Robert Gibbs: Public Option Via Reconciliation Can't Pass Congress  —  Hmm.  At the press briefing just now, Robert Gibbs made the White House's most expansive comments yet about the push for a reconciliation vote on the public option — and, to put it mildly, supporters won't find them encouraging.

MSNBC Regular Donny Deutsch Slams Marco Rubio With Racially Charged Attack: He's a ‘Coconut’  —  MSNBC and CNBC contributor — and professed Charlie Crist admirer — Donny Deutsch used racially charged language on Monday night, smearing Republican senatorial candidate Marco Rubio as a “coconut.”

Thoughts on Mitt Romney, Scott Brown and the State of the GOP  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: To the phones.  We go to Chicago.  This is Ed. Nice to have you with us, sir, hello.  —  CALLER: Hi how you doing, Rush?  —  RUSH: Very well thank you.  —  CALLER: I just called to make a quick comment about Glenn Beck.

Wall Street shifting political contributions to Republicans  —  Commercial banks and high-flying investment firms have shifted their political contributions toward Republicans in recent months amid harsh rhetoric from Democrats about fat bank profits, generous bonuses and stingy lending policies on Wall Street.

US stimulus added up to 2.1 mln jobs in Q4 2009-CBO  —  * It lowered jobless rate by up to 2.1 pct (Adds detail, background)  —  The massive stimulus package passed last year to blunt the impact of the worst U.S. recession in 70 years created up to 2.1 million jobs in the last three months of 2009 …

Hate Sells: Why Liberal Magazines Are Suffering Under Obama  —  The George W. Bush years were good for more than just oilfield-services companies and waterboard manufacturers.  They were also a boon for liberal political magazines, whose circulation soared on the wings of the Bush hatred that swept much of the country.

Rahm Emanuel takes heat over Dana Milbank column  —  The key paragraph contained high praise for Emanuel - at the expense of his boss: “Obama's first year fell apart in large part because he didn't follow his chief of staff's advice on crucial matters.  Arguably, Emanuel is the only person keeping Obama from becoming Jimmy Carter.”

Politician Makes Controversial Statement — By: Mark Steyn  —  If I were minded to make a health care TV ad, I'd rustle up the Premier of Newfoundland's interview on NTV last night.  Justifying his decision to eschew the pleasures of the monopoly government health care system he presides …

Hutchison: Perry's tactics tough on her campaign  —  JUSTIN, Texas — Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison acknowledged Tuesday that Republican Gov. Rick Perry has succeeded at casting her as a Washington insider, hindering her effort to kick him out of the Texas governor's mansion.

French Ad Shocks, but Will It Stop Young Smokers?  —  PARIS — A new French anti-smoking ad aimed at the young that plays off a pornographic stereotype has gotten more attention than even its creators intended, with critics suggesting that it offends common decency and creates a false analogy between oral sex and smoking.

Haaretz exclusive: Hamas founder's son worked for Shin Bet for years  —  The son of a leading Hamas figure, who famously converted to Christianity, served for over a decade as the Shin Bet security service's most valuable source in the militant organization's leadership, Haaretz has learned.

Bust the Health Care Trusts  —  MY health insurer here in California is Anthem Blue Cross.  So far, my group policy hasn't been affected by Anthem's planned rate increase of as much as 39 percent for its customers with individual policies — but the trend worries me, as it should everyone.

ABC News prepares major restructuring; between 300 and 400 staffers could be cut [updated]  —  ABC News is poised to make a major round of cuts that will reduce the size of the news division by as much as 20% and radically reorder the network's traditional approach to news gathering.

Fearing Obama Agenda, States Push to Loosen Gun Laws  —  When President Obama took office, gun rights advocates sounded the alarm, warning that he intended to strip them of their arms and ammunition.  —  And yet the opposite is happening.  Mr. Obama has been largely silent on the issue …

Video of Bob Marshall Proves He Said What He Meant, Meant What He Said  —  Watch Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall claim at an anti-Planned Parenthood press conference that disabled children are God's punishment for abortion:  —  After his remarks set off a national controversy …

Nir Rosen: Stop the Iraq madness!  —  This blog knows all too well that no one is right all the time, and that it is important to listen to people who know their stuff and disagree with you.  So when I saw Nir Rosen, a fellow at the NYU Center on Law and Security, make some comments …

Harry Reid Says GOP Should “Stop Crying” About Reconciliation  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters Tuesday that Republicans “should stop crying” about the possible use of the parliamentary procedure known as budget reconciliation to pass a health care reform bill.

NAACP president: Van Jones a misunderstood treasure  —  Editor's note: Benjamin Todd Jealous is president and CEO of the NAACP.  The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts and literature, as well as individuals or groups …