Tuesday, February 04, 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. The New Reality Peter Beinart: The End of American Exceptionalism Steve Benen: A narrow path for 'common ground' Ed Kilgore: Some Very Unsurprising Senate Democratic "Splits" With Obama Michael Gerson: Republicans are facing a rendezvous with irrelevance Education In America Following President Obama's Lead, Preschool Push Is Now Moving Ahead in Many States Former Washington Post owner starts $25M fund to send 'dreamers' to college Tolerance & Intolerance Coca-Cola's "It's Beautiful" Super Bowl Ad Brings Out Some Ugly Americans "Speak American": Native Language Spotlighted During Coca-Cola Super Bowl Ad For The Clowns Hating The Coke Ad With A Gay Family: Guess Who Wrote The Song? Outfoxing The Liars ICYMI: O'Reilly's ridiculous Super Bowl interview with Pres. Obama Pres. Obama to Fox's Bill O'Reilly: 'These [Lies] Keep on Surfacing Because You and Your TV Station Will Promote Them' Jonathan Capehart: O'Reilly outFoxed by Obama Milbank: Obama/O'Reilly interview showed a nation still divided Indicting The Right During "Ask The Governor" radio show, NJ Gov. Chris Christie answers questions about bridge scandal Gov. Chris Christie acknowledges federal subpoena; Says his office is working with DOJ Gov. Christie Says He 'Unequivocally' Had No Knowledge of Lane Closure Aaron Blake: How high school explains Chris Christie's problems Bridget Anne Kelly, key figure in Christie bridge closing case, takes the Fifth Christie bridge scandal: Bridget Kelly refuses to turn over documents subpoenaed by legislative committee Health Care Checkup New Federal Rule Says Labs Must Give Patients Access to Test Results Sarah Kliff: Health Reform Watch - Improvements In Some Exchanges, Still Problems At Federal Level Immigration: Reform Coming? Immigrant Youth Leaders Signal They May Be Open To A G.O.P. Compromise On Immigration With immigration deal possible, advocates mount new push to end deportations Nations In Turmoil Russia says Syria to get rid of more chemical weapons, attend second round of peace talks Pakistan-Taliban peace talks delayed Dozens killed in series of deadly Baghdad bombings 70 dead in Central African Republic clashes The War Over There Revealed: Karzai Has Been Engaged In Secret Contacts With The Taliban To Achieve Peace Agreeement International News Landmark Rwandan genocide trial opens in Paris Unicef blasts South Sudan after government troops loot "back-to-school" kids' backpacks Saudi king changes law; Now says Saudis who join foreign conflicts will be jailed Money in Politics Trick Websites By Repubs Violate Election Laws, Dupe Democrats Into Donating To Republicans Small Super PACs Look To Play Outsize Role in 2014 Senate Races States Of Confusion California Gov. Jerry Brown slams ridiculous GOP water proposal Conservatives Latest Scheme To Strip People Of Obamacare Coverage in Arkansas Prehistoric village found in downtown Miami Midwest Roundup TransCanada threatens tar sands oil will flow south with or without Keystone XL Survey: Nebraska's economy shows solid growth during January Iowa Secretary of State, Senators clash over voter registration error Bill granting parents access to kids' library records advances in Iowa House A New Post-Season Reality As we noted yesterday, with the Super Bowl over, one of America's most dominating diversions is officially done for a few months. For some football-addicted Americans, that means today may be the saddest day of the year. The good news is that now that football season's over, more Americans might be able to wake up and notice that politics in America have really been changing rapidly over the past seven months. Admittedly, some problems - like heavily slanted media - are still right where they've been for years, a fact that was blindingly obvious during the pre-Super Bowl interview of President Obama by Fox's resident bully-in-chief, Bill O'Reilly. As Dana Milbank pointed out on Monday, during the brief interview, O'Reilly was rude and hostile towards President Obama. This time, however, President Obama displayed the strength of character we hope to see a lot more of from all progressives and liberals this year. The President even called out O'Reilly and Fox as one of the causes of divisiveness and misinformation in American politics today. In a nutshell, Americans on the political left are beginning to stand together more often, and to stand up to the bullies on the right - and when they do so, they're winning... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for February 04, 2014 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy U.S. Factories Hit Annual January Slowdown Americans Boost Spending on Remodeling, Up 3.1% In 2013 Wall Street Watch Another swoon on Wall St, as they adjust to life without Fed stimulus Microsoft names Nadella as next CEO, Thompson to succeed Gates Economic Inequality Studies Confirm: The Middle Class Is Steadily Eroding. Just Ask the Business World. One Statistic Shows Why Middle-Tier U.S. Retailers Are Flailing Ed Kilgore: Stuck in the Middle With You Charlie Pierce: The Middle Class Is Eroding - A Startling Discovery To Many Americans Noam Schieber: Socialized Law - A Radical Solution for Inequality The GOP's Hostage Games Treasury Secretary Jack Lew sets debt ceiling deadline for end of Feb. House Republicans Want To Take Debt Limit Hostage, But Can't Decide On A Single Ransom Robert Costa: House GOP finalizes debt-limit playbook; Options pared down to two plans CNN/ORC Poll: In Debt Ceiling blame game, Americans will blame Repubs Josh Barro: Republicans Are Still Bluffing Over The Debt Ceiling The Spying Game Web companies give first look at secret government data requests Secret Service urges lawmakers to do more on cyber crime Attorney Klayman asks Supreme Court to take up National Security Agency surveillance case directly Guns & America Missouri Senate Committee Votes To Jail Federal Agents Who Enforce Gun Laws California man points gun at Girl Scout at his door to sell cookies Joe Nocera: The Gun Report, 1 Year Later Drugs & America Hoffman's Heroin Death Points to Surge in Grim Trade Eight questions about heroin and the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman Media Matters Despite Blowout Game, Super Bowl XLVIII is Most-Watched Ever Facebook celebrates 10-year anniversary Energy, Climate & Environment World's Largest Solar Thermal Plant Starts Operating In Drought-Stricken California | Ryan Cooper: Don't tell TransCanada - the anti-Keystone forces are already winning And now, for your Weekly OK Gazette Toon preview for February 04, 2014   (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update New CBO Report: Budget Deficit to Drop to $514 Billion This Year, Lowest of Obama's Tenure | White House Pushes Companies On Hiring Long-Term Jobless News From Capitol Hill Farm bill on verge of passage after a long three years of haggling in Congress Greg Sargent: Another big blow in Congress to the Iran sanctions bill | Brad Plumer: The farm bill is up for a final vote. Here's why so many people hate it. Sen. Elizabeth Warren Proposes Replacing Payday Lenders With USPS On The Left Greg Sargent: Senator Harry Reid, progressive hero? Not waiting for Hillary Clinton, Maryland Gov. O'Malley prepares for possible presidential bid Jonathan Bernstein: Hillary Clinton and the Missing Democratic Debate Alex Seitz-Wald: It's Elizabeth Warren's Party. Barack Obama Is Just Living In It. Paul Waldman: When The Left Grovels to The Right, It Achieves Nothing On The Right Brian Beutler: The angry right's secret revulsion - Why they really dodge minimum wage questions Eric McGhee: Are voters in an anti-incumbent mood for 2014? Don't count on it. Even Rasmussen Finds GOP Senate Minority Leader McConnell Tied With Democratic Challenger Grimes Eleanor Clift: Scenes from the ongoing GOP Civil War Raymond Smith: How Do Tea Parties Really End? 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.