Top Items:
Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
Behind the War Between White House and Fox — WASHINGTON — Late last month, the senior White House adviser David Axelrod and Roger Ailes, chairman and chief executive of Fox News, met in an empty Palm steakhouse before it opened for the day, neutral ground secured for a secret tête-à-tê te.
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Allahpundit / Hot Air:
It's come to this: White House tries to bar Fox News from interviewing pay czar — Decide for yourself what the most disgraceful aspect of this is. Was it the fact that Gibbs told Jake Tapper explicitly on Monday that the White House wouldn't try to dictate to the press pool …
The Politico:
W.H. attacks worry moderate Dems — A White House effort to undermine conservative critics is generating a backlash on Capitol Hill — and not just from Republicans. — “It's a mistake,” said Rep. Jason Altmire, a moderate Democrat from western Pennsylvania.
New York Times:
Senate Leader Takes Risk Pushing Public Insurance Plan — WASHINGTON — In pushing to include a government-run health insurance plan in the health care bill, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, is taking a calculated gamble that the 60 members of his caucus could support the plan if it included a way for states to opt out.
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The Note:
Public Option: It's Back — ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: — The public option. The idea was believed to be dead. Liberals wanted it, but Senate vote counters insisted it simply could not pass the Senate. The dynamic, however, has changed. The public option may be back from dead.
Discussion:
Think Progress, Washington Monthly, American Spectator, The Hill, The Huffington Post, The Reaction, Associated Press, TPMDC, YID With LID, AMERICAblog News, Raw Story, The Plum Line, MyDD, Daily Kos, The Reality-Based Community, GayPatriot, Neptunus Lex, The Politico, Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!, Newsweek Blogs, The Hill and msnbc.com
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Exclusive: Pelosi lacks votes for most sweeping public option — Speaker Nancy Pelosi counted votes Thursday night and determined she could not pass a “robust public option” — the most aggressive of the three forms of a public option House Democrats have been considering as part of a national overhaul of health care.
Washington Post:
Support for public option grows in House and Senate
Support for public option grows in House and Senate
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Politico, The Caucus, Ezra Klein, Wall Street Journal, Taegan Goddard's …, USA Today and WSJ.com
Mike Soraghan / The Hill:
Whip count shows Democrats lack votes on ‘robust’ public option for healthcare
Whip count shows Democrats lack votes on ‘robust’ public option for healthcare
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Brian Beutler / TPMDC:
Source: Leadership Poised To Add Public Option, Moderates Mostly Mum
Source: Leadership Poised To Add Public Option, Moderates Mostly Mum
Discussion:
The New Republic, Daily Kos, Bloomberg, Talking Points Memo, Open Left, Washington Monthly and MyDD
Weekly Standard:
Breaking: Palin Supports Hoffman — THE WEEKLY STANDARD just received a statement from Sarah Palin endorsing conservative Doug Hoffman for Congress:
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Alex Isenstadt / The Politico:
NY-23 race first test of tea party power — Tea party activists from across the nation are rallying around the House special election in upstate New York, viewing it as the first electoral test of the nascent conservative movement's political muscle. — Organizers up and down the East Coast report …
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Morning Fix: Palin Endorses Hoffman — Sarah Palin's decision to endorse the Conservative party candidate over the Republican nominee in a special House election in upstate New York is the latest example that the former Alaska governor's allegiance is to her conservative principles rather than the edicts of the party.
Discussion:
The Note, Wall Street Journal, Taegan Goddard's …, Democracy Corps, Samizdata.net, Townhall.com and Associated Press
Washington Post:
Deeds should've listened to us, senior Obama officials say — Top Democrats seek to shield Obama in case of election loss — Sensing that victory in the race for Virginia governor is slipping away, Democrats at the national level are laying the groundwork to blame a loss in a key swing state …
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Washington Post:
Top employees leave financial firms ahead of pay cuts — Grass is greener where bonuses are sky-high — NEW YORK — Even before the Obama administration formally tightened executive compensation at bailed-out companies, the prospect of pay cuts had led some top employees to depart.
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Heather / Crooks and Liars:
The Rachel Maddow Show: Indefensible — As Rachel reports, it looks like the vote taken by 30 Republicans to protect contractors rather than rape victims is not playing very well for them in their local papers. — Jamie Leigh Jones and her attorney joined Rachel to talk about what happened …
Discussion:
skippy the bush kangaroo
Dina Cappiello / Associated Press:
Poll: US belief in global warming is cooling — WASHINGTON — Americans seem to be cooling toward global warming. — Just 57 percent think there is solid evidence the world is getting warmer, down 20 points in just three years, a new poll says. And the share of people who believe pollution caused …
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Pew Research Center:
Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming
Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming
Discussion:
Grist, DeSmogBlog, TigerHawk, Scared Monkeys, Townhall.com, Media Research Center, Guardian, Environmental Capital, Climate Progress, Truthdig, Matthew Yglesias, Des Moines Register, Roger Pielke Jr.'s Blog, Washington Wire, Gateway Pundit, Politics Daily, The Washington Independent and Weasel Zippers
Rasmussen Reports:
73% of GOP Voters Say Congressional Republicans Have Lost Touch With Their Base — President Obama told an audience at a Democratic Party fundraiser Wednesday night that Republicans often “do what they're told,” but GOP voters don't think their legislators listen enough to them.
Discussion:
The Hill
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Boston Herald:
Bay State liberals shun Barack Obama's visit — President Obama blows into the bluest state today facing a cold shoulder from once true-blue admirers, as gay rights activists, anti-war protesters and vexed environmentalists vow to picket a fund-raiser he's headlining for Gov. Deval Patrick - a marquee event that hasn't even sold out.
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool
Elaine Woo / Los Angeles Times:
Soupy Sales dies at 83; slapstick comic had hit TV show in 1960s — The comedian acquired a cult-like following among adults with a show ostensibly meant for children. His signature routine, which he elevated to an art form, was pie-throwing. — Soupy Sales is embraced backstage …
Emily Kaiser / City Pages:
Bong water is an illegal drug, Minn. Supreme Court rules — Time to dump your bong water in case the feds show up at your door. They might think you actually plan to drink it later. According to a split decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court, a person in possession of more than 25 grams …
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Annie Leibovitz takes first family photo — Friends encourage Roger Ailes to seek GOP nom in 2012 — Geithner: ‘A big week’ — Endgame: Look for a trigger in final health bill — Annie Leibovitz takes first family photo — Friends encourage Roger Ailes to seek GOP nom in 2012 — Geithner …