{"id":10028,"date":"2013-02-24T02:18:29","date_gmt":"2013-02-24T10:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=10028"},"modified":"2013-02-24T02:18:29","modified_gmt":"2013-02-24T10:18:29","slug":"open-thread2242013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2013\/02\/24\/open-thread2242013\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–2\/24\/2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday some Immodium AD got half of my problem under control, but when it comes to anything solid,  my stomach is still reversing the old maxim, \u201cWhat goes up must come down.\u201d  It would be a great time to visit Rush Limbarf.  I\u2019m going to stay down.  I\u2019m current with replies’ and hope to be back tomorrow.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 5:09 (average 5:49).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From MoveOn<\/a>: <\/font>Fox News Doesn’t Fact Check : Lesbian Wedding Edition<\/p>\n

\"24foxwedding500\"<\/p>\n

LMAO!!!! Actually I disagree with the premise. I think Faux Noise, the Republican Ministry of propaganda, fact checks everything. Anything factually accurate ends up on the cutting room floor.<\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Major banks have quickly become behind-the-scenes allies of Internet-based payday lenders that offer short-term loans with interest rates sometimes exceeding 500 percent.<\/p>\n

With 15 states banning payday loans, a growing number of the lenders have set up online operations in more hospitable states or far-flung locales like Belize, Malta and the West Indies to more easily evade statewide caps on interest rates. <\/p>\n

While the banks, which include giants like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, do not make the loans, they are a critical link for the lenders, enabling the lenders to withdraw payments automatically from borrowers\u2019 bank accounts, even in states where the loans are banned entirely. In some cases, the banks allow lenders to tap checking accounts even after the customers have begged them to stop the withdrawals. <\/p>\n

This is one of the reasons why the CFPB needs an Director, and why Republicans have said they will filibuster every appointee for this agency. Thank the Nevada Leg Hound, Harry Reid.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Crooks and Liars<\/a>: <\/font>Watch: Paul Ryan on Sequester<\/font><\/p>\n