Tammy Duckworth explains the value of a Purple Heart Daily Kos

I earned a Purple Heart in combat and I know many others who have as well. It's not something anyone "wanted to get." We earned them because our country asked us to.

It's no surprise Donald Trump accepted a Purple Heart the "easier" way today because that's the story of his life. He never sacrifices. He always has things handed to him. […]

He claimed that his expensive military prep school experience was akin to actual military service. He denigrated Senator John McCain's service as a prisoner of war. And just this week, he attacked Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan.

Note: Illinois Dem. Rep Tammy Duckworth is running a strong race to unseat Rep. Sen. Mark Kirk, and we strongly support her as a new lady face in the US Senate.

Trump's Nuclear Nightmare Politico

Want to create a 'mushroom cloud' of anxiety among intelligent people engaged in political dialogue? Ask yourself if Donald Trump should have access to the nuclear button.

Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” said on his show Wednesday that Trump had asked an unnamed foreign policy expert at least three times why the U.S. can’t use its nuclear weapons.

Melanie Trump Immigration Issues

Gaps in Melania Trump's immigration story raises questions Politico

Melania Trump is again under scrutiny as a result of explosive nude photos of her purchased by Rupert Murdoch's New York Post. Note that we have not shared those images or the link.

Trump's personal/business website has already been taken down as lies about Melania's history -- in particular her lack of a college degree, as she promoted. But these new allegations about Melania Trump's immigration history suggest a far more serious storm brewing.

At issue is which visa Melania Trump was issued when she entered the US. Trump and his wife have said that she held an H-1B visa at all times when she was in New York. If true, she would not have left the US regularly, returning home to Slovenia. Her stay in the US would have been three years, renewable up to six years. I had staff members at Victoria's Secret who were in the country on H-1B visas.

Politico writes that her description of returning to Europe for periodic renewals of her visa are consistent with an individual traveling on a B-1 Temporary Business Visitor or B-2 Tourist Visa, which typically lasts only up to six months and does not permit employment. If so, Melania Trump would have broken the law with her photo shoot.

I will add that with all the talk of Melania being a big-time model, there is no evidence of that fact that is obvious in either a Google search or my own personal recollections. She certainly was never on our roster at Victoria's Secret as a model we would use. If she was a successful model, what agency represented her? Time to check. ~ Anne

Billionaire Klarman slams Trump, vows to work for Clinton Reuters

Another (mostly) Republican big bucks, billionaire donor Seth Klarman got behind Hillary today, strictly out of concern over Donald Trump.

"His words and actions over the last several days are so shockingly unacceptable in our diverse and democratic society that it is simply unthinkable that Donald Trump could become our president," Klarman said about the Republican presidential nominee.

Klarman, the biggest donor in New England and president and chief executive of The Baupost Group told Reuters in an emailed statement that Trump's suggestion "that the election will be rigged is particularly dangerous."

"I will continue to find ways to support Hillary Clinton and defeat Donald Trump,” he said."

Hillary Risks Iowa

Clinton Campaign Studying Alternative To US Ethanol Mandate Reuters

As environmentalists have an "on s**t" moment over their Renewable Fuel Standard legislation created in 2005. the Clinton campaign has reached out to the state of Calif for input on how to revamp the federal regulation mandating that biofuels like corn-based ethanol be blended into the nation's gasoline supply.

For those who say Hillary Clinton flipflops on green issues, the very request could cost her swing-state Iowa. While Iowa farmers have gotten very fat on the ethanol legislation, the greens now have their heads in their hands over the realization that their hatred for oil has created a situation in which carbon dioxide emissions and reduced wildlife habitats -- coupled with the loss of America's prairies and higher food prices -- have created an environmental situation worse than the problem greens set out to solve.

California operates on the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which gives states more latitude in how they reach national fuel standards.