Thursday, January 30, 2014 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. Strategies From the SOTU Power Up: President Obama's New Executive-Order Strategy Jonathan Bernstein: Washington's Executive Order Disorder Congressional Republicans now taking Pres. Obama to court over use of Executive Orders Cass Sunstein: What Exactly Is an 'Executive Order'? Steve Benen: Defining 'tyranny' down; The Truth About Obama's Executive Orders Ryan Cooper: Executive action in a gridlockracy William Saletan: Obama's SOTU Bet? That Americans will side with hard work over greedy capitalism. He's right. SOTU Leftovers Nielsen: 33.3 Million Tune in to Watch Pres. Obama's State of the Union Address Samantha Lachman: Progressives See Influence Of Elizabeth Warren's Populist Economics In SOTU John Sides: How liberal was Obama's State of the Union address? Not very. Elise Foley: Dreamers Hopeful, But Not Satisfied After State Of The Union Growing Frustrations House Approves Farm Bill, Ending a 2-Year Impasse Brad Plumer: The long overdue $956 billion farm bill, in one graph Jonathan Bernstein: Farm Bill Proves Politics Isn't Dead Yet - And Shows The Way Forward WaPo Op-Ed: This farm bill deserves a veto Indicting The Right Christie scandal: New allegations emerge from Zimmer lawsuit Christie's scandals: How Pressure Mounted for Development in Hoboken Kevin Drum: No Smoking Guns Yet, But the Noose is Tightening Around Chris Christie Poll: Jam for Christie, Clear Lane for Clinton in an Early Look at the 2016 On-Ramp Grimm reality: NY Republican's flipout over reporter no shock to Washingtonians Anthony Weiner: Advice to Rep. Michael Grimm on how to get along with reporters War on Women Top Intelligence Official Assails Snowden and Seeks Return of N.S.A. Documents Lawyers Win Right to See Surveillance Applications to Secret Court Edward Snowden nominated for 2014 Nobel peace prize Eli Lake: Did an 'Angry Birds' Leak Really Risk Spies' Lives? Energy, Climate & Environment Deadly ice storm turns Atlanta into parking lot, strands thousands Chris Mooney: You Might Be Cold Right Now, But Your Planet Isn't For Already Vulnerable Penguins, Study Finds Climate Change Is Another Danger Nations In Turmoil Human Rights Watch reports Syrian troops now deliberately destroying private homes UN: No substantive results in Syrian peace talks Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych defiant amid turmoil Ukrainian president takes 'sick leave' amid crisis The War Over There U.S. Aid to Afghans Flows On Despite Warnings of Misuse International News Pop star Justin Bieber charged in Canada with Toronto limo driver assault 2016 Elections? Yep. WaPo/ABC Poll: For 2016, Hillary Clinton has commanding lead over Democrats, GOP race wide open Poll: Huckabee Is Now The GOP's Top Choice For 2016 After Libido Remark Jeb Bush Still Undecided On 2016 Presidential Run Jonathan Capehart: The GOP still doesn't get it States Of Confusion Missouri executes Herbert Smulls, despite question about execution drug California Republicans scarce in 2014 statewide races Quinnipiac University Poll: Former FL Gov. Crist Tops Current FL Gov. Scott On Almost Every Measure Midwest Roundup Differences between extremists hard to find in Neb. Republican Senate candidates Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning reportedly weighing a bid for governor Iowa's U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin pitches private pension retirement fix On Iowa lawmakers' agendas today: Drones, pistols, school elections Gridiron Gridlock Strategies While we've said many times over the years that politics is not sports, and it should not be considered sports, forgive us if we break that cardinal rule today in our thorough evaluation of President Obama's 2014 State Of The Union address. Chalk it up to our personal connections with football, or the relatively close nature of the words "gridlock" and "gridiron." You could even chalk it up to the Super Bowl happening this weekend, if that makes you feel better. The fact remains, as we evaluated the President's address from Tuesday night, and the GOP reactions to it over the last day or so, we began to see some similarities that looked an awful lot like football strategies. With the kinds of thugs and bullies like GOP Rep. Michael