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 …
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Mark Murray / MSNBC:
FIRST THOUGHTS: THIS JUDD'S (NOT) FOR YOU — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro — *** This Judd's (not) for you: Just when you thought the news was getting a bit stale — after the deal on the stimulus — came the latest twist and turn on the Obama White House's four-week-old rollercoaster ride.
William Kristol / PostPartisan:
Why Gregg Withdrew — In his statement backing out of the Commerce secretary position, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) said that he had “found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the census, there are irresolvable conflicts for me.” Gregg explained that, “Prior to accepting this post …
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 Hill, The Swamp, MyDD, The New Republic, MSNBC, Daily Kos, George's Bottom Line, Commentary, The Caucus, Washington Post, marbury and THE WEEK - Online
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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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:
Weekly Standard, Ben Smith's Blogs, HorseRaceBlog, The Nation, The Impolitic, The Plum Line, Associated Press, Reuters and Townhall.com
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Jared Allen / The Hill:
Conference tactics leave deep House resentment
Conference tactics leave deep House resentment
Discussion:
The Politico, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Hot Air, Political Machine, Kausfiles, The Note and CNN
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
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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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 …
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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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.
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 …
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.
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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.
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 …
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
Buffalo News:
49 KILLED AS PLANE CRASHES INTO HOME IN CLARENCE CENTER — Forty-nine people died when a Continental Connection airplane crashed into a house in Clarence Center shortly after 10:15 p.m. Thursday, setting off a huge fire that could be seen miles away. — The dead included 44 passengers, four crew members and a person on the ground.
Discussion:
neo-neocon, Riehl World View, On Deadline, Spin Cycle, Associated Press, TVNewser, Scared Monkeys, Mudville Gazette and JammieWearingFool
TigerHawk:
Now they tell us: Iran is pursuing a bomb — Most political blog readers will remember the storm of controversy that erupted in early December 2007, when a new American “National Intelligence Assessment” claimed that Iran had stopped development of a nuclear weapon in 2003.
John D. Montgomery / Purcell Register:
Politics as usual — Purcell, Ok — During the Clinton Administration, Repubs blasted Bill. — For the last eight years Dems have ripped on G Dub. — Well, rest easy John Q. Citizen. The politicians are back at it only now it's President Barack Obama's turn in the barrel.
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 …
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 …
Timothy J. Burger / Bloomberg:
California's Napolitano Makes $220,000 From 1998 Campaign Loan — Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) — During a decade in Congress, California Representative Grace Napolitano has pocketed more than $200,000 of political contributions by charging as much as 18 percent interest on money she loaned to her own campaign.