Tuesday, December 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. Looking Ahead to 2014 Republicans could face serious backlash in 2014 over unemployment benefit expiration 13 States Will Raise Their Minimum Wage In 2014 Paul Krugman: The Plight of the Employed Jared Bernstein: Beware the New Economic Normal in 2014 George Zornick: Are Republicans ready to surrender on the debt ceiling again in 2014? Holiday Thoughts Allison Schrager: Why we shouldn't cheer on this year's strong holiday spending Ezra Klein: The Greatest Holiday Gift of All (Economically Speaking) Katrina vanden Heuvel: During the holidays, remember America's 'least' For some troops, a holiday-dinner-in-a-box Newly revealed: The FBI once considered "It's a Wonderful Life" to be Communist propaganda Ezra Klein: Rand Paul had some Festivus grievances with DC on Monday. The unemployed still have some with him too. Florida town erects last-minute Nativity scene after ban to keep out Festivus pole Technology Breakdown Smart Credit Cards Could Have Protected Target Shoppers From Identity Thieves Christmas Eve spacewalk aims to finish crucial space station repairs The Spying Game Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission's accomplished Here's how AT&T could get in hot water for sharing customer data with the CIA Marriage Equality Federal judge allows same-sex marriage in Utah to continue Conservative Utah County Adopts Jim Crow Tactic, Preventing Same-Sex Couples From Marrying Federal Judge: Ohio Must Recognize Gay Marriage On Death Certificates Federal Judge Also Says Ohio Must Recognize Same-Sex Couples' Out-Of-State Marriages Energy, Climate & Environment 35-state storm system creates kaleidoscope of weather, snarling holiday travel Chris Mooney: Are Hurricanes Getting Stronger? Science May Finally Be Approaching an Answer 96% Of Network Nightly News' Coverage Of Extreme Weather Doesn't Mention Climate Change Brad Plumer: Americans are buying less electricity. That's a big problem for utilities. Nations In Turmoil In Syria, 'barrel bombs' bring more terror and death to Aleppo Car bomb kills 13 at Egyptian security headquarters north of Cairo Gunmen kill five journalists in raid on Iraq TV station South Sudan now seeing 'mass ethnic killings' U.S. Marines poised to enter South Sudan, to rescue Americans Why South Sudan has exploded in violence 5 Things Americans Need To Know About The Escalating Violence In South Sudan The War Over There In Rare Public Apology, Al Qaeda Branch in Yemen Apologizes; Regrets Hospital Attack International News U.N. approves India's request to accredit diplomat charged by U.S. $40 Million in Aid Set for Victims Of Bangladesh Garment Factory Collapse China commits $6.5 billion for Pakistani nuclear power project Alan Turing, Enigma Code-Breaker and Computer Pioneer, Wins Royal Pardon From Queen Elizabeth Kalashnikov assault rifle designer dead at 94; Says he should have invented a lawn mower Midwest Roundup Restarted Neb. nuclear power plant to reach full power Wednesday Nebraska State Auditor accuses DHHS of squandering $6M in federal energy funds Iowa State University researcher accused of faking AIDS vaccine test results The Last Laugh Of The Year As we've been saying over the past few days, our annual winter holiday break is finally here, and this is our last full edition for 2013. As usual, there will be brand new Paul Fell Cartoons published over the next week and a half, including the annual Paul Fell Holiday Card, a New Year's cartoon, and the Paul Fell Prediction cartoon before the Gator Bowl. As the year draws to a close, the end of 2013 looks oddly much like the beginning. Republicans in Congress are still screwing the unemployed, and according to George Zornick, who's filling in over at Greg Sargent's Plum Line, Republicans also look like they're going to cave on the debt ceiling in early 2014, much as they did last February. Just like at the beginning of the 2013, extremist Republicans are still pointing and laughing at Democrats, saying that Obamacare is falling apart and won't hold up because it goes too far. Not surprisingly though, as Jamelle Bouie pointed out in a CNN poll yesterday, the majority of Americans actually think the Affordable Care Act doesn't go far enough - so the facts also continue to trump the lies from the right. Over the last thirty years, economic inequality has become one of the biggest problems facing Americans. This year, finally, the American media took serious note of this fact, even as both the Dow and S&P hit record highs. Those record highs from Monday, by the way, are thanks in large part to the fact that Apple will soon be able to sell iPhones to 763 million new customers in China. While President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry finally began to officially re-open communication between America and Iran this year, a group of corporatist Democrats, beholden to the military industry, now seem insistent on pushing for more sanctions which could blow up the entire peace agreement. For the 113th Congress, that self-inflicted wound somehow seems fitting... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for December 24, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Confident consumers brighten economic outlook for 2014 Solid Reports Bolster News That Economy Is Strengthening Heading Into 2014 Wall Street Watch Dow, S&P hit record highs Monday; Apple's China deal lifts tech stocks David Cay Johnston: Accounting For Failure - Why JPMorgan Doesn't Want to Talk About Bernie Madoff  Economic Inequality David Cay Johnston: Court Rebukes IRS In Fight For Pensioner's Rights | Gallup study: 1 in 5 worldwide still living in extreme poverty Health Care Checkup ObamaCare site sees traffic surge on eve of enrollment deadline HealthCare.gov's last-minute shoppers see mixed results signing up Jonathan Cohn: The ACA Exchange Will Stay Open Today. Here's Why. Jamelle Bouie: Americans are Clear - Obamacare Just Isn't Liberal Enough | Jared Bernstein: The ACA Will Help, Not 'Frustrate,' the Middle Class Neil Howe: Why Millennials Will Enroll in Obamacare Two Republican senators block Democratic Sen. Franken's bill to strengthen mental health care Ryan Cooper: Red States and the Future of the Medicaid Expansion And now, for your Weekly OK Gazette Toon preview for December 24, 2013  (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) National Politics Polling Reveals Consensus Support Among Americans For Iran Nuclear Peace Deal Peter Beinart: Where's the Anti-War Left on Iran? Money in Politics In Highly Unethical Move, Corporations Reap Worker Political Donations Through Charities Upstart Groups Look To Challenge Rove for G.O.P. Cash in 2014 White House Update President Obama signs up for health care through Federal exchange, buying bronze plan Under Pressure, White House Pulls Egypt Ambassador Pick News From Capitol Hill Jennfer Bendery: The 15 Democratic Senators Bucking The White House And Threatening War With Iran Senators Admit Congress Really Sucked In 2013 On The Left Michael Twitty: Of racism, bigotry, feathers, Duck Dynasty, and saving the South On The Right NJ Leg. Investigation Of Gov. Chris Christie's Bridge Closure Scandal Will Continue In 2014 States Of Confusion Special Election in Florida For Open U.S. House Sets Stage for 2014 Election In Alaska, Rio Tinto mining corporation mulls selling stake in Pebble Mine owner Northern Dynasty | New York State Senator Rolls Out Bill Legalizing Marijuana The "Brave" New World of Academic Censorship: If you're a professor in Kansas, stay off the Internet. We hope you enjoy "The Daily Felltoon" every business day. Thanks for continuing to be a member! 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