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 …
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, TPMDC, Hot Air, Riehl World View, Washington Monthly, Open Congress, Political Punch, Open Left, Crooks and Liars and TalkLeft
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Obama Tells Liberals Public Option Doesn't Have Votes — * In a private meeting at the White House this afternoon, Obama told a roomful of House Dems he doesn't think the votes are there to pass the public option, and urged them to take the long view and to support the Senate bill as merely …
Jason Tuohey / Boston Globe:
Delahunt will not seek reelection — William Delahunt in his Quincy office. (Bill Greene / Globe Staff) — By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff — WASHINGTON — Representative William Delahunt will not seek re-election to Congress, the seven-term Democrat will announce tomorrow …
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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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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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
MANUFACTURED CONTROVERSY OF THE DAY.... Oh please. … Rep. Matheson's spokesperson called the question “patently ridiculous.” A White House official called the question “absurd.” There's no reason in the world to think the Scott Matheson nomination is based on anything …
Chris Frates / The Politico:
Some Republicans criticize judge pick
Some Republicans criticize judge pick
Discussion:
The White House, Think Progress, Main Justice, Right Wing Watch, Wonk Room and Weekly Standard
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
ABCNEWS:
Shots Fired Outside Pentagon; Two Police and Shooter Injured — Badly Injured Suspect in Custody; Police Suffer Graze Wounds — Two police officers were injured by a suspect who opened fire outside the Pentagon tonight after the officers asked him for an access pass, police said.
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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Charlie Savage / The Caucus:
Bush Official Defends Lawyers Under Attack for Detainee Work — A former Justice Department official who led the Bush administration's courtroom defense against lawsuits filed by Guantanamo detainees is denouncing attacks on Obama administration appointees who previously helped …
Discussion:
American Prospect, TPMMuckraker, ATTACKERMAN, At-Largely, The Daily Caller and Josh Gerstein's Blog
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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, The Bilerico Project, Breitbart.tv, KMPH-TV, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, pandagon.net, LA Daily, Indecision Forever, Right Pundