Internal links removed.
Nelson Schwartz of the New York Times: "The American economy grew last quarter at its fastest rate in more than a decade, providing the strongest evidence to date that the recovery is finally gaining sustained power more than five years after it began. Bolstered by robust spending among consumers and businesses alike, economic output rose at an annual rate of 5 percent during the summer months, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, a sharp revision from its earlier estimate of 3.9 percent. The advance followed a second quarter where growth reached a rate of 4.6 percent after a decline last winter that was exacerbated by particularly harsh weather." ...
... Jeremy Herron & Joseph Ciolli of Bloomberg News: "U.S. stocks rose, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallying past 18,000 for the first time, after data showed the world's largest economy grew at the fastest pace since 2003 last quarter. Treasuries declined with gold, while the dollar and crude oil advanced." ...
... MEANWHILE, in Russia. Ksenia Galouchko & Olga Tanas of Bloomberg News: "After arresting a decline in the ruble, Russia is now trying to avert a banking crisis. Lawmakers rushed legislation through the lower house of parliament today allowing the Deposit Insurance Agency to buy stakes in banks before they face bankruptcy proceedings to keep the system stable. While the ruble strengthened for a third day as the government told state-run exporters to sell foreign currency, it's still down 30 percent in three months. Standard & Poor's said today it may cut Russia's credit rating to junk in part because of concern about the banking system." ...
... MEANWHILE, in the U.S. Presidential Race. Paul Waldman: "... if both growth and job creation remain strong for the next two years, it'll be somewhere between difficult and impossible for a Republican to win the White House in 2016, since the state of the economy swamps every other issue in presidential campaigns." ...
... Could Be One Reason Republicans greeted the outstanding economic news with -- total silence. Steve Benen made a search. ...
... AND This. Kevin Liptak of CNN: "Improving views of the economy have helped hike President Barack Obama's approval rating to a 20-month high, a new CNN/ORC poll showed Tuesday, as markets climbed to record levels at news of an economy in overdrive. More Americans still disapprove of the job Obama is doing as President. But at 48%, Obama's approval rating is at its highest point in CNN polling since May 2013. The gains were driven by newfound backing among women, independents and millennials -- groups where Obama's approval numbers jumped 10 percentage points from a month ago. Meanwhile, Obama's approval numbers ticked down among men, Republicans and Americans between 35 and 49 years old."
David Joaquim of the New York Times: "An 18-month congressional investigation into the Internal Revenue Service's mistreatment of conservative political groups seeking tax exemptions has failed to show coordination between agency officials and political operatives in the White House, according to a report released on Tuesday." But outgoing chair of the House Oversight Committee Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) won't STFU. Still, "A representative of Mr. Issa, Caitlin Carroll, would not comment on the failure to find a link to the White House but noted that the investigation was not over. It will continue in the 114th Congress under the committee's new chairman, Representative Jason Chaffetz, Republican of Utah...." ...
... But Never Mind. Over at the Daily Caller (and elsewhere in Right Wing World, Patrick Howley is calling the committee report a "bombshell" & cherrypicking some cherry bombs. CW: As Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), the ranking member on the committee, told the Times, "It is revealing that the Republicans -- yet again -- are leaking cherry-picked excerpts of documents to support their preconceived political narrative without allowing committee members to even see their conclusions or vote on them first." That's funny. Democrats didn't get a copy of the committee report but a "reporter" at the Daily Caller "obtained an advance copy." I wonder how that happened.
Three Stupid Republican Tricks
(1) Brian Faler of Politico: "Republicans are salivating at the chance to make radical changes in Congress' budgeting rules aimed at making it easier to cut taxes. It could blow up in their faces.... Republicans say ... the new rules, known in budget circles as 'dynamic scoring,' will provide a fairer picture of the impact of tax cuts.... The idea is that cutting taxes unleashes economic growth, which in turn produces additional revenue. Republicans want to count that [CW: imaginary] extra revenue against what the Treasury loses when Congress hands out tax cuts.... Incoming House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) calls it 'reality-based scoring.' The effort, which Ryan is leading, aims to make it easier to finance what Republicans hope will be a once-in-a-generation overhaul of the Tax Code.... 'Any effort by Republicans to interfere with the professional integrity of the CBO by selecting someone to push their failed "trickle down" economic theory of tax cuts for the wealthy through dynamic scoring would undermine the credibility of CBO and the entire budget process,' said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee."
