Top Items:
Michael Finnegan / Los Angeles Times:
California voters exercise their power — and that's the problem — Residents relish their role in the lawmaking process, but they share the blame for the state's severe dysfunction. — Californians are well known for periodic voter revolts, but on Tuesday they did more than just lash …
Discussion:
Reuters, Michelle Malkin, Townhall.com, Say Anything, Hot Air, DownWithTyranny! and American Power
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Megan McArdle:
Is California Too Big to Fail? — So what about California? A reader asks. Ummm, that's a tough one. No, wait, it's not: California is completely, totally, irreparably hosed. And not a little garden hose. More like this. Their outflow is bigger than their inflow.
Eric Bailey / Los Angeles Times:
California voters kill budget measures — Only salary curbs survive in a rout of Schwarzenegger's slate of reforms — Reporting from Sacramento — The “big five” elected leaders — Schwarzenegger and the legislative chieftains from both houses — are slated to begin closed-door meetings today upon …
Juliet Williams / Associated Press:
Schwarzenegger's 3rd budget reform attempt flops — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to permanently fix California's “broken budget system.” But three times now he has tried and failed to smooth out the state's roller coaster revenues.
David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
Democrats in Senate Block Money to Close Guantánamo — WASHINGTON — In an abrupt shift, Senate Democratic leaders said on Tuesday that they would not provide the $80 million that President Obama requested to close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
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Fox News:
Reid Botches Three Statements in One Appearance — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid botched statements on three subjects in one news conference — including the fragile health of the chamber's most senior members. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid became the latest Democrat to stray …
The Hill:
Kennedy's cancer in remission — Sen. Edward Kennedy's brain cancer is in remission and the Massachusetts Democrat is expected back in the Senate after the Memorial Day recess, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. — Sen. Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday that he spoke with Kennedy's wife …
Discussion:
The Politico, Ezra Klein, Say Anything, Wizbang, alicublog, CBS News, The Note, D-Day, Hot Air, Salon, Washington Monthly, The Page and TPMDC
Cynthia McCormick / CapeCodOnline.com:
Kennedy's office denies health report
Kennedy's office denies health report
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
Shailagh Murray / Washington Post:
Senate Democrats Reject Obama's Request for Funds to Close Guantanamo Bay Prison
Senate Democrats Reject Obama's Request for Funds to Close Guantanamo Bay Prison
Discussion:
Think Progress, Los Angeles Times, The Foundry, McClatchy Washington Bureau and Swampland
The Politico:
Obama, Cheney plan dueling speeches — President Barack Obama will attempt to regain control of a boiling debate over anti-terrorism policy with a major speech on Thursday—an address that comes on the same day that former Vice President Cheney will be weighing in with his own speech on the same theme.
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Ben Smith / The Politico:
Obama's biggest critic: Krauthammer — The dinner guest that night at George Will's house in Chevy Chase was intellectually nimble, personally formidable and completely baffling, recalled columnist Charles Krauthammer - who was getting his first up-close look at President-elect Barack Obama.
Newt Gingrich / Human Events:
Why Pelosi Should Step Down — The case against Nancy Pelosi remaining Speaker of the House is as simple as it is devastating: — The person who is No. 2 in line to be commander in chief can't have contempt for the men and women who protect our nation. America can't afford it.
Rep. Mac Thornberry / The Politico:
Pelosi's job? National security first
Pelosi's job? National security first
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Advocates of Gun Rights Are Poised for a Victory — WASHINGTON — Advocates of gun rights are poised to win a Congressional victory that eluded them under a Republican president. — To the frustration and discouragement of many Democrats, House and Senate lawmakers and aides …
Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
Cheney Grabs a Third Term — Dick and Rummy are at Cafe Milano in Georgetown, holding court. The maître d' fawns. Waiters hover. Tourists snap pics on their digital cameras. Cable chatterers stop by to ingratiate themselves. — It isn't so much that Dick and Rummy are back.
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Michael Gerson / Washington Post:
Democrats' Assault On the CIA — In a little over 100 days, the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress have delivered a series of blows to the pride and morale of the Central Intelligence Agency. — It began with the release of the Justice Department memos …
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Washington Sketch: When Steele Talks, Republicans Check Their BlackBerrys — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, working the room at a luncheon gathering of party officials yesterday, had the same parting words for each man he met: “Stay out of trouble.”
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Ali Akbar Dareini / Associated Press:
Iran says it tests missile, Israel within range — TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile Wednesday with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel, southeastern Europe and U.S. bases in the Middle East.
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C. J. Chivers / New York Times:
Arms Sent by U.S. May Be Falling Into Taliban Hands — KABUL — Insurgents in Afghanistan, fighting from some of the poorest and most remote regions on earth, have managed for years to maintain an intensive guerrilla war against materially superior American and Afghan forces.
Michael Barone / Washington Examiner:
Why the U.S. should listen to India's voters — Last November 131, million Americans voted, and the whole world took notice. Over the last month, about 700 million Indians voted, and most Americans, like most of the world, didn't much notice. To be sure, American elections are more important …
New York Times:
As Political Winds Shift, Detroit Charts New Course — WASHINGTON — Why, after decades of battling, complaining and maneuvering over fuel economy standards, did carmakers fall in line behind the tough new nationwide mileage standard President Obama announced Tuesday? — Because they had no choice.
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SteveK / TVNewser:
Anderson Cooper Says “Teabagging” Comment Was “Stupid, Silly” — CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke at UCLA Sunday as part of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture Series, and was asked about his “teabagging” comment last month during the Q&A portion. — Here is a video of his response, taken by an audience member.
Washington Post:
U.S. May Add New Financial Watchdog — The Obama administration is actively discussing the creation of a regulatory commission that would have broad authority to protect consumers who use financial products as varied as mortgages, credit cards and mutual funds, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
The Opinionator, The Washington Independent, The Baseline Scenario, Felix Salmon and naked capitalism
Lara Jakes / Associated Press:
Pentagon: No plans to end don't ask-don't tell — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says it has no plans to repeal the don't ask-don't tell policy for gay troops. — Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Tuesday that the military's top leaders have only had initial discussions with the White House …