Top Items:
Jim Kuhnhenn / Associated Press:
Obama: Economic crisis ‘not as bad as we think’ … WASHINGTON (AP) - Confronting misgivings, even in his own party, President Barack Obama mounted a stout defense of his blueprint to overhaul the economy Thursday, declaring the national crisis is “not as bad as we think” and his plans will speed recovery.
Discussion:
Gateway Pundit, Associated Press, Power Line, Wizbang, The Sundries Shack, Reuters and AmSpecBlog
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Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
GREGG: BUDGET FORECAST A LIE — From NBC's Ken Strickland — It was obvious to most Capitol Hill insiders why President Obama wanted Republican Judd Gregg as a member of his cabinet: He's one of the sharpest money-minds in Congress. — But instead of getting Gregg's counsel within the administration …
Discussion:
Gateway Pundit
Matt Corley / Think Progress:
Laura Ingraham mocks Meghan McCain as being ‘plus-sized.’ — Last night, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) daughter, Meghan McCain, appeared on Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show, where she continued to criticize Ann Coulter. On her radio show today, Laura Ingraham responded to McCain's critique …
Discussion:
American Spectator, Taylor Marsh, Firedoglake, American Power, The Reaction and BuzzFlash.org
S. Mitra Kalita / Wall Street Journal:
Americans See 18% of Wealth Vanish — The wealth of American families plunged nearly 18% in 2008, erasing years of sharp gains on housing and stocks and marking the biggest loss since the Federal Reserve began keeping track after World War II. — The Fed said Thursday …
CampusProgress.org:
Ross Douthat: the College Years — A look at the newest New York Times columnist's undergrad writing. — The New York Times reported yesterday that it had hired conservative Atlantic blogger Ross Douthat as an op-ed columnist. Douthat, who will be one of the youngest—if not the youngest …
Mother Jones:
Sarah Palin: More Earmark Hypocrisy — Alaska's governor campaigned as an anti-earmark crusader, but the just-passed omnibus spending bill contains several she sought. — Post Comment — On the campaign trail last year, Alaska's Republican governor, Sarah Palin, sold herself …
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Lawmakers deny Freeman's Israel lobby charges — Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said pro-Israel lobby groups did not spur their opposition to Charles Freeman. — Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), a senior member of the House intelligence panel …
Anne Flaherty / Associated Press:
Army fired 11 soldiers in Jan. as openly gay — The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, according to a Virginia congressman. Democratic Rep. Jim Moran said he has requested monthly updates …
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Bill Roggio / The Long War Journal:
US missile strike in Kurram agency levels Taliban training camp — The US targeted a Taliban compound in a cross-border strike into Pakistan's tribal areas today. The strike took place in the Kurram tribal agency and was the second attack there since December 2008.
Discussion:
Danger Room
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Jennifer Parker / George's Bottom Line:
Third Top Treasury Pick Withdraws From Consideration — Democratic sources say that H. Rodgin Cohen, a partner in the New York law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and the leading candidate for Deputy Treasury Secretary, has withdrawn from consideration. — It's the third withdrawal …
Don Surber:
52 days, 52 mistakes — Let me count them up, in no particular order. Some are big. Some are small. — We all make mistakes. Here's his: — 1. A do-over on the oath of office. — 2. Tim Geithner. — 3. Bill Richardson. — 4. Tom Daschle. — 5. Eric “Nation of Cowards” Holder.
Discussion:
Atlas Shrugs
MSNBC:
‘Hardball with Chris Matthews’ for Wednesday, March 11 — Guests: Michelle Bernard, Mary Thompson, Lawrence O'Donnell, Pat Buchanan — CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: We band of Bushies. — Let's play HARDBALL. — Good evening. I'm Chris Matthews. Leading off tonight: We just can't quit you.
