TPM Scoreboard

Looking good so far.

Matt F On Alan Chartock

Matt talking about 9/11 on Alan Chartock's show.

Ho Hum, Kansas Missed Its Projected Tax Collection

No, that's it.

Kansas' tax collections fell nearly $13 million short of expectations in July, and the report of the shortfall Monday came on the eve of a primary election in which Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's critics hoped to oust some of his legislative allies.

The state Department of Revenue reported that Kansas collected $425 million in taxes last month. Compared with the state's official forecast of nearly $438 million, the shortfall was 2.9 percent. Kansas has missed its projections 10 of the past 12 months.

More? OK.

In Tuesday's election, more than two dozen Republican legislators face primary challengers, and most are small-government conservative Brownback allies who've continued to stick by his tax-cutting experiment. GOP moderates are hoping to cut into their clout by tapping into anxiety about the budget and future funding for public schools.

Sucks to be them.

Is This So Hard, Elise?

Richard Hanna has found his soul, you can too.

“While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Mrs. Clinton,” he wrote in an op-ed on Syracuse.com.

And This Helps?

Hadn't been to American Power in some time. But, I got out the hip waders and braved the fever swamp. And I found out that Donald Trump has gotten the Purple Heart. No, not in battle. Don't be silly.

A veteran gave Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a Purple Heart medal before his Tuesday morning rally in Ashburn, Virginia, prompting Trump to comment that “this was much easier” than earning it himself.

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces when they have been wounded or killed in war.

Trump told the audience during his rally that “something very nice just happened to me. A man came up to me and he handed me his Purple Heart.”

As the audience aahed, Trump continued: “I said to him, ‘Is that like the real one or is that a copy? And he said, ‘That’s my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.’”

“And I said, ‘Man that’s big stuff.’ I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier, but I tell you it was such an honor.”

Yes, he accepted it. I need a "you've gotta be shitting me" label. Does valor theft make things better. Douglas actually put this story up like it's a good thing.

Military members slammed the real estate tycoon — who avoided serving in Vietnam — for trumpeting the gift while he was facing criticism over his treatment of a slain Army captain’s family.

“This is how one usually looks when you are awarded the Purple Heart. Nothing easy about it,” Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth posted on Twitter next to a picture of her in the hospital.

I'm so old I can remember when it was liberals that had no respect for the sacrifices made by service people.

Nice Editorial at The Daily News

Just going to link to it mostly. Running out of time.

Read Hillary Clinton’s nomination speech carefully and you will discover an enormously promising — and these days radical — approach to governing the United States.

Largely lost amid the cheering of most Democrats and the jeering of Bernie Sanders followers, Clinton envisioned a far less ideological and more pragmatic presidency than that of Barack Obama.

If she holds to her word — and there is no reason to doubt that she will try — Clinton will follow in the get-things-done-through-compromise footsteps of LBJ rather than the my-way-or-the-highway style of BHO.

During eight years in the U.S. Senate, Clinton earned a strong reputation among Republicans and Democrats as a hard worker and trustworthy legislative partner. Clearly, she understands that the White House needs a reset with Congress before one with Russia.

Where's Elise?

Donald Trump is headed for the heart of Elise Stefanik country this week. Why? Yes, that's the obvious question. But this is Trump.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is planning to hold a "town hall" in Plattsburgh on Thursday.

The campaign said the event will start at 2 p.m., but did not provide additional details or the planned location.

Trump held rallies at sites across upstate New York, including Plattsburgh and the Times Union Center in Albany, ahead of the state's presidential primary on April 19.

But the campaign has not returned to the region since — which is not unexpected, given that New York is not seen as a swing state. The most recent polls show Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, leading by 12 to 23 percentage points.

During the convention our congresswoman said she was going to be busy working for her constituents. I do hope she can find the time to appear with Trump on Thursday.