Top Items:
RADAR:
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Considering Stepping Down — Update: RadarOnline.com has obtained new information that Justice Roberts will NOT resign. The justice will be staying on the bench. — John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court …
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David Lat / Above the Law:
Anatomy of a Rumor: The Story Behind Chief Justice John Roberts's ‘Retirement’ — Everyone is wondering: Where did that erroneous rumor of an imminent retirement by Chief Justice John Roberts come from? The gossip spread like wildfire, triggering thousands of texts, blog posts, and emails …
Pareene / Gawker:
Chief Justice John Roberts Resigning, According to Internet's Favorite Source of Octomom News — RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively that Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts is considering stepping down. “RadarOnline.com has been told that Roberts, 55, could announce his decision at any time.”
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Gregg suggests Obama may renege on fixing Senate health bill — The White House may renege on passing fixes to the Senate's healthcare bill once the House has passed it, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) claimed Thursday. — Gregg, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee …
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Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Another House Dem A “No” On Senate Bill; A Previous “Yes” Now Undecided — Okay, a bit more bad news for the prospects of passing the Senate bill out of the House. — Rep Frank Kratovil of Maryland, a previous No vote who was now said to be undecided, will vote No on the Senate health reform proposal, his spokesman confirms.
Discussion:
Jeff Mapes on Politics, The Foundry, Hot Air, TPMDC, Riehl World View, Washington Monthly, Open Congress, Political Punch, Open Left, Crooks and Liars and TalkLeft
Jennifer Bendery / Roll Call:
Obama Summons Waffling Members to White House to Talk Health Care — A day after giving his final major push to Congress to get the job done on health care, President Barack Obama is already ramping up his campaigning on the Hill by summoning to the White House a motley group of Democrats who are wavering on his proposal.
Peter Grier / Christian Science Monitor:
Healthcare reform: Three ways the House may derail Obama's plans
Healthcare reform: Three ways the House may derail Obama's plans
Faiz Shakir / Think Progress:
Fox News' Neil Cavuto propagates baseless rumor that Obama bought Rep. Matheson's vote. — Today on Fox News, Neil Cavuto irresponsibly pushed the baseless rumor that President Obama bought Rep. Jim Matheson's (D-UT) vote on health care reform by offering his brother a federal judgeship.
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Ezra Klein:
‘I will take our troops out of the war zone and put them into space’ — Introduction Video from Kesha for Congress on Vimeo. — Kesha Rogers is a Larouchie who just won the Democratic nomination in Texas's 22nd district. Her triumphant statement is pretty sweet:
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Matt Corley / Think Progress:
Liz Cheney Falsely Claims Her ‘Al Qaeda 7’ Smear Ad 'Doesn't Question Anybody's Loyalty' — As ThinkProgress has noted, Liz Cheney and Bill Kristol's Keep America Safe organization released a web ad on Monday targeting yet-to-be named Justice Department lawyers who had worked on Guantanamo detainee issues as the “al Qaeda 7.”
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Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Howard Dean: Health bill hangs Dem incumbents and Obama out to dry in elections — Passing the healthcare proposals before Congress will “hang out to dry” every Democratic incumbent running for reelection this fall, Howard Dean said Thursday. — Dean, a physician by training who's …
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CBS13/CW31:
Anti-Gay Lawmaker At Gay Club Before DUI Arrest — SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― Sources tell CBS13 a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in midtown Sacramento, early Wednesday morning.