(2) Ezra Klein on Republicans v. ObamaCare. "... the biggest fight in American politics in recent years began with Democrats creating a law that was a giant subsidy from blue states to red states and has evolved into Republicans working to turn the law into a giant subsidy from red states to blue states. It's a strange spectacle." In addition, if the anti-ACA plaintiffs in King v. Burwell are "successful, then it will be possible for a state that opposes to Obamacare to withdraw from both the Medicaid expansion and the exchange subsidies -- that is to say, from pretty much all of Obamacare's benefits. But they will still pay all of its costs.... Obamacare will become a pure subsidy from the states that hate the law most to the states that have embraced it. It's like a fiscal version of reverse psychology."
(3) Kevin Drum of Mother Jones: "According to the latest Washington Post/ABC poll, 64 percent of the American public supports establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. And even greater numbers want to get rid of the trade embargo.... Everyone supports an end to the embargo by wide margins, even Republicans.... The only subgroup that opposes it -- barely -- is conservative Republicans, who make up about 17 percent of the population. So naturally that means the embargo will stay in place. It no longer really matters what the other 83 percent of us think." (No link.)
All I Want for Christmas Is an Exploding Head. Steven Zeitchik & Richard Verrier of the Los Angeles Times: "Sony will give 'The Interview' a 'limited theatrical release' beginning Christmas Day, the company said Tuesday, releasing the movie in a handful of independent theaters across the country. The movie will screen at an unspecified number of locations in the 19-theater Alamo Drafthouse chain and the Plaza Atlanta in Georgia, owners confirmed shortly before Sony made its announcement. Other independent venues are expected to join them." ...
... Update. Ben Beaumont-Thomas of the Guardian: "Sony has confirmed that over 200 sites across the US will show The Interview, as well as possibly releasing it on-demand on Christmas Day -- reversing an earlier decision to withdraw the film from distribution entirely." ...
... Brian Stelter of CNN: "On Tuesday, a White House spokesman said 'the president applauds Sony's decision to authorize screenings of the film.'... In light of concerns about security at theaters, an FBI official said 'we are fully engaged with Sony on the decision' to release the movie."
We’ve had four months of propaganda, starting with the president, that everybody should hate the police. -- Rudy Giuliani on "Fox 'News' Sunday"
... that is simply Four-Pinocchio false. -- Michelle Ye Hee Lee of the Washington Post
We've had four months of propaganda, starting with the president, that everybody should hate the police. -- Rudy Giuliani, same show
Obama has continuously encouraged working with police to find solutions and make change. He has also repeatedly emphasized the importance of law enforcement in communities of color and the fact that police officers have a dangerous job. Giuliani's claim is an outlandish distortion of what Obama actually said. We rate this Pants on Fire. -- Lauren Carroll of PolitiFact
Steve M.: "Many right-wingers said there should have been an indictment in the Garner case. Are they guilty of cop murder, too? Read the whole post. ...
... Rocco Parascandola, et al., of the New York Daily News: "Slain Police Officer Wenjian Liu believed in leading a life of service -- and his dedication was evident on the day he was killed: He volunteered to work a fill-in shift when a fellow officer was late.... The family's statement thanked the emergency responders and medical staff at Woodhull Hospital who tried to save the mortally wounded officers. It thanked Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio 'for their condolences and their support.'... [Emerald Snipes,] the daughter of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man killed in an NYPD chokehold in July, placed a candle at the site -- and said she was touched by the heartrending message [slain Officer Rafael] Ramos' son [Jaden] posted online after his father's murder.... 'I know how it feels in this season to not have your father around,' she said." ...
... Ben Kamisar of the Hill: "Vice President Joe Biden will attend the funeral of Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two New York City police officers shot this weekend in a grisly execution-style killing. President Obama asked Biden to attend the funeral service this Saturday, according to White House spokesman Eric Schultz. He will be joined by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. The president is on vacation in Hawaii with his family." ...
