on President Obama, the list and gravity of tasks facing Congress is much longer, much heavier, and more complex than what the President is facing - and Congress only has nine work days scheduled to finish it all. Of course, the first order of business in both houses when Congress returns will be the vote on whether to authorize a military strike in Syria. The White House continued prosecuting its case in the national media over the weekend, and the President is scheduled to speak to the nation on Tuesday about the decision on Syria that Congress will pick up this week. However, neither the facts or the numbers have really changed from what we outlined on Friday, when we pointedly noted multiple polls that confirm Americans do NOT want to get involved militarily in Syria. At his press conference at the G-20 Friday, President Obama said that the decision to strike shouldn't depend on public opinion - a comment we firmly disagree with. If America is going to play policeman to the world once again, there are two solid questions we believe most Americans want answered before Congress votes... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for September 09, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Other Key Syria Headlines Assad Warns of Retaliation If U.S. Strikes Syria Pro-Democracy Forces Still Among Rebels Fighting Assad Syrian refugees flood into Turkish border towns, straining resources and tempers Lauren Wolfe: Syria Has a Massive Rape Crisis | Everyone Failed: With the World Watching, Syria Amassed Nerve Gas Asawin Suebsaeng: 5 Toxic Syria Conspiracy Theories Greg Sargent: A liberal alternative to war in Syria? Beutler: The GOP's massive new lie: A Syria vote won't derail Obama's second term - House Republicans will Jobs & The Economy Brad Plumer: The incredible shrinking U.S. labor force Wall Street Watch Fannie and Freddie to cut maximum loan size Budget Battles As Congress deals with Syria, budget fights loom for GOP | Repubs seek to tie military budget cuts to Syria intervention debate Immigration: Reform Coming? Washington Post: Immigration reform hits a GOP hurdle Immigration Reform Falls to the Back of the Line Health Care Checkup Right wing effort to defund Obama Care tries to regain momentum Minnesota now claims lowest ObamaCare rates in U.S. Education In America Parents opt kids out of standardized tests in small but growing trend | Robert J. Gordon: The Great Stagnation of American Education Communications Breakdown Verizon and F.C.C. Net Neutrality Battle Set To Go Some Publishers Now Enlisting Editorial Staffers for Ad Content Immigration: Reform Coming? Politico Publisher Allbritton Purchases 'Capital New York' Website Arsenio Hall ready to return to the late-night 'party' Here It Is! Your HuskerNutz Preview for September 09, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Money in Politics After Student Protests, Sallie Mae Becomes 50th Corporation to Dump ALEC National Politics Right-wing Western Maryland secessionists highlight rural-urban divide in American politics White House Update Obama to grant six interviews today, before he gives Syria speech on Tuesday Sam Tanenhaus: The Hands-Tied Presidency News From Capitol Hill House Of Representatives Scheduled To Work Only Nine Days In September House GOP claims it will raise debt ceiling by mid-October On The Left NAACP president Ben Jealous to step down from post at the end of year Sen. Elizabeth Warren assails Supreme Court as far too conservative On The Right Galston and Kamarck: How to save the Republican Party, courtesy of two Democrats Paul Krugman: What They Don't Know - The Right Wing Wonk Gap On The Far Right GOP Extremist Sen. Ted Cruz: Deaths In Syria Are A Distraction From Benghazi Scandal | Juan Williams shuts down Benghazi hype at Fox News: 'It's gone, baby. It's all in your head' 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.