Discussion:
Bakersfield Californian, Talking Points Memo, CBS News, TPMMuckraker, Breitbart.tv, The Bilerico Project, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, KMPH-TV, pandagon.net, LA Daily, Advocate, Indecision Forever, Right Pundits, The Awl, Wonkette, The Political Carnival, The Other McCain, At-Largely, Wake up America and Gawker
Jay Heflin / The Hill:
Second Ways and Means boss ousted; Levin replaces Stark — Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) will be the acting chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced to her caucus on Thursday. — The startling announcement comes a day after Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) …
Discussion:
Roll Call, NewsBusters.org, Hot Air, The Hill, MyDD, The Politico, Right Pundits, YID With LID and The TrogloPundit
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The Politico:
Stark hands off gavel
Stark hands off gavel
Discussion:
Washington Times, CNN, Wizbang, The Note, Left Coast Rebel, Another Black Conservative and theblogprof
Alex Isenstadt / The Politico:
Left rallies against Lincoln — Organized labor and liberals have committed more than $5 million to Sen. Blanche Lincoln's primary election opponent, Bill Halter, signaling that the Arkansas Democratic Senate primary is shaping up, for the left, as a hill to die on.
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Ellen R. Malcolm / The EMILY's List Blog:
Surprised about Blanche Lincoln's fight for survival? I'm not.
Surprised about Blanche Lincoln's fight for survival? I'm not.
Discussion:
The Plum Line, The Eye, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Swing State Project, TPMDC, Politics Nation and DownWithTyranny!
Chris Frates / The Politico:
Pelosi annoyed on abortion — Speaker Nancy Pelosi got exasperated when asked at her weekly news conference about the unwillingness of some Democrats - including Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) - to support the health bill because of abortion language. — “Let me say this: This is not about abortion!
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Brian Knowlton / New York Times:
House Panel Says Deaths of Armenians Were Genocide — WASHINGTON — The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted narrowly on Thursday to condemn as genocide the mass killings of Armenians early in the last century, defying a last-minute plea from the Obama administration to forgo a vote …
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Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:
Turkey recalls its ambassador after House panel passes genocide resolution
Turkey recalls its ambassador after House panel passes genocide resolution
Discussion:
The Politico
Jim Galloway / Political Insider:
Citing health care, Deal delays departure from Congress — U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal will delay his resignation from Congress by three weeks, citing intense pressure from House Republican leaders to remain and vote against President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul the nation's health care system.
Discussion:
Hot Air, The Corner on National …, Peach Pundit, The New Republic, Real Clear Politics and Washington Post
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Who are the actual “crazy” people in American politics? — My Salon colleague, Mark Benjamin, writes about last night's Larry King Show — featuring a debate between Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson and GOP Rep. Michelle Bachmann — and does so by repeatedly branding Grayson as being every bit as “crazy” as Bachmann.
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Ezra Klein:
Exclusive: ‘Wellpoint would be a primary beneficiary’ if reform fails, investment firm says — “Of course, healthcare reform is a double-edged sword for Wellpoint shares. Should reform fail, Wellpoint would be a primary beneficiary.” — That comes from the first page of the Cowen and Co.'s assessment …
Carrie Budoff Brown / The Politico:
Byrd defends reconciliation to finish reform — Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.V.), an architect of the reconciliation process and a guardian of Senate procedure, has quietly defended the Democratic plan to use the fast-track parliamentary tactic to finish the health care reform bill.
Art Beast / The Daily Beast:
Does Anybody Still Like Karl Rove? — Home - Cheat sheet - Buzz board - Big Fat Story - Blogs & stories - Videos - Galleries - Crossword — Blogs and Stories — As the “Turd Blossom” peddles his new book, even name-brand conservatives are taking shots at him. Plus, Rove's secret stint as Harold Ford's guru.
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Keep'n It Foxy — Proud day for CNN. See the chyron about right-wing complaints about the Obama Department of Justice ...
Discussion:
The Political Carnival
Leslie Kaufman / New York Times:
Darwin Foes Add Warming to Targets — Critics of the teaching of evolution in the nation's classrooms are gaining ground in some states by linking the issue to global warming, arguing that dissenting views on both scientific subjects should be taught in public schools.
Adam J. Rose First / The Huffington Post:
Palin At Oscar Gift Suite: Sarah Palin And Entourage ‘Like Locusts’ — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — Sarah Palin aligns her public image with the heartland, but it appears the former Alaska Governor has gone Hollywood. And when she leaves, she may be taking some of it with her.