Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Secretary of State John Kerry, describing the Obama administration’s military intentions towards Syria, described a “very limited, very targeted, very short-term” mission, intended to “degrade” Assad’s capacity to deliver chemical weapons. But then Kerry added that the U.S. mission would be “unbelievably small,” which raised eyebrows around the globe.
* The transcript of President Bashar al-Assad’s interview with Charlie Rose is now available online.
* The full-court press will continue: “President Barack Obama plans to meet with both Senate Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday.”
* Starting the clock: “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he’s planning on setting an initial procedural vote Wednesday on the resolution to authorize military force against Syria. On the Senate floor, promised that the resolution will get the debate that it deserves.”
* Retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, former CIA director under President Barack Obama, is urging Congress to back the administration on Syria. When was the last time congressional Republicans blew off advice from Petraeus and Israel on a matter of national security?
* Noting the many GOP lawmakers who were for military intervention in Syria before they were against it, the obvious conclusion is that Republicans changed their minds after President Obama agreed with them.
* Zimmerman: “George Zimmerman’s wife Shellie called Lake Mary Police Monday afternoon saying her spouse was arguing with her and her father, and that he had a hand on his gun, according to Police Chief Steve Bracknell.”
* Ben Jealous leaves on a high note: “The man who has become the face of the NAACP — from marches protesting the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin to vigils for death row inmate Troy Davis in Georgia — is resigning effective Dec. 31…. In a separate interview with USA Today columnist DeWayne Wickham, Jealous detailed plans to create an ‘EMILY’s list for people of color.’” * It seems in those rare instances in which actual voter fraud pops up, more often than not, it’s a Republican trying to get away with something. * And Rush Limbaugh could easily teach a post-grad course in advanced racial trolling: “Limbaugh Dubs Obama’s Syria Plan ‘Operation Shuck And Jive.’” This kind of ugliness takes real practice. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
