Wednesday, March 05, 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. Election Concerns Sargent: Repubs have structural advantage for 2014 races; Dems have the issue advantage. Alan Abramowitz: Generic Ballot Model Shows Senate Control at Tipping Point in 2014 Elections Poll: Dems Could Finally Win The Obamacare Debate In The 2014 Elections, Still Lose The Senate Sahil Kapur: Why Obamacare May Not Matter In 2014 Elections, In One Chart Election Returns   Wendy Davis Wins Primary In Texas Gubernatorial Race Andy Kroll: This Texas Democrat Could Be The Future of Her Party - And Her Name Isn't Wendy Davis GOP Sen. John Cornyn wins Republican primary in Texas Texas G.O.P. Beats Back Challengers From Far Right In Primary Battles Texas Tribune: A Primary Wild Enough for All to Claim Victories Complete Texas 2014 Primary Results Preview: With 7 days to go, Democrat Alex Sink looks to be Florida's winner in the special election for U.S. House Ukraine In Conflict   EU ready to provide 11 billion euros of financial aid to Ukraine U.S. prepared to place unilateral sanctions on Russian officials, businesses Chart of the Day: Why U.S. Economic Sanctions on Russia Won't Have Much Impact Standoffs persist in Crimea as Sec. of State Kerry prepares to meet Russian counterpart Putin's Ukraine Gambit Hurts Russian Economy, Even As Allies Lose Billions Ignatius: Former SecDef Robert Gates tells Republicans to cool it on criticizing Obama over Ukraine Brian Beutler: The GOP's pathetic Putin debacle - How their foreign policy politicking backfired Peter Baker: No Easy Way Out of Ukraine Crisis Health Care Checkup   Arkansas Compromise Medicaid Expansion Survives In Arkansas Report Confirms: Obamacare Helps Drive Down Health-Care Costs Greg Sargent: Republican's Obamacare repeal dilemma, in one quote Ezekiel Emanuel: Insurance Companies as We Know Them Are About to Die, Thanks To Obamacare Immigration: Reform Coming?  House Democrats expected to move forward with discharge petition on immigration South Carolina Agrees to Permanently Block Key Provisions In Anti-Immigrant Law Energy, Climate & Environment U.S. Solar Market Grew 41%, Had Record Year in 2013 Chipotle Warns It Might Stop Serving Guacamole If Climate Change Gets Worse Nations In Turmoil UN: Syrian govt. now starving people into submission U.N. says world powers responsible for failing to stop Syrian war crimes Iraqi capital hit by series of blasts South Sudanese refugees forced to flee to Darfur The War Over There U.S. drone strike in Yemen kills al-Qaeda suspects The last casualties: As a long war ends, risks still prove real International News Trial of Al Jazeera staff resumes in Egypt Saudi, UAE, Bahrain withdraw envoys to Qatar India to vote in world's biggest election starting April 7 Midwest Roundup Majority of Nebraskans in poll support raising state's minimum wage Neb. GOP Gov. Heineman still pressing desperately for tax cuts Bill targeting "wage theft" by corps. clears Dem-led Iowa Senate, but will die in GOP-led House Report shows sex crimes down at University of Iowa, up at ISU, UNI Hot Air & Hard Questions Yesterday might not have meant much to you personally, however, in places from Massachusetts to Texas, yesterday was primary election day - the first regular primary of the 2014 elections. In other words, for anyone involved in politics, it's 'Go Time.' For those "on the field" - the politicians, political organizations, and volunteers - now is often the time when candidates seeking to separate themselves from all the other political hopefuls in their own party begin to make promises about all the things they'll do if elected. The problem, of course, is that some of these claims are simply hot air, bluster and promises that one person elected to office could never realistically achieve by themselves. Not surprisingly, the more desperate a candidate is - even if they're running for reelection - the more likely they'll say or do something stupid. Senator Lindsey Graham was a perfect example of this yesterday, when he made a fool of himself on Twitter, blaming the often debunked right-wing ideological chew-toy of Bengahzi for Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. When a candidate is forced to explain exactly where they're getting their crazy ideas, or how - exactly - they expect to put into action the claims they float during election season, many candidates simply have no clue of how they'll answer. Most candidates today are thankful then, since many of today's media members are either starry-eyed or incompetent and won't ever ask them the questions that might burst their election balloons... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for March 05, 2014 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy   ADP survey: U.S. private sector adds 139,000 jobs in February Highest Minimum-Wage State Washington Beats U.S. in Job Creation Wall Street Watch   U.S. Stocks Little Changed on Ukraine Tension, Jobs Data Confirmation Hearings For Fed's Reserve Board Nominees Now Set for March 13 Economic Inequality   Report: Minimum wage hike would cut food stamp spending by $4.6 billion a year Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Paul Ryan's Report Distorts Safety Net's Picture Paul Krugman: The Real Poverty Trap Danny Vinik: Sadly, Obama's Budget Does Little To Help The Long-Term Unemployed Budget Battles Obama Budget Predicts Strongest U.S. Economic Growth Since 2005 Biggest winners and losers in the White House budget Jonathan Chait: President Obama is trolling the GOP with his budget, by giving them exactly what they asked for Jia Lynn Yang: How corporate America is losing the debate on taxes Marriage Equality    Kentucky Will Appeal Marriage Equality Decision, But Attorney General Will No Longer Defend Ban Kentucky governor warns of "legal chaos" in same-sex marriage case |   Support for same-sex marriage hits new high across U.S.; half say Constitution guarantees right Pope, in interview, suggests church could tolerate some civil unions Media Matters   Cartoonist Jen Sorensen becomes first woman to win the Herblock Prize |   Carl Kasell To Retire From 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!' This Spring Here It Is! Your HuskerNutz Preview for March 05, 2014 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update   President Obama officially sends $3.9 trillion budget proposal for 2015 to Congress Obama's 2015 budget proposal sets up election-year clash with Republicans News From Capitol Hill    Former IRS Official Lois Lerner Pleads The Fifth At House Show-Trial Hearing Called By Darrell Issa Ranking Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings Explodes After GOP's Darrell Issa Closes Hearing Abruptly States, Going To Pot   D.C. City Council votes to decriminalize pot possession |   Georgia House approves medical marijuana for treating seizures On The Left Pew Research/USA Today Poll: 25% of Republicans say they may vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016 Joan Walsh: A world without Elizabeth Warren: Why most attacks on today's Democrats miss the mark Sen. Bernie Sanders: There's No Need to End Saturday Mail Delivery On The Right Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham: Russia invaded Ukraine because of Benghazi Satire: Here's a list of everything else Lindsey Graham can blame on Benghazi Michael Tomasky: Why Neocons Love the Strongman 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.