Top Items:
The Politico:
Massa to retire amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer — First-term Rep. Eric Massa announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election, saying his doctors have told him that he can't continue to “run at 100 miles an hour.” — But several House aides told POLITICO …
Discussion:
CNN, Glenn Thrush's Blog, Politics Daily, Washington Monthly, The Atlantic Online, The Hill, Roll Call, The Note, The Jawa Report, Talking Points Memo, The Daily Politics, TPMDC, The Fix, Raw Story, Gateway Pundit, RHRealityCheck.org, Moonbattery, Swing State Project, Daily Kos, AmSpecBlog, Another Black Conservative, Advocate, Mediaite and Hotline On Call
RELATED:
Elizabeth Benjamin / The Daily Politics:
Dem Source: Massa Won't Run (Updatedx2) — Rep. Eric Massa is poised to announce this afternoon that he will not seek re-election in the 29th Congressional District this fall as planned, a Democratic source confirms. — The freshman congressman is going to make his announcement at 3 p.m., according to the source.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Hotline On Call, RedState, Glenn Thrush's Blog, CNN, TPMDC and Political Punch
Chris Frates / The Politico:
Harkin: Reconciliation is a go — Sen. Tom Harkin told POLITICO that Senate Democratic leaders have decided to go the reconciliation route. The House, he said, will first pass the Senate bill after Senate leaders demonstrate to House leaders that they have the votes to pass reconciliation in the Senate.
RELATED:
Manu Raju / The Politico:
GOP casts doubt on parliamentarian — Senate Republicans are waging a pre-emptive strike against the Senate's parliamentarian — a hitherto little-known official who could determine the fate of the Democrats' health care reform efforts. — In interviews with POLITICO …
Discussion:
Time, The Swamp, Bloomberg, Slate, PostPartisan, The Hill, CNN, Washington Monthly, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and pandagon.net
Ezra Klein:
Did Republicans use reconciliation for significantly bipartisan bills? — Among the odder arguments Republicans are making against the reconciliation process is that the process should only be used for bipartisan bills, and since they refuse to vote for health-care reform, Democrats can't give their package of fixes an up-or-down vote.
Brian Beutler / TPMDC:
For It Before He Was Against It: Arcuri Will Likely Vote No On Health Care — Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY) voted for House health care legislation in November. But he says he's almost certain to vote no on the Senate bill when it comes up for a vote in the House later this month, according to a report in the Utica Observer-Dispatch.
J. Taylor Rushing / The Hill:
Gregg talks repealing health reform — A top Republican senator on Wednesday proposed the possibility of repealing any healthcare law that is passed by congressional Democrats using the reconciliation strategy. — Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee …
Michelle Malkin:
Here comes the reconciliation “nobody” is talking about; Update: Oba-kabuki lab coat props reappear; “Make your voice heard;” McConnell: “National referendum” — Scroll for updates... Photoshop: Leo Alberti — It's official. After months of threatening to push the button …
Mike Madden / Salon:
Rep. Brian Baird still not sold on healthcare reform
Rep. Brian Baird still not sold on healthcare reform
Discussion:
Political Punch
Ben Smith / The Politico:
Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on ‘fear’ — The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to “save the country from trending toward socialism.”
Dave Itzkoff / ArtsBeat:
With Leno, Palin Pushes Back Against ‘Family Guy’ — In an interview Tuesday night on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” Sarah Palin once again criticized “Family Guy,” the Fox animated series, for a joke she believed was directed at her family, and rebuked the news media for not giving …
RELATED:
The Hill:
Pelosi picks fellow Californian to take gavel after Rangel bows out — Speaker Nancy Pelosi has picked liberal firebrand Rep. Pete Stark to replace ousted Chairman Charles Rangel on the tax-writing committee, according to a House leadership aide. — The decision was made during …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, CNN, The Hill, NPR Blogs, Moonbattery, Open Left, RedState, YID With LID, Washington Post, ABCNEWS and The Speakers Lobby
RELATED:
National Enquirer:
GRAND JURY TO INDICT EDWARDS — The ultimate fall from grace, a Federal grand jury is about to indict John Edwards, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively. — In another shocker, close sources say Edwards' estranged wife Elizabeth could help send the former presidential candidate to jail!
Mike Levine / Liveshots:
Exclusive: Unknown DOJ Lawyers Identified — A day after a conservative group released a video condemning the Justice Department for refusing to identify seven lawyers who previously represented or advocated for terror suspects, Fox News has uncovered the identities of the seven lawyers.
