Today’s edition of quick hits:
* If Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was eager to solidify his reputation as a self-absorbed show horse, indifferent to policymaking but obsessed with parading for the cameras, today was his lucky day.
* For what it’s worth, as a technical matter, Cruz’s little stunt is not a filibuster. (It’s also not really about the Affordable Care Act — the right-wing Texan is basically just whining incessantly about legislative procedure surrounding the health care law.)
* Cruz’s tantrum, which is apparently being done with Fox News specifically in mind, has already featured the senator likening his doubters to Nazi appeasers. Classy.
* No handshake: “The handshake turned out to be too touchy. President Barack Obama had encouraging words for his Iranian counterpart Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly, but a much buzzed-about meeting between the two leaders apparently won’t happen.”
* Kenya: “On Tuesday, four days after al-Qaeda-linked militants claimed credit for attacking the Westgate Shopping Center in Nairobi, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta declared victory against the assailants. ‘We have ashamed and defeated our attackers,’ Kenyatta said, ‘our task has been completed.’ Kenyatta also declared three days of national mourning for Kenya, starting Wednesday.”
* Another historic first: “The Senate made history on Tuesday by voting to confirm Todd Hughes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Hughes, who was confirmed 98 to 0, is the nation’s first openly gay circuit judge. He has been a deputy director in the civil division of the Justice Department since 2007.”
* Economy: “Single-family home prices rose at a slightly slower pace in July, but the year-on-year gain was the strongest in more than seven years, a closely watched survey showed on Tuesday.” * Down, but not down to zero: “The prison at Guantánamo said Monday it believed a long-running hunger strike has bottomed out with 19 protesting prisoners — down from a high of 106 protesters locked inside solitary cells this summer.” * I was skeptical when I first heard about it, but Bono’s imitation of Bill Clinton really isn’t bad. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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