Top Items:
Wall Street Journal:
Labor Bill Faces Threat in Senate — WASHINGTON — Key Senate Democrats are wavering in their support of legislation that would give more power to labor unions, dealing a setback to labor's top priority as businesses warn of the damage the bill would cause.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Business Week, Open Congress, Daily Kos, neo-neocon, Democracy in America, Hot Air, FAIR Blog, TPMDC, Ben Smith's Blogs, Open Left and Reason
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Jonathan Tasini / The Huffington Post:
Democratic Senators: Mess With EFCA, Face A Primary — If you believe that a society cannot be truly democratic without a strong labor movement, and if you believe that the only way to build a fair economy is by making sure people can belong to unions, then, this is where a line must be drawn …
Discussion:
The Politico
Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Citi Downgrades Stock Rating on Wal-Mart, Panics Market Over Employee Free Choice
Citi Downgrades Stock Rating on Wal-Mart, Panics Market Over Employee Free Choice
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
MAYBE THEY WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.... I can appreciate why the right is angry that President Obama disagrees with conservative activists about culture-war issues. What I don't understand is why they're so surprised. … Fidelis president Brian Burch said, “It has really been a disappointment.”
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Bob McCarty Writes:
Heroic Name Given to Photo of President Obama — Soon after President Barack Obama signed an executive order lifting the ban on the use federal funding of embryonic stem cells in medical research, the wizards behind the White House web site posted the photo above.
Carrie Budoff Brown / The Politico:
Stem cell decision ignites right's ire — He called for reducing abortions and seeking common ground on one of the nation's most divisive issues — promises that led some on the right to think maybe, just maybe, Barack Obama was a different kind of Democrat. — But no more.
William Saletan / Slate:
You just won the stem-cell war. Don't lose your soul. — Today, President Obama lifted the ban on federal funding of stem-cell research using destroyed human embryos. If you support this research, congratulations: You won. Now for your next challenge: Don't lose your soul.
New York Times:
Obama Calls for Overhaul of Education System — WASHINGTON — President Obama called for sweeping changes in American education on Tuesday, urging states to lift limits on charter schools and exhorting teachers, parents and students to embrace a renewed commitment to learning from grade school through adulthood.
Discussion:
Lance Mannion
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Washington Post:
Some Friends — SECRETARY OF STATE Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to devalue and undermine the U.S. diplomatic tradition of human rights advocacy. On her first foreign trip, to Asia, she was dismissive about raising human rights concerns with China's communist government, saying …
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Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
New U.N. human rights report and America's lectures to other countries — (updated below - Update II) — The Washington Post's Fred Hiatt today condemns the Obama administration generally and Hillary Clinton specifically for “continu[ing] to devalue and undermine the U.S. diplomatic tradition of human rights advocacy.”
Discussion:
A Tiny Revolution
Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard:
The Most Dishonest Freeman Defense — The Washington Post has finally reported on the controversy surrounding the appointment of Charles Freeman to head the National Intelligence Council. It seems that the Post also spoke to Charles Freeman, though they don't have any on the record quotes from the appointee.
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Michael Spencer / Christian Science Monitor:
The coming evangelical collapse — An anti-Christian chapter in Western history is about to begin. But out of the ruins, a new vitality and integrity will rise. — ONEIDA, KY. - — We are on the verge - within 10 years - of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, Crunchy Con, The Other McCain, Outside The Beltway, Macsmind and insert clever s.logan here
David Brooks / New York Times:
Taking a Depression Seriously — The Democratic response to the economic crisis has its problems, but let's face it, the current Republican response is totally misguided. The House minority leader, John Boehner, has called for a federal spending freeze for the rest of the year.
Manu Raju / The Politico:
Franken: ‘Light at end of the tunnel’ — Al Franken dropped by a Senate Democratic lunch Tuesday to claim “there is light at the end of the tunnel” in his ongoing Minnesota Senate race, but he ruled out being seated until pending court challenges are resolved.
Discussion:
TPMDC
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Jared Allen / The Hill:
House Dems eyeing another stimulus bill — House Democrats are looking at yet another economic stimulus bill beyond the $787 billion one just enacted as investors and consumers continue to show little faith in the economy. — At a special meeting of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee …
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Michael Calderone / The Politico:
Ann Coulter and Bill Maher spar at Radio City Politico - 1 hour, 52 minutes ago — Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition — NEW YORK — Bill Maher couldn't have asked for a better act to follow. — Maher took the stage at the Radio City Music Hall Monday after Ann Coulter …
Mike Faher / The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA:
Luksik to oppose Specter — Westmont woman plans run for GOP nod in 2010 — After a nine-year absence from politics, Westmont resident Peg Luksik made a few waves by managing Republican William Russell's surprisingly strong 2008 congressional campaign. — Her next venture, though, is likely to make a much bigger splash.
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Blair defends Freeman from Lieberman — National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair strongly defended Chas Freeman this morning in response to a question from Senator Joe Lieberman about statements suggesting Freeman is “inclined to lean against Israel or too much in favor of China.”
Agence France Presse:
British MP gives money, vehicles to Hamas in Gaza — GAZA CITY (AFP) — Firebrand British MP George Galloway on Tuesday donated thousands of dollars and dozens of vehicles to the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip after arriving in an aid convoy. — “We are giving you now 100 vehicles …
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs
Roger Kimball / Pajamas Media:
The Idiot's Guide to Destroying the Economy: a 12-Step Program — Think destroying the mighty economy of the United States is too big a job for you? Relax. Anyone can do it. A friend sent me a handy-dandy no-fuss 12-step program for wreaking financial havoc among even the world's most advanced economies.
Josh Rogin / CQ Politics:
Obama Seeks to Delay Tanker, Cancel Bomber — The White House has given the Pentagon guidance to delay procurement of aerial refueling tankers by five years and cancel plans for a new long-range bomber, according to three sources close to the discussions. — No final decisions have been made …
Saul Hansell / Bits:
The Broadband Gap: Why Is Theirs Faster? — This is the first in a series of three posts looking at the lessons for the United States from broadband deployment in other countries. — Bits readers have a serious case of broadband envy. I've been writing about the debate …
Christopher Keating / Capitol Watch:
Catholic Church Hearing Canceled Wednesday — Following the biggest political firestorm of the 2009 legislative session, a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday on the financial and administrative management of the Catholic Church has been canceled. The bill is dead for the rest of the legislative session.