Tom Watson / My Dirty Life & Times:
A Death in the Blogging Family — The great Jon Swift has died. That's the “blogging” angle to a personal tragedy. In reality, the voice of Jon Swift - the hilarious faux conservative blogger whose talent and passion were evident in every post - belonged to Al Weisel …
Noam Scheiber / The New Republic:
The Chief — You think it's so great being Rahm Emanuel? — One of the enduring mysteries about White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is why he took the job in the first place. At the time he accepted it, he was the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, a position he'd attained with considerable effort.
New York Times:
Paterson Broke Ethics Law on Receiving Gifts, Panel Charges — Gov. David A. Paterson violated state ethics laws when he secured free tickets to the opening game of the World Series from the Yankees last fall for himself and others, the New York State Commission on Public Integrity charged on Wednesday.
Discussion:
CNN, HardballTalk, The Jawa Report, The Awl, RHRealityCheck.org, Prairie Weather, The Page and TPMMuckraker
RELATED:
Mike Madden / Salon:
Key House liberal may vote against healthcare bill — Rep. Raúl Grijalva, co-chairman of a progressive caucus, says he's “leaning toward” opposing the legislation — WASHINGTON — An influential House progressive says he's less likely to vote for the final healthcare reform bill …
CBS News:
Fee to Overthrow the Government: Five Dollars — Posted by Brian Montopoli Leave Comment - Share - - - Share - E-mail - Print - Font Since 1951, South Carolina has had a law on its books requiring anyone looking to overthrow the government to, well, register with the government.
Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:
A Word From the Wise — I was traveling via Los Angeles International Airport — LAX — last week. Walking through its faded, cramped domestic terminal, I got the feeling of a place that once thought of itself as modern but has had one too many face-lifts and simply can't hide the wrinkles anymore.
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias, The Huffington Post, Power Line, Lawyers, Guns and Money and The Corner on National …
Michael Shedlock / Mish's Global Economic …:
Governor Christie: “Time to Hold Hands and Jump Off the Cliff” - Chris Christie For President? — In an amazingly candid appraisal of the sorry state of affairs in New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie laid it on the line in a speech to about 200 mayors at the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
Alastair Campbell:
Michael Foot ... above all else a lovely man — The tributes will focus on Michael Foot the politician, the minister, the leader, the wonderful orator. — They will highlight too his journalism and his writing, and the great causes he supported. — I hope that what also comes through …
Los Angeles Times:
Toyota's fix is a bust, owners claim — New complaints allege sudden acceleration and other problems after recall work. — Erick Garcia inspects his work at Toyota of Hollywood while perfecting the fix for shortening the gas pedal of recalled Toyota vehicles. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times / February 3, 2010)
Discussion:
ProPublica
Sahil Kapur / The Raw Story:
Michael Moore: 'Democrats are a bunch of wusses...It's disgusting... I'm sick of them' — America's top documentary filmmaker talks “Capitalism,” politics and Oscars with Raw Story — Just over a year ago, Michael Moore vigorously campaigned for President Obama and the Democratic Party.
McHenry:
Rep. McHenry Announces Legislation to Put President Reagan on the $50 Bill — “Every Generation Needs Its Own Heroes” — Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) announced new legislation today, H.R. 4705, that would redesign the face of the $50 bill to include the likeness of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan.
Discussion:
The Awl, Ezra Klein, Los Angeles Times, Politics Daily, The Washington Independent, NPR Blogs and WataugaWatch
Jonathan Bernstein / The Daily Dish:
For Tuesday I Walk to the Village — Yesterday was election day in Texas, and I voted. And I voted. And then I voted some more. If my count was correct, I voted fifty-two times. I voted for Governor, and I voted for U.S. House and Texas House and Texas Senate...OK …
Ian Swanson / The Hill:
Blizzard of bad jobs news to hit Friday — The White House is bracing for an ugly unemployment report on Friday that is expected to be worse because of the three winter storms that hit the East Coast last month. — Goldman Sachs predicted the economy will lose as many as 100,000 jobs …
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
FIRED-UP PRESIDENT DEMANDS ‘UP-OR-DOWN VOTE’ ON HEALTH CARE.... Watching President Obama's speech this afternoon on the way forward on health care reform, I noticed something I haven't seen from the always-cool chief executive in a while: real passion. — It was unmistakable …
Discussion:
The Reality-Based Community
Little Green Footballs:
The Texas Taliban — There's been talk lately in Texas about seceding from the US. Even Republican Governor Rick Perry has broadly hinted that Texas should exercise its “tenth amendment” rights. — Well, here's a website that makes me think it might be a good idea to let them do it: Repent Amarillo.