FRIDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Terror in Pakistan: “A suicide bombing at a Shiite demonstration in the western Pakistani city of Quetta left at least 55 people dead Friday, triggering fears of an outbreak of sectarian violence as the nation continues to struggle with ruinous floods. The strike followed a suicide attack that killed at least two people in northwest Pakistan at a mosque of the Ahmedi sect, another religious minority whose members are the frequent victims of Islamist extremists. On Wednesday, suicide bombers struck a Shiite march in the city of Lahore, killing at least 30 and sparking riots.”
* Hurricane Earl swipes North Carolina, heads towards New England a little worse for wear. Early reports suggest damage in North Carolina was not as bad as feared.
* Earthquake in New Zealand: “Authorities said Saturday that a major earthquake near New Zealand’s second-largest city, Christchurch, caused extensive damage and scores of minor injuries but no major casualties.”
* President Obama addressed the monthly jobs report at a press availability this morning, and before wrapping up, mentioned, “I will be addressing a broader package of ideas next week.”
* Why is long-term unemployment declining?
* I was going to say “nice try,” but it wasn’t even that: “A judge on Thursday denied a request for President Barack Obama to testify at a court martial for a U.S. Army flight surgeon who refused to deploy to Afghanistan until he saw proof that Obama was born in the United States.”
* Former OMB Director Peter Orszag is getting a New York Times column. It should be interesting.
* Daniel Luzer: Paying for college with retirement money.
* The NRCC embezzlement scandal leads to a guilty plea.
* Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), currently the subject of criminal and ethics investigations stemming from his sex/corruption scandal, told constituents this week, “If you don’t hold us accountable, we’ll do some real bad things in Washington, D.C.” He was trying to talk about the economy, but I nevertheless found his lack of self-awareness hilarious.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
