Top Items:
Byron York / www.dcexaminer.com:
Why Gregg Bailed — When he took the job, Republicans searched for a diplomatic way to ask: Are you crazy? — After 16 years as a Republican senator from New Hampshire, Judd Gregg has a lot of friends among GOP lawmakers, and in the past two weeks, many of them — perhaps most of them …
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, RedState, TPMDC, The Washington Independent, Pajamas Media, Fausta's Blog and Neptunus Lex
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The Politico:
Hardened Obama plans new fights — Emboldened by his victory on the stimulus package — but chastened by the pothole-pocked road that got him there —President Barack Obama and his aides are plunging ahead on a large and expensive agenda that virtually assures 2009 will be marked …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Weekly Standard, The Nation, Don Surber, HorseRaceBlog, The Impolitic, Ben Smith's Blogs, Associated Press, Reuters and The Plum Line
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Jared Allen / The Hill:
Conference tactics leave deep House resentment
Conference tactics leave deep House resentment
Discussion:
The Politico, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Hot Air, Kausfiles and Political Machine
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Friday Senate Line: Gregg Adds to GOP Pain — The withdrawal of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) as President Obama's commerce secretary nominee on Thursday was initially greeted with relief by Senate Republicans who believed that the incumbent might now stay on and seek reelection in 2010.
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Greg Miller / Chicago Tribune:
Predator drones flown from base in Pakistan, U.S. lawmaker says — Sen. Feinstein's surprise disclosure likely to complicate joint campaign against Taliban militants — WASHINGTON, D.C. - A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown …
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Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
The Ever-Bolder GOP — It seems that Republicans are feeling pretty good about themselves these days: … This reminds me of what Eve Fairbanks wrote back on February 9 when she observed that they are “completely obsessed with winning the media “cycle” and getting the sexiest …
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Charles Mahtesian / The Politico:
Gregg flip-flop emboldens GOP
Gregg flip-flop emboldens GOP
Discussion:
The Swamp, The Hill, The Raw Story, MyDD, MSNBC, George's Bottom Line, The Caucus, Daily Kos, Commentary, marbury, The New Republic and Washington Post
Gene Warner / Buffalo News:
Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife — Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband — an influential member of the local Muslim community — reported her death to police Thursday.
ProPublica:
The Stimulus Plan: A Detailed List of Spending — Congress released its compromise of the economic stimulus plan at 11 p.m. Thursday. Debate began in the House at 9 a.m., with voting set for 1 p.m. Want to know what's in it? You could read the 1,071-page gorilla they've posted.
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Kevin G. Hall / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Will the stimulus actually stimulate? Economists say no — WASHINGTON — The compromise economic stimulus plan agreed to by negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate is short on incentives to get consumers spending again and long on social goals that won't stimulate economic activity …
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog, Stop The ACLU, SENATUS, Neptunus Lex, Jules Crittenden, Sister Toldjah and Dean's World
Rasmussen Reports:
Specter Vote For Stimulus Hurts Him Back Home — Senator Arlen Specter is one of only three Republicans to support the economic stimulus bill in Congress, and the latest Rasmussen Reports survey in Pennsylvania shows that his position is costing him support back home.
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight.com, Power Line, Hot Air, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, TPMDC and Real Clear Politics
John B. Judis / The New Republic:
End The Honeymoon — Why the left is to blame for the lackluster stimulus and bank bailout. — There are many good things to say about the stimulus bill. But all in all, it wasn't as good as it could be: It's probably too small and too skewed toward tax cuts, and particularly cuts …
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Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Obama and liberals: a counter-productive relationship
Obama and liberals: a counter-productive relationship
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Monthly, The Impolitic, Open Left, Booman Tribune, TalkLeft and Political Machine
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
The Audacity of Audaciousness — It takes a certain amount of nerve to have an event at the National Press Club and then ban the press from covering it. — It takes another level of chutzpah entirely to admit members of the general public to your event at the National Press Club …
CNN:
Dems target right-wing talk radio — WASHINGTON (CNN) — More and More Democrats in Congress are calling for action that Republicans warn could muzzle right-wing talk radio. — Representative Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat from New York is the latest to say he wants to bring back the …
CNSNews:
Democratic Senator Predicts None of His Colleagues ‘Will Have the Chance’ to Read Final Stimulus Bill Before Vote — (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) predicted on Thursday that none of his Senate colleagues would “have the chance” to read the entire final version …
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Washington Post:
Nationalize the Banks! We're all Swedes Now — The U.S. banking system is close to being insolvent, and unless we want to become like Japan in the 1990s — or the United States in the 1930s — the only way to save it is nationalization. — As free-market economists teaching at a business school …
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Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
If The Right Were Intellectually Honest ... This Manzi post would be their argument going forward. Here's why they are not being intellectually honest, and Manzi's post includes the relevant facts. The GOP has passed what amounts to a spending and tax-cutting and borrowing stimulus package …
John Byrne / The Raw Story:
Unrest in Tennessee: House GOP chairman joins suit to overturn Obama's presidency — Democrats say GOP congressman joining suit is ‘from Mars’ — A Supreme Court decision apparently isn't enough for Tennessee lawmakers in the House. — Despite the fact that the Court rejected an effort …
Sarah Pulliam / Christianity Today:
Phrase ‘Religious Right’ Misused, Conservatives Say — The term “Religious Right” pops up every election cycle, but leaders often identified with the political movement say that while their constituencies remain strong, the catchphrase deserves a proper burial.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
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Ali Frick / Think Progress:
Bush Aide: Leahy Truth Commission Is ‘Terribly Dangerous’ Idea, Possibly ‘Deadly’ — Last night on The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly showed a clip of a Fox News producer ambushing Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to accuse him of political hypocrisy for urging an investigation into Bush crimes after he had opposed the Clinton impeachment.
Discussion:
Big Brass Blog
Todd J. Zywicki / Wall Street Journal:
Don't Let Judges Tear Up Mortgage Contracts — That's the last thing troubled securities markets need. — The nation faces a foreclosure crisis of historic proportions, and there is an understandable desire on the part of the federal government to “do something” to help.
Discussion:
The Volokh Conspiracy