Today’s edition of quick hits:
* President Obama challenges Speaker Boehner: “‘My very strong suspicion is there are enough votes there’ to pass the government funding legislation, he said during an unannounced stop at FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. ‘Hold a vote. Call a vote right now. Let’s see what happens.’”
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* Progress: “Secretary of State John Kerry lauded Syria Monday, saying he was ‘very pleased’ at news that experts had already begun the process of destroying Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal. In unusual praise for Damascus, Kerry also gave the government of President Bashar Assad credit for quickly complying with the United Nations resolution on destroying its chemical weapons.”
* For the first time, the White House said today it’s open to a temporary extension of the debt ceiling, so long as it’s a “clean” bill.
* Pakistan: “At least two police officers were killed and a dozen people wounded on Monday when a bomb went off near a health care facility where polio vaccines were being dispensed outside this northwestern Pakistani city, officials said.”
* Egypt: “At least 28 people were killed and more than 90 wounded in clashes during protests in Egypt on Sunday, security sources and state media said, as the crisis since the army seized power three months ago showed no sign of abating.”
* Twelve years: “Monday marks 12 years since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, and for a conflict that’s been seemingly forgotten by most Americans who’ve grown weary of war, it seems fitting that the anniversary should be overshadowed by a domestic story: the federal government shutdown.”
* Pentagon: “Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made a surprise announcement on Saturday that he would reinstate almost all of the 350,000 civilian employees of the Defense Department who had been sent home when the government shut down last week.”
* National Day of Immigrant Dignity and Respect: “Thousands of supporters of an immigration overhaul held rallies on Saturday at more than 150 sites in 40 states, trying to pressure Congress, despite the partisan turmoil in Washington, to focus on passing a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants here illegally.” * Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) said last week he’d continue to accept his paychecks during the shutdown because he has a “nice house.” Today, Terry changed his mind. * Jonathan Bernstein on Ron Fournier: “Just when you think he’s hit bottom, he keeps going.” * Krugman: “It has been obvious for years that the modern Republican Party is no longer capable of thinking seriously about policy. Whether the issue is climate change or inflation, party members believe what they want to believe, and any contrary evidence is dismissed as a hoax, the product of vast liberal conspiracies.” 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