... ** Michelle Conlin of Reuters: "... a number of black NYPD officers say they have experienced the same racial profiling that cost Eric Garner his life.... Reuters interviewed 25 African American male officers on the NYPD, 15 of whom are retired and 10 of whom are still serving. All but one said that, when off duty and out of uniform, they had been victims of racial profiling.... The officers said this included being pulled over for no reason, having their heads slammed against their cars, getting guns brandished in their faces, being thrown into prison vans and experiencing stop and frisks while shopping. The majority of the officers said they had been pulled over multiple times while driving. Five had had guns pulled on them.... All but one said their supervisors either dismissed the complaints or retaliated against them by denying them overtime, choice assignments, or promotions."
Jon Herskovitz of Reuters: "A grand jury in Houston decided on Tuesday not to indict a police officer for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in a case that has been placed into a national debate about the role race plays in police interactions with the public." The Houston Chronicle story, by Cindy George, is here.
This Is Your Police Force. Joanna Rothkopf of Salon: "TMZ has obtained a video of a song performed at a charity event held at the Elks Lodge in Glendale, California which refers to Michael Brown as a 'roadkill dog.' The event was hosted by retired LAPD officer Joe Myers as part of a charity golf tournament. About half of the 50-60 guests were also officers, according to TMZ. In the video, Gary Fishell, a former federal investigator, sings a parody of the song 'Bad, bad Leroy Brown.'... In an interview with TMZ, Fishell's lawyer says that Fishell now realizes the song was 'off color and in poor taste.'... Myers was unapologetic...: 'How can I dictate what he says in a song? This is America. We can say what we want. This is a free America.'" Rothkopf publishes the lyrics (as does TMZ here). ...
... CW: According to the TMZ story, none of the guests objected to the song, which was not "off-color & in poor taste." It was horrifying. And no, Joe, the First Amendment is not a vehicle for condoning monsters. When someone says terrible things, you call him out. That is your First Amendment right AND your responsibility as a human being. Your job as an LAPD officer was to uphold the Constitution, not hide behind it, you depraved coward.
Julie Zauzmer of the Washington Post: "The Food and Drug Administration plans to lift its lifetime ban on blood donation for men who have had sex with other men, and will propose replacing it with a one-year ban after homosexual activity, the agency announced on Tuesday. Gay rights groups, which have long advocated for a change to the ban, largely decried the announcement, saying that expecting gay blood donors to remain celibate for a year is not reasonable or medically necessary." ...
... Here's the statement by FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg.
Peter Sullivan of the Hill: "The Supreme Court will decide as soon as Jan. 9 whether to take up the issue of gay marriage in a potentially monumental case. An update to the court's schedule on Tuesday made clear that the justices will consider hearing appeals from rulings upholding bans on gay marriage at their Jan. 9 conference. If at least four justices vote to hear one or more of the cases, the court would be on track to hear arguments and issue a decision by June."
GOP Crime Blotter
Nate Raymond of Reuters: "U.S. Representative Michael Grimm of New York said he would not resign from Congress following his guilty plea on Tuesday to a federal felony tax charge.... Grimm, a Republican, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to aiding the preparation of a false tax return in connection with a health food restaurant, Healthalicious, that he co-owned before his political career.... As part of a plea deal, Grimm, whose trial had been scheduled for February, also signed a statement of facts, admitting to concealing over $900,000 in gross receipts from 2007 to 2010 and lying during a 2013 deposition.Grimm's defiant declaration that he will not resign could put U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders in a difficult position...." ...
... New York Times Editors: "Republican leaders — starting with House Speaker John Boehner -- should now do the right thing and persuade Mr. Grimm to go away. They could do this by threatening to ostracize him by denying him committee slots. Alternatively, the House could vote to throw him out, adding to his embarrassment and his party's. Mr. Grimm should do everyone a favor by packing his bags now."
Larry O'Dell of the AP: "Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell should perform community service rather than serve prison time for his federal corruption convictions, an international relief organization said Tuesday. [Televangelist Pat Robertson's] Operation Blessing International said it offered McDonnell jobs heading its hunger relief program in Appalachia or working at its orphanage and fish farm in Haiti if U.S. District Judge James Spencer agrees to spare McDonnell prison time."