Grimm from New York on their "team," you might think Congressional Republicans had an edge in this mythical "Stupid Bowl". After all, for a team that's rigged the "game" of politics from Richard Nixon through the 2000 presidential election right through the gerrymandering of 2010, Republicans have a long and well-known history of trick plays, illegal formations, and roughing up anyone who might get in their way - including the referees, the American voters. When it comes to the pastime of actually governing, though, we think the strategies President Obama outlined in this year's State Of The Union are the kinds of head down, three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust philosophies that the American people would much rather see carried out... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for January 30, 2014 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy U.S. GDP Advances 3.2% in 4th Quarter Says Commerce Department U.S. Economy Now Growing at Fastest Pace in 2 Years Wall Street Watch Fed stays the course on stimulus reduction In Bernanke's final act, Fed cuts stimulus despite market turmoil Inequality In America Progress appears to be happening in Senate unemployment insurance debate Suzy Khimm: Finally, some hope for jobless aid Jason Sattler: It's Not Just For Teenagers - Busting The Myths About The Minimum Wage | Gallup: Majority in U.S. Want Wealth More Evenly Distributed David Dayen: How could Obama save USPS and help the poor? Turn the Post Office into a bank. Lydia Depillis: The logic behind Obama's new 'starter retirement savings account' for the poor Pity The Rich Ben White: Why the rich are freaking out War On Women David Frum: It's Time America Gets Real About Abortion Budget Battles Republicans Brace For Surrender On The Debt Ceiling Greg Sargent: Republicans surrendering on debt limit? Not so fast... Something In The Water Experts warn 'flushing' might not have worked; Chemicals may still be in plumbing systems after spill West Virginia Official: People Are Inhaling Formaldehyde From Water Immigration: Reform Coming? Pew Poll: On Immigration Policy, Deportation Relief Seen As More Important Than Citizenship Greg Sargent: How to understand the GOP predicament on immigration Fernando Espuelas: "Pete Wilson syndrome" - Boehner and the GOP's last chance on immigration reform Brian Beutler: Why Democrats have a looming immigration dilemma, if Republicans ever take a deal Health Care Checkup Gallup: More Uninsured Planning to Get Insurance From Exchanges; 56% now plan to use an exchange Sharon Bernstein: Wary of Obamacare, some Republicans are signing up anyway The Official GOP Response Was Missing Two Key Words: Repeal Obamacare What Now? Inside The House GOP's Emerging 2014 Obamacare Strategy Media Matters Major Expansion Ahead at The Washington Post Communications Breakdown 20 Al Jazeera Journalists Face Charges in Egypt It's Your Cap News Toon for January 30, 2014 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update How Costco explains the Obama presidency | White House Vows to Respond to Petition Demanding Deportation of Justin Bieber News From Capitol Hill Erika Eichelberger: How Republicans Won the Food Stamp War This Year Obama's fast-track initiatives on trade run into resistance from both sides of the aisle in Senate | Bendery & Johnson: Sen. Democrats Back Off Iran Sanctions Vote Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: 'I'm Against Fast Track' on complex & dangerous trade deals On The Left Unpopularity of the House Could Turn 2014 Senate Races In Favor of Democrats Poll: Hillary Clinton Now The Biggest Democratic Presidential Nomination Frontrunner Ever E.J. Dionne: Obama the confidence builder Katrina vanden Heuvel: The Promise of Transpartisanship on TPP On The Right Republicans growing desperate to prove they have economic plans to help middle class John Stanton: Some Republicans See Racism As a Factor in Immigration Stalemate Milbank: GOP lawmakers are finally tackling their extremist base Damon Linker: Is 'National Review' Magazine doomed? Other Notable News NFL Wants To Trademark A Euphemism For Its Trademark | Sally Jenkins, Super Bowl 2014: Richard Sherman has a lot to show us - about ourselves 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.