Wednesday, September 11, 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. Obama Adresses Syria Pres. Obama takes Syria case to the public in White House address Obama On Syria: We Must Act To Stop Children From Being Gassed President Obama's full remarks on Syria 4 takeaways from President Obama's Syria speech CNN speech poll: Most Americans back President Obama Max Fisher: To sell Syria, Obama chose political science over scare tactics. That's a big deal. Ezra Klein: Obama made a very good argument on Syria - and a very bad one Eugene Robinson: The Syria speech Obama should have made Greg Sargent: President Obama is conflicted on Syria. That's a good thing. Stephanie Gaskell: The Obama Doctrine Syria's Positive Move Syria vows to give up chemical weapons, no deal finalized yet at U.N. Syria also willing to join Chemical Weapons Convention Securing Syria's chemical weapons arsenal will be formidable task, experts say Chemicals removal achievable, says former weapons inspector Adam Serwer: Why destroying Syria's chemical weapons will be harder than it sounds Greg Sargent: Reasons for skepticism about emerging Syria deal Syria: The New Deal Secretary Kerry's Syria Solution In The Works For Months A Long Path Led to Offer on Syria's Chemical Arms U.N. Clash Looms Over Syria Resolution and Enforcement John Kerry To Meet Thursday With Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, In Geneva Former President Jimmy Carter: The world now has a chance to end war in Syria Ezra Klein: The White House may really be about to win on Syria The Spying Game Declassified court documents highlight NSA violations in data collection for surveillance NSA broke rules on call-tracking program, court filings show Most 2006-2009 NSA queries of phone database broke court rules How We Got From 9/11 to Massive NSA Spying on Americans: A Timeline Health Care Checkup House GOP Pushes New Gambit To Defund Obamacare Conservatives Slam GOP's Gambit On Defunding Obamacare Paul Krugman: The Wonk Gap and the Debt Ceiling Greg Sargent: Yet another scheme to block Obamacare Energy, Climate & Environment Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Reaches a High, Nearing Goal for 2016 Arctic winter ice volume 'hits new low' Nations In Turmoil Six killed in two blasts near army sites in Egypt's Sinai region Philippine rebels call for foreign mediation Blast wrecks government office in Libya International News UN: Worldwide food waste totals $750bn annually Shell Oil mulls compensation for massive spills in Nigeria States Of Confusion In Alaska, fears of a Republican civil war could keep Senate out of reach for GOP in 2014 Official Texas Review: "Creation Science" Should Be Incorporated into Every Biology Textbook Midwest Roundup Survey predicts Nebraska to be among best in USA for jobs in 4th quarter Back-to-school sales keep Nebraska state revenue targets on track in August Iowa's congressmen, senators express optimism about Russian proposal on Syria Iowa state insurance commissioner launches anti-fraud initiative The Ties That Blind For all the horrifying descriptions of the chemical weapons attacks in Syria that President Obama gave last night, his heartfelt and surprisingly brief plea to Americans likely changed the opinion of almost no one. That doesn't mean Americans have become heartless after more than a decade of war, that began this date, twelve years ago, in New York City, Washington, DC, and eventually, a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We believe that Americans are truly concerned about the horrific deaths of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Syria's civil war. We also think that progress has been made on a diplomatic solution, at a remarkably fast pace over the last few days. Just yesterday, the Syrian government agreed to join the international Chemical Weapons Convention, and hand over their entire chemical weapons stockpile to an international enforcement group. To paraphrase President Obama though, just making a declaration doesn't actually get the work done. However, as we noted earlier this week, the United States can not and should not be expected to unilaterally enforce a worldwide standard, when our nation is only one of many parties to that standard. Ethically as well as fiscally, America can no longer afford to be the policeman for the world. In fact, we'd say the type and level of attention that the world has demanded that the U.S. give since the end of World War II, seems to have blinded many in America to the fact that far too often, we've failed our responsibilities to ourselves here at home. For example, allowing blind people to have gun permits in Iowa... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for September 11, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) 9/11: Twelve Years Later 9/11 observances: Moments of silence on 12th anniversary of terror attacks Mark Bittman: On 9/11, My Two Cents on Syria 9/11 anniversary being marked at the Pentagon Is interest in 9/11 waning or changing course? | Final push on funds for memorial honoring United Flight 93 passengers is underway Michael Daly: The Story of an Unsung 9/11 Hero 5 Things We Should Not Forget On 9/11 Kean & Hamilton: We're Still Not As Safe As We Should Be Jobs & The Economy Labor Dept: U.S. employers posted fewer jobs in July, but hired more people | Labor Secretary Perez Pledges Aggressive Defense of Workers' Rights in Major Speech Wall Street Watch Alan Blinder: Five Years After The Crash, Financial Lessons Not Learned Matt Yglesias: Corporate America has forgotten how to invest; An example of everything that's wrong at the top Economic Inequality Study: Children suffer most from growing economic inequality among families since recession Annie Lowrey: The Rich Got Richer Through the Recovery Education In America Pew Poll: Among recent high school grads, Hispanic college enrollment rate now surpasses that of whites | Dylan Matthews: Teach for America is a deeply divisive program. It also works. Communications Breakdown Net neutrality is on trial in Washington. Here's what you need to know. Media Matters Kudos: Sam Stein wins Sept. 2013 Sidney Award for Exposing the Devastating Impact of Sequestration Did You Miss It On Monday? Here It Is Again! Your HuskerNutz Preview for September 11, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Election Returns De Blasio First in Mayoral Primary - Unclear if He Avoids Runoff Stringer Defeats Spitzer in NYC Comptroller Primary More Victims of The NRA: John Morse, Angela Giron Both Recalled In Colorado For Gun Control Movement, a Hard Loss on Tough Terrain in Colorado Recalls Shutdown Showdown Capitol Hill's four leaders to meet on potential shutdown Republicans Threaten To Push Nation Into Default Unless Obama Agrees To Delay Obamacare For One Year Plumer: We could breach the debt ceiling as soon as Oct. 18. Here's what happens next. Jonathan Bernstein: Don't be fooled on budget negotiations On The Left Steve Benen: President Obama, turning the exceptionalism debate on its ear On The Right Brian Beutler: The right's Obamacare obsession is destroying the Republican 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.