Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Late word from the Senate says the upper chamber will push off its vote on the debt deal until tomorrow. Since Senate passage isn’t considered a problem, this isn’t cause for concern, but Congress’ habit of waiting literally until the last day really isn’t helpful.
* In case there were any doubts, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced this afternoon she will vote for the debt-ceiling agreement.
* As of this writing, the House vote is still on track to occur within two hours. If there’s a delay, it would suggest the bill’s in trouble.
* A score (pdf) from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the debt deal will reduce the debt by $2.1 trillion over the next decade.
* Syria: “Syrian security forces bombed the central city of Hama for a second day on Monday as the government pressed its campaign to crush a four-month-old popular uprising against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. On Sunday, at least 70 people were killed when the military and security forces assaulted Hama and other restive cities before dawn, in the broadest and fiercest crackdown yet.”
* Turkey: “Turkey’s top military commanders resigned en masse on Friday, a move without precedent in Turkish history that many analysts saw as a failed effort by a beleaguered institution to exert what is left of its dwindling political power.” The resignations come in response to the arrests of dozens of military leaders in a larger conspiracy investigation.
* I realize the expression doesn’t have to be racially charged, but if far-right Republican congressman could avoid comparing President Obama to a “tar baby,” I’d sure appreciate it.
* The Murdoch media scandal isn’t over: “Employees of The New York Post, Rupert Murdoch’s irreverent and hard-charging city tabloid, were told Friday to keep any documents that may pertain to the kind of illegal activity that has led to arrests and a widening investigation at the News Corporation’s British newspapers.”
* Last week, in an underreported story, someone firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic in McKinney, Texas. Not that it should make a difference, but the clinic doesn’t even provide abortions.
* Daniel Luzer: “Despite a last-minute agreement not to cut the Pell Grant program as part of the debt ceiling deal, in general public education funding got a lot worse this year.”
* The estimable Chris Hayes will host a new weekend show on MSNBC, airing Saturday and Sunday mornings. Congratulations to Chris, who’s clearly earned it.
* The first step is admitting we have a problem: “America in the 21st century is a post-modern epistemological relativist state in which the right creates its own alternate reality in real time. And there’s nobody to sort it out because the press gives equal weight to everyone. This is the world that produced Tea Partying congressmen who believe that default on the national debt is a rational policy to shrink government.” (thanks to F.B. for the tip)
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
