Top Items:
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.
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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:
The Swamp, CNN, Time, Washington Post, Bloomberg, The Hill, Slate, Washington Monthly and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
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 …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Washington Post, Political Punch, Riehl World View, The Substratum, The Hill and ABCNEWS
Wall Street Journal:
Abuse of Power — 'An undemocratic disservice to our people …
Abuse of Power — 'An undemocratic disservice to our people …
Discussion:
The Politico, Gateway Pundit, Betsy's Page, RedState, Wizbang and And So it Goes in Shreveport
The Politico:
Massa to retire amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer — Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) will not seek reelection after only one term in office. — According to several House aides - on both sides of the aisle - the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa …
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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:
The Fix, Firedoglake, Hotline On Call, Roll Call, Political Punch, JammieWearingFool, Politics Nation and National Review Online
Alex Seitz-Wald / Think Progress:
Palin: ‘I joined Fox’ because there's too much ‘opinion interjected in hard news’ in the mainstream media. — In January, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) joined paid contributer. Last night, she appeared on Jay Leno's show and decried the state of the mainstream media as “quite broken …
Discussion:
The Political Carnival
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Dave Itzkoff / ArtsBeat:
With Leno, Palin Pushes Back Against ‘Family Guy’
With Leno, Palin Pushes Back Against ‘Family Guy’
Discussion:
Wilshire & Washington, The Daily Dish, The Huffington Post, The Washington Independent and TBogg
Jason / StoryBalloon.Org:
Sarah Palin Does Stand Up Comedy On Jay Leno's Show.
Sarah Palin Does Stand Up Comedy On Jay Leno's Show.
Discussion:
TVbytheNumbers, Gateway Pundit, NewsBusters.org, American Conservative … and Weasel Zippers
New York Times:
Rangel Steps Aside From Post During Ethics Inquiry — WASHINGTON — Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York announced on Wednesday that he would temporarily step down from his powerful post as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in an attempt to avert a politically bruising fight …
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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 …
Bob Cusack / The Hill:
New chairman is one of Congress' most controversial members
New chairman is one of Congress' most controversial members
Discussion:
Pajamas Media
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!
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.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Guardian, Washington Monthly, Sunlight Foundation, National Review Online and The Daily Dish
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Jeffrey Young / The Hill:
Obama: Finishing health reform is a test of leadership
Obama: Finishing health reform is a test of leadership
Discussion:
The Politico
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.
James Hohmann / The Politico:
GOP colleagues want KBH in Senate — In the wake of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's defeat Tuesday in the Texas gubernatorial primary, her GOP Senate colleagues intend to encourage her to remain in her seat and disregard her earlier plans to resign. — Hutchison stayed mum about her future as she conceded to incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.
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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.
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.
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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 …
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.
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.
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.
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 …
Times of London:
Argentina celebrates diplomatic coup as Hillary Clinton calls for talks over Falklands — Giles Whittell, Hannah Strange, Catherine Philp and Martin Fletcher in Stanley — Argentina was celebrating a diplomatic coup yesterday in its attempt to force Britain to accept talks on the future …
Discussion:
Power Line, Fausta's Blog, QandO, Pajamas Media, Neptunus Lex, Sister Toldjah, Don Surber, Wake up America, The Daily Dish and US Department of State
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.
Ian Urbina / New York Times:
Gay Marriage Is Now Legal in Washington — WASHINGTON — It was cold and drizzling outside the City Courthouse just after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, but no one seemed to mind among the same-sex couples waiting excitedly for the chance to apply for a marriage license.
Discussion:
Pam's House Blend
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Dem will push for public option in separate bill if not included in existing package — If a public health insurance option is not added to existing healthcare reform legislation, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said Wednesday that he would push for one using a separate bill.
Discussion:
TPMDC