Top Items:
The Politico:
Dem health care talks collapsing — Health care reform teetered on the brink of collapse Thursday as House and Senate leaders struggled to coalesce around a strategy to rescue the plan, in the face of growing pessimism among lawmakers that the president's top priority can survive.
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Political Punch:
Senate Dems Not Sure They Can Get Enough Votes to Reconfirm Bernanke — Amidst the voter anger at Wall Street and Washington, D.C., ABC News has learned that the Senate Democratic leadership isn't sure there are enough votes to re-confirm Ben Bernanke for another term as chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Do the Right Thing — A message to House Democrats: This is your moment of truth. You can do the right thing and pass the Senate health care bill. Or you can look for an easy way out, make excuses and fail the test of history. — Tuesday's Republican victory in the Massachusetts special election means …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, TPM LiveWire, Kausfiles and Prairie Weather
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
So Is It Really Over? — Let me take a moment and explain where I think we are on the Health Care Reform front. — As I've argued, procedurally, with the senate Dems reduced to 59 votes, there's no way to get a better or revised bill through the senate. (Frankly, it's not clear to me that there are still 59 votes.)
New York Times:
A New Search for Consensus on Health Care Bill — WASHINGTON — Even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi affirmed her commitment to pass far-reaching health care legislation this year, members of Congress and health policy experts began Thursday to deal with the reality that a smaller bill would have a better chance.
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Fluid and Muddle — I've been poking around some sources …
Fluid and Muddle — I've been poking around some sources …
Discussion:
The Greenroom
New York Times:
The Court's Blow to Democracy — With a single, disastrous 5-to-4 ruling, the Supreme Court has thrust politics back to the robber-baron era of the 19th century. Disingenuously waving the flag of the First Amendment, the court's conservative majority has paved the way for corporations …
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Jan Crawford / CBS News:
Justice Stevens Stumbles: A Step To Retirement? — Justice John Paul Stevens has left some clues he's planning to retire this year, shortly after he turns 90 years old. He's only hired one law clerk for next term, for example, and not the four that sitting justices typically hire every year.
Dahlia Lithwick / Slate:
Watching as the Supreme Court turns a corporation into a real live boy. — You will doubtless hear today that 89-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens read aloud from his partial dissent in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission for almost 20 minutes in a slow, halting voice …
Democracy 21:
Destructive Decision Turns Back Clock to 19th Century; Chief …
Destructive Decision Turns Back Clock to 19th Century; Chief …
Discussion:
Slate, OpenSecrets.org, Keyboard Militia, Newsbroke, The Poor Man Institute and ACS Blog
Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
In U.S., Majority Favors Suspending Work on Healthcare Bill — Seven in 10 say Massachusetts election result reflects frustrations shared by Americans — PRINCETON, NJ — In the wake of Republican Scott Brown's victory in Tuesday's U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts, the majority of Americans …
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Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Will the Base Abandon Hope? — Imagine for a moment that you're a liberal. Oh, I know, that won't be a stretch for some of you. Over the years, you've developed a pretty thick skin, since while you've won an election now and then, you haven't had too many policy victories since ... well, since forever.
Dana Blanton / Fox News:
Fox News Poll: Voters Split On Congressional Elections
Fox News Poll: Voters Split On Congressional Elections
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, The Washington Independent, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and GOP 12
Reuters:
Geithner has reservations on US bank limits-sources — President Barack Obama's newest Wall Street crackdown was met with hesitation from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who is concerned that politics could be sacrificing good economic policy, according to financial industry sources.
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WCBS-TV:
Bloomberg Hammers Obama, Congress Over Bank Plan — Mayor Says President's Idea To Limit Size And Investments Will Lead To Big Problems For NYC, Including Layoffs — Hizzoner Suggests Salaries Of D.C. Lawmakers Be Held Back For Decade — NEW YORK (CBS) ― President Barack Obama's demand Thursday …
Jon Ward / The Daily Caller:
Senator John Thune: Obama seeks to spark ‘class warfare’ with populist rhetoric
Senator John Thune: Obama seeks to spark ‘class warfare’ with populist rhetoric
Discussion:
Moe Lane
Brian Stelter / New York Times:
Air America, the Talk Radio Network, Will Go Off the Air — Air America, the long-suffering progressive talk radio network, abruptly shut down on Thursday, bowing to what it called a “very difficult economic environment.” — The chairman of Air America Media, Charlie Kireker …
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE
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Lisa de Moraes / Moraes on TV:
Jay Leno to keynote White House Correspondents Dinner — White House Correspondents Association has picked this week's most unpopular stand-up comic Jay Leno be the keynote speaker at this year's White House Correspondents DInner. — An NBC rep confirmed the invitation to The TV Column.
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Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
National Enquirer submitting John Edwards coverage for Pulitzers — The executive editor of the National Enquirer says he plans to enter his paper's work on the John Edwards scandal for a Pulitzer Prize. — Don't laugh. — “It's clear we should be a contender for this,” …
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Julie Bosman / New York Times:
Edwards Admits He Fathered Girl With Mistress
Edwards Admits He Fathered Girl With Mistress
Discussion:
Craig Crawford's Trail Mix
Charles Hawley / Spiegel Online:
The World Bids Farewell to Obama — US President Barack Obama suffered a painful defeat in Massachusetts on Tuesday. With mid-term elections looming, it means that Obama will have to fundamentally re-think his political course. German commentators say it is the end of hope.
Wall Street Journal:
Bernanke Faces Tighter Vote in Senate — Ben Bernanke's confirmation for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman will go down to the wire and could be a closer vote than seemed likely just a few weeks ago. — Mr. Bernanke's current term as Fed chairman expires at the end of the month …
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James Dao / New York Times:
Man Claims Terror Ties in Little Rock Shooting — MEMPHIS — A Tennessee man accused of killing a soldier outside a Little Rock, Ark., military recruiting station last year has asked a judge to change his plea to guilty, claiming for the first time that he is affiliated with a Yemen-based affiliate of Al Qaeda.
The Huffington Post:
Scott Brown's Wife Music VIDEO: Gail Huff's RACY ‘Girl With The Curious Hand’ (PHOTOS) — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — On Tuesday night, Scott Brown's wife pleaded with her husband to stop advertising his “available” daughters, but a video we've dug up reveals that Gail Huff wasn't always so prim and proper.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Lonely Conservative, Boston Globe, Gateway Pundit, POWIP, DaTechguy's Blog, BuzzFlash.org and Michelle Malkin
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
ADL whacks Limbaugh — The Anti-Defamation League, which recently criticized a range of conservative figures, including Glenn Beck, as “extremists,” has turned its sights on Rush Limbaugh for a “borderline anti-semitic remark” about Jews — The line in question:
Discussion:
Daily Kos