Tuesday, September 24, 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. Going Down Swinging Shutdown looming, Senate begins debating spending measure Sens. Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn abandon Ted Cruz on Obamacare tactic Sen. Harry Reid Shoots Down Sen. Ted Cruz On Defunding Obamacare Sen. Ted Cruz: The Distinguished Wacko Bird from Texas Greg Sargent: House GOP to Ted Cruz: Win, Rocky, win! Josh Barro: Here's Why Conservatives Are Full Of It On Health Care Former GOP Sen. Judd Gregg: Obamacare "defunders" are playing Russian roulette with GOP CNBC Poll: Most Americans against defunding Obamacare Gallup: Americans' Desire for Gov't Leaders to Compromise Increases Greg Sargent: The GOP's problem isn't which hostage to take. It's the extortion strategy itself. Shutdown Showdown Ezra Klein: There's much less time to avoid a government shutdown than you think Kevin Drum: The Public Is Massively Opposed to Shutting Down the Govt. Over Obamacare Poll: Vast Majority Of Tea Party Prefers Government Shutdown Over Compromise Ezra Klein: A government shutdown will cost Americans billions 10 ways a federal govt shutdown would affect your daily life No mid-Oct. paycheck for troops if govt shuts down, lawmaker says After past shutdowns, Congress gave federal workers back pay. This time? Don't count on it. Sequester: How Conservatives Pull At Least A Partial Win In The Govt Shutdown Fight Anyway Debt Ceiling Debacle With No Talks on Debt Ceiling, Risks Continue To Mount Annie Lowrey: Shutdown vs. Default - The Relative Impact United Nations For once, the U.N. General Assembly actually matters. Here are eight big reasons why. At U.N., Obama to focus on his most vexing foreign-policy challenges Russia says hopes for U.N. resolution on Syria this week Obama on hot mike at U.N.: I quit smoking 'because I'm scared of my wife' The Spying Game Former F.B.I. Agent Pleads Guilty in Leaking Classified Information to A.P. Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call for "Full Accounting" of How Govt. Is Using Surveillance Powers Energy, Climate & Environment Scientists confirm fracking caused 109 earthquakes in Ohio, as opposition to controversial process grows Biofuels News: How Algae Could Create Better, More Efficient Gasoline Than Corn Nations In Turmoil Car bomb in Damascus, Syria kills seven, wounds 15 UN chief Ban Ki Moon urges world to stop arming Syrians Protests flare in Sudan as fuel prices soar The War Over There Conflicting accounts from gov't, al-Shabab on Kenya mall siege; Terrorists may still be holding out Al-Shabab gunmen who stormed Kenya mall spoke English, were from different countries Nairobi attack is sign of al-Shabab's shifting survival strategies, U.S. officials say International News New strikes begin in Greece over civil service cuts Thousands demand higher wages in Bangladesh factory protest Russia accuses Greenpeace crew of 'piracy' in Arctic Strong earthquake kills 30 in remote part of Pakistan States Of Confusion Backers of D.C. 'living wage' bill for D.C. retailers make eleventh-hour bids for council override Minnesota legislature likely to raise minimum wage next session Midwest Roundup Nebraska Dem State Sen. Annette Dubas announces bid for governor Neb. lawmakers schedule school-finance hearings Iowa GOP's state central committee moves dates of 2014 Iowa Caucuses, state convention U.S. Census data indicates nearly half of Iowa's workforce has some sort of disability Going Down Swinging, Wildly Even though much of the political media will be hyperventilating every day this week, and for the foreseeable future - or at least until both the Continuing Resolution and debt ceiling issues are settled - we honestly don't think there's that much to freak about, yet. As we noted last Friday, the Washington Post's Greg Sargent pretty much laid out the roadmap for how the CR will move around Capitol Hill this week, and so far, he's been right. Even before the week began, it was obvious that the efforts of the arrogant, self-absorbed, Ivy League tea party Republican Sen. Ted Cruz would fail. As expected, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid began using the Senate rules on Monday to clean the CR, and send it back to the House. Not surprisingly, neither the rules or reality stopped Cruz from wildly swinging around his ludicrous and increasingly desperate ideas to "defund Obamacare", as he did in his Monday op-ed at Real Clear Politics. Those unrealistic ideas, however, only served to give his fellow Republicans a splitting political headache that succeeded in calling even more attention to the ongoing civil war within the Republican Party. All this wild flailing by Congressional Republicans wouldn't be nearly so bad if they were simply willing to admit publicly what other well-known members of their party like former Sen. Judd Gregg or writer Josh Barro already have... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for September 24, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Study Confirms: More Manufacturing Finally Coming Back to the U.S Data Analysis Proves: America's Middle Class Does Better In States With Lots Of Union Members Suzy Khimm: Can the U.S. economy afford a shutdown? Wall Street Watch Regulator Sues Morgan Stanley, Eight Others Over Faulty Securities U.S. government to sue JPMorgan in mortgage case: sources Canadian Phone Maker BlackBerry Reaches $4.7 Billion Deal to Go Private Economic Inequality Brad Plumer: Why are 47 million Americans on food stamps? It's the recession - mostly. Galbraith: Fixing Inequality Can Save America From the Next Crisis Fidgeting From The Fed Federal Reserve considers explicit pledge: Low rates if inflation stays down Two Fed Officials Admit They Want To Delay The Taper Again Health Care Checkup Sarah Kliff: Obamacare starts next week, whether the government shuts down or not One week away, Obamacare's small business insurance exchanges not all ready for launch Dean Baker: Obamacare - It's Better Than You Think | Obamacare Could Even Help People Register to Vote - Unless the Administration Caves to the GOP Fact Check: No, Science Doesn't Back 20-Week 'Fetal Pain' Abortion Bans HIV rates reach historic low in children Guns & America Two Men Arrested In Chicago Mass Shooting Katrina vanden Heuvel: The case for gun liability laws Immigration: Reform Coming? Illegal immigration may be rising again - after years of decline Rep. Nancy Pelosi moves to pressure Republicans on immigration Ethics & The Media Fox's Brit Hume Details How Right Wing Media Push GOP To Extremes Tina Dupuy: Results Prove - Paid Journalists Pay Off Communications Breakdown Newsweek's New Owner Accused of 'Illegally Muzzling' Employees LinkedIn Sued for Allegedly Hacking Users' Address Books And now, for your Weekly OK Gazette Toon preview for September 24, 2013  (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) National Politics Lois Lerner, key official in IRS controversy resigns Money in Politics The next Citizens United could affect campaign spending in the states  On The Left David Corn: Obama is the Shrewdest Political Tactician Since LBJ Former Pres. Bill Clinton tells Letterman 'I honestly don't know' whether Hillary will run in 2016 Joe Hagan: Hillary in Midair; Hillary Clinton's Two Decades in the Political Spotlight Alec Macgillis: How Doug Band drove a wedge through the Clinton dynasty On The Right Dana Milbank: Republicans' dangerous rational irrationality Former VP Cheney's gun malfunctions in charity antelope hunting contest, no one hurt Lynne Cheney reportedly told Alan Simpson to "shut your mouth" about his support for Mike Enzi in Wyoming Brian Beutler: The GOP's rebranding effort is officially completely dead States Of Confusion NBC poll: McAuliffe now leads Cuccinelli in Virginia Governor's race Sikh professor attacked in New York in alleged hate crime | Top Pennsylvania school officials accused of racist texts Protesters decry neo-Nazi plans to run North Dakota town Sports News Josh Eidelson: The shocking college athlete rip-off; They're finally fighting back | Neil Irwin: The real reasons Washington's NFL team can't win a game 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.