Discussion:
David Corn
Associated Press:
Source: Obama official on leave after FBI raids — Source: Obama technology official on leave after FBI raids his old DC office, arrests 2 — WASHINGTON (AP) — An aide to President Barack Obama is on leave from his White House job after the FBI raided his old District …
Sally Denton / Blogs and Stories:
The Man Obama Double-Crossed — As George Clooney Returns, Dr. Mehmet Oz On How ER Changed Our Lives. — Web — Blogs and Stories — The president's staffing nightmares began with Bill Richardson, the erstwhile Commerce nominee, who has told confidants that he was promised the secretary of State job.
Discussion:
Buck Naked Politics
Stephen Dinan / Washington Times:
Stimulus overseer: Waste ‘inevitable’ — The chief watchdog for spending from the $787 billion stimulus package says it's guaranteed there will be waste and fraud. — Earl Devaney, tapped by President Obama to track the giant spending plan, also said it will be at least a year …
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog
Associated Press:
White House objects to UN calling US ‘deadbeat’ — WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House objected Thursday to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's description of the United States as a “deadbeat” donor to the world body. — Ban used the phrase Wednesday during a private meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Don Surber, Agence France Presse, Jules Crittenden, The Foundry and Yourish.com
MiamiHerald.com:
S.C.'s Sanford makes it official, rejects $700 million stimulus — COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday became the first governor to reject some of his state's share of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus money, spurning $700 million that he said would harm his state's residents in the long run.
Discussion:
Cato @ Liberty, The State, Think Progress, CNN, Political Machine, Washington Monthly, ProPublica and Democracy in America
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Glenn Thrush / The Politico:Clyburn: Sanford jab ‘beyond the pale’
Discussion:
Hot Air, protein wisdom, Matthew Yglesias, Salon, CNN, Washington Monthly, Sister Toldjah and The New Republic
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Obama on Spot as Rulings Aid Gay Partners — WASHINGTON — Just seven weeks into office, President Obama is being forced to confront one of the most sensitive social and political issues of the day: whether the government must provide health insurance benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
Discussion:
MoJo Blog Posts
LILEKS (James) Welcome:
I'd have preferred his prosecutor got the job, but I'm vindictive like that — I know it's old news, but it's fascinating. Remember this guy? — John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban.” Caught in Afghanistan after the invasion while fighting on the side of the Taliban against the Northern Alliance …
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org
Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
In Interview, Republican Chairman Strays From the Party Line on Abortion — WASHINGTON — This was supposed to be the week that Michael Steele, the beleaguered new chairman of the national Republican Party, got his groove on, as he might put it: From filling vacancies left by the mass-firing …
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Video: Bill Clinton doesn't understand human biology? — Jill Stanek catches Bill Clinton in a deliciously ironic illiteracy on human biology. Maybe this explains why he tried to convince the nation that oral sex was not, you know, sex: — Emphases mine:
Discussion:
jillstanek.com, Real Clear Politics, Betsy's Page, The Powers That Be and NewsBusters.org
James Fallows:
It's true: Jon Stewart has become Edward R. Murrow — Through karmic guidance, I sprang awake at the exact moment Jon Stewart was beginning his [merciless demolition of] interview with Jim Cramer of CNBC's “Mad Money.” — Yes, it is cliched to praise Stewart as the “true” voice of news …
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
The lame anti-Rush billboard — and a response — The Democratic Party has to do something to distract people from the parade of flopped nominations in the Barack Obama administration, the botched diplomacy of Hillary Clinton, the Wall Street meltdown, and the insane spending spree of the Democratic-controlled Congress.
Nia-Malika Henderson / The Politico:
Michelle Obama tours Fort Bragg — On her out-of-town solo trip, First Lady Michelle Obama toured a military base in North Carolina, met with military families, and called on the nation to support soldiers and their relatives. — “I encourage everyone...to reach out on your own …
Discussion:
New York Times
Jay Solomon / Wall Street Journal:
Obama Plots Opening of Iran Ties — WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is considering lifting a ban on regular diplomatic contacts with Iran and looking at ways to develop a direct line of communication to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said officials briefed on the deliberations.
Discussion:
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