Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Unacceptable: “Despite efforts to create a ‘military culture free of sexual assault,’ the Department of Defense announced Tuesday that the number of cases increased sharply in the last year, a trend that critics pointed to as proof that more aggressive measures are needed to end the epidemic.”
* President Obama commented on the increase of military sexual assault cases: “Whoever carries it out is betraying the uniform that they’re wearing.”
* No rush to war: “The White House insisted on Monday that it would not be thrown off its cautious approach to Syria, despite Israeli military strikes near Damascus and new questions about the use of chemical weapons in the civil war there.”
* Heartbreaking: “Hundreds of survivors of last month’s collapse of a building housing garment factories in Bangladesh protested for compensation Tuesday, as the death toll from the country’s worst-ever industrial disaster passed 700.”
* With just hours remaining: “The Mississippi Supreme Court has indefinitely delayed Tuesday’s scheduled execution of Willie Jerome Manning amid questions involving evidence in the case, intervening hours before he was set to die for the slayings of two college students.”
* A symbolic milestone: “Stocks finished near their best levels Tuesday, with the S&P 500 extending its recent rally to a fresh high and the Dow closing above the 15,000 milestone for the first time, but the Nasdaq lagged as investors took profit in the large techs.”
* Good for him: “Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the Judiciary Committee scheduled to mark up bipartisan immigration legislation on Thursday, has filed an amendment that would allow same sex couples to sponsor their partners for a visa.” * It’s about time: “Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said Tuesday he has lifted his hold on one of President Obama’s top healthcare nominees. Harkin had placed a hold on the nomination of Marilyn Tavenner, whom Obama tapped to lead the agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.” * Kevin Drum offers Democrats some good advice: “Democrats [need to] get out of their crouch and start selling Obamacare like their lives depend on it. Which they do. A moderate response just won’t do any good here. Dems need to be promoting Obamacare with all the fervor that Republicans will be attacking it, pointing out its benefits and upsides at every opportunity.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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