Annals of "Journalism," Ctd. "Howie Kurtz Mansplains the News." (See also yesterday's Commentariat & commentary.) Simon Maloy of Salon: "This is Howard Kurtz taking it upon himself to explain 'basic' reporting to women who've been doing the job for years, clueing them in to trade secrets like 'quote Republicans.' Good job, Howard. Thanks for saving journalism."
Joanna Rothkopf: "In the spirit of the season (the spirit is harsh, blanket judgement), the website Mediaite conducted a survey of cable news hosts from CNN, Fox News and MSNBC which asked respondents to rank their colleagues from best to worst. Unsurprisingly (or, perhaps, surprisingly since Bill O'Reilly was nominated in the same category), Sean Hannity was voted Worst Host on Fox News. Hannity was really sad and mad about it and had to stomp around Twitter to cool off."
U.S. Census Bureau: "Florida passed New York to become the nation's third most populous state, according to U.S. Census Bureau state population estimates released today. Florida's population grew by 293,000 over this period, reaching 19.9 million. The population of New York increased by 51,000 to 19.7 million. California remained the nation's most populous state in 2014, with 38.8 million residents, followed by Texas, at 27.0 million. Although the list of the 10 most populous states overall was unchanged, two other states did change positions, as North Carolina moved past Michigan to take the ninth spot."
News Ledes
Washington Post: "The Obama administration is accelerating its efforts to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center, preparing to move dozens of inmates out of the prison in coming months in a step forward for President Obama's redoubled attempt to achieve a core national security objective before he leaves office."
New York Times: "Three digital distributors joined an expanding effort to save 'The Interview,' as Sony Pictures Entertainment disclosed the first deals to show the film online after a terror threat limited access to theaters. Among the partners named on Wednesday morning were Google Play, YouTube Movies and Microsoft’s Xbox Video. Sony also said it would show the film on a website of its own."
Weather Channel: "A pair of storms and a few other weather systems may make a mess of your Christmas travel plans.... In all, more than 5,600 flights were delayed and more than 500 cancelled nationwide Tuesday, according to FlightAware.com. Thirteen different U.S. airports each had more than 100 delayed or canceled flights."
New York Times: "The elder President George Bush was taken to a Houston hospital Tuesday night after experiencing shortness of breath, a family spokesman said. Mr. Bush, 90, would be held at least overnight at Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution, said the spokesman, Jim McGrath. He is expected to be fine, Mr. McGrath said."
Reuters: "Alan Gross, the contractor freed last week after five years in a Cuban jail, will receive $3.2m from the US government as part of a settlement with his employer, the USAid agency announced on Tuesday. Gross was employed by Maryland-based company DAI as part of a USAid-financed project in Cuba. DAI had sought $7m for Gross...."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "A Berkeley[, Missouri,] police officer fatally shot a suspect who pointed a gun at him late Tuesday, St. Louis County police said early today. Police did not identify the person killed but Toni Martin, who was at the scene, said he was her 18-year-old son, Antonio Martin. Several protesters also arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. Many stayed overnight.... The officer saw two people outside the station, got out of his vehicle and approached them. One of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired at the officer. 'Fearing for his life, the Berkeley Officer fired several shots, striking the subject, fatally wounding him'" the release from the county police said. 'The second subject fled the scene.'" Berkeley is about two miles from Ferguson, Mo. ...
... CW: Let's see if the police story holds up. There are surveillance cameras which may have captured the confrontation.
New York Times: "A federal administrative judge has upheld the dismissal of the director of the Veterans Affairs health care system in Phoenix for accepting more than $13,000 in airline tickets and other gifts from a consultant for the health care industry, for failing to disclose some of the gifts and for placing a high-ranking doctor on administrative leave for providing Senator John McCain with information about patient suicides. The former director, Sharon Helman, had also been implicated in the falsification of the hospital's waiting lists for care, a problem at Phoenix and other veterans' hospitals that roiled the Department of Veterans Affairs this year and led to the resignation of the department's secretary, Eric K. Shinseki. But the administrative judge, Stephen C. Mish, concluded that the department had not provided sufficient evidence to justify firing Ms. Helman for the manipulation of waiting lists, which concealed delays in providing care to veterans."
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