FRIDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Not an easy call: “BP and Obama administration officials are nearing a major decision as they look ahead toward what they hope will be the gulf oil spill endgame: whether to change the cap that is currently capturing a significant amount of oil.” (Click the link to see the pros and cons)
* Afghanistan: “Six militants armed with suicide bombs stormed the compound of an American contractor working for the United States Agency for International Development in the northern city of Kunduz on Friday, killing at least four people in an assault that left all the attackers dead, according to Afghan officials.”
* Several Republican senators announced their opposition to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan today, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), though none expressed a willingness to filibuster.
* The fate of Wall Street reform became more promising late yesterday when Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who opposed the measure in May, announced her support for the bill.
* Seems like a great, overdue idea: “President Obama on Friday will announce 66 new broadband grants and loans totaling $795 million, part of the administration’s continued rollout of Recovery Act grants meant to expand high-speed Internet connections across the country.”
* House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believes it’s time for the Senate to return to majority-rule, calling the filibuster “the 60-vote stranglehold on the future.” She’s absolutely right.
* Climate scientist Michael E. Mann has been exonerated, more than once, in the trumped up “Climategate” nonsense cooked up by global warming deniers.
* GOP Senate hopeful Rand Paul no longer backs an “underground electric immigration fence,” which no one could explain or understand anyway. Paul’s campaign called it an error from an aide writing for the website.
* The House ethics committee dismissed allegations against Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) yesterday, following a seven-month review.
* Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) should probably try to remember he opposed the Lily Ledbetter Act.
* Effective yesterday, the terms for student loans just got a little better. It’s the result of the major overhaul approved by Democrats in March.
* The only people stranger than Glenn Beck? Glenn Beck’s guests.
* And this July 4, take a moment to realize that about a fourth of the population (26%) does not realize who we declared our independence from in 1776. Among the wrong countries mentioned by poll respondents were France, China, Japan, Mexico, and Spain.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
