Monday, December 23, 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. The Mean-ing Of The Season Timothy Egan: Good Poor, Bad Poor Steve Benen: The 113th, giving new meaning to 'Do-Nothing Congress' Dec. 28 expiration on long-term aid leaves unemployed anxious Kevin Drum: 10 Reasons That Long-Term Unemployment Is a National Catastrophe Brad Plumer: Unemployment benefits for 1.3 million expire next week. Here's what you should know. Chart: This Is The Worst Long-Term Unemployment Crisis Since the Depression Mike Konczal: It's still far too early for Congress to stop worrying about unemployment George Zornick: Republicans could face serious backlash over unemployment benefit expiration White House pushes lawmakers to pass extended unemployment benefits immediately on return from break In 27 states, unemployment is now at its lowest level since nearly the beginning of the recession Ryan Cooper: The Truth? Progressive Economic Policy Is Popular. Ezra Klein: Full employment gives people jobs. But it also gives them power. Robert Reich: The Meaning of a Decent Society Communications Breakdown PR executive Justine Sacco fired after insensitive tweet goes global Justine Sacco, Fired After Tweet on AIDS in Africa, Issues Apology Kevin Beckford: Justine Sacco, Megyn Kelly and the "Humor" of White Privilege Sharon Waxman: The Case of Justine Sacco and the Twitter Lynch Mob Ducking Reality Cowardice In The Marketplace: Cracker Barrel puts Duck Dynasty products back on shelves John Nichols: WI Gov. Scott Walker Goes All "Duck Dynasty" on the First Amendment Josh Barro, Friday: When You Defend Phil Robertson, Here's What You're Really Defending Josh Barro, Today: Duck Dynasty Fans Are Sending Me Ridiculous Hate Mail Michael Hiltzik: The Duck and Jackass Dynasty E.J. Dionne: Duck Dynasty, meet Pope Francis Guns & America Colorado high school shooting victim Claire Davis dies Health Care Checkup Mixed Messages Add Anxiety as Deadline Nears in Health Act Sarah Kliff: No one knows if Obamacare will increase health care coverage next month Pres. Obama: 500K healthcare signups in December Obamacare outreach hits the clubs Red States Remain Adamantly Opposed to Medicaid Expansion 'Junk insurance' coming back to haunt its policyholders Marriage Equality Friday Recap: Federal judge strikes down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage Same-Sex Couples in Utah Now Getting Marriage Licenses Appeals Court Denies Utah Officials' Weekend Request For Emerg. Halt To Same-Sex Couples' Marriages Utah's Same-Sex Marriage Ban Back in Court Monday Nations In Turmoil 12 killed in attacks against church in southern Syria Syrian regime air raids kill dozens in Aleppo Russia sends trucks for Syrian arms removal South Sudanese rebels seize capital of oil-rich state Americans evacuated from South Sudan Pres. Obama weighs next steps in South Sudan International News Two members of rock band 'Pussy Riot' released from Russian prison Bangladeshi Factory Owners Charged in Fire That Killed 112 Dubai police seize record $31m drug haul Midwest Roundup Nebraska's jobless rate takes a tumble in November Homeless in Nebraska get holiday shopping excursion, thanks to Powerball winner UNL study sees Nebraska economy creeping slowly as 2014 nears Iowa voter fraud investigation possibly financed by misused funds Two years after her death, woman gets Christmas wish for her family The Mean-ing Of The Season As we get ready to start our annual holiday break Tuesday afternoon, like many media organizations, we've been trying to look back at the past year. It's been a record year for Congress, though not in a good way. As Steve Benen pointed out clearly on Friday, the 113th Congress in the first half of its session, passed the least number of bills since the end of World War II. As Benen also noted, the meager few bills they passed weren't good. In cae you'd forgotten Congress - specifically, the Republicans in Congress, led by their extremist tea party faction - also shut down the federal government this year, while almost blowing up the world's economy by not raising the debt ceiling. Republican action not only didn't achieve their initial stated goal, to stop the implementation of Obamacare, but it also ended up costing the government - meaning taxpayers - $24 billion while hurting the economy. Meanwhile, bills that Congress has routinely passed during other highly partisan sessions, like the Farm & Food bill, never got approved by both chambers before Senators and Congresspersons high-tailed it out of DC. The long-term unemployment extension bill also never got passed.  That means instead of the bare minimum of assistance, millions of unemployed Americans are getting a lump of BS and and a brush-off from Congress at Christmas that smacks of Ebenezer Scrooge. As Timothy Egan wrote in the New York Times over the weekend, this misguided treatment of America's poor, mostly by Republicans, has - just like their pointless shutdown, and empty debt ceiling threats - proven only their arrogance, ignorance, hypocrisy, and smallness of spirit. In short, instead of working together to make America and the world a better place... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for December 23, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy U.S. Economy Begins to Hit Growth Stride Consumer spending brightens economic outlook for 2014 Bargain-hungry shoppers buy less on weekend before Christmas | IMF To Raise Forecast for U.S Economy For 2014 Housing Outlook for 2014: Steadier, Sturdier Timothy Noah: Will this recovery will really fix the broken U.S. economy? Wall Street Watch Wall Street legal teams grapple with banks' Volcker rule compliance | Paul Krugman: Bits, Baubles, & Barbarism The Spying Game More Snowden effects: Secret contract tied NSA and computer security industry pioneer House Intel. Cmmte. Chair Rogers says Snowden committed treason Obama signals changes likely to NSA spying programs in 2014 Federal agencies to hire more cyber defenders in 2014 | Poll: Americans uneasy about surveillance but often use snooping tools themselves The year in U.S. government: Lots of spying, little legislating Report: CIA helped Colombia kill rebel leaders U.S. Covert Action In Colombia? Sí. Muy Mucho. Immigration: Reform Needed Amid Steady Deportation, Fear and Worry Multiply Among Immigrants in 2013 Technology Boom Apple and China Mobile Sign iPhone Deal Giving Apple 763 Million Potential New Customers Energy, Climate & Environment Canadian regulator OKs oil pipeline to Pacific coast amid Native opposition Winter weather kills seven; record highs in New York, Philadelphia Hawaiian Blast: A Solar Boom So Successful, It's Been Halted Janet McCabe to get top EPA pollution regulator nod Media Matters 'Meet The Press' Reportedly in Jeopardy as NBC Looks to Cut Back Barney Frank Joining CNBC As A Commentator 'Now with Alex Wagner' Takes Martin Bashir's MSNBC Timeslot Plan for Tribune Spinoff Raises Serious Concerns for the Future Did You Miss It On Friday? Here It Is Again! Your HuskerNutz Preview for December 23, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Money in Politics DCCC raises $5M in November, NRCC raises $4 million | Andy Kroll: Following the Dark Money Would Be Easier if This Government Agency Did Its Job White House Update Nat. Security Advisor Susan Rice: U.S. will seek triggers to reimpose sanctions on Iran if peace deal fails In 2013, Obama DOJ joined forces with whistle blowers, unexpectedly President Obama says 2013 wasn't worst of his presidency, but admits of healthcare.gov: "We screwed it up" News From Capitol Hill Final 2013 Senate session ends on petty rules battle Peace on Earth? Hardly. Partisan battles mark conclusion of 113th Congress in 2013 Congress finishes out least productive year in its history as popularity dips On The Left Next Generation: Michelle Nunn, Jason Carter hope to rechart the course of Georgia politics for Dems On The Right Betsy Woodruff: Who lost Virginia? To avoid similar fates in '14, Republicans need to figure it out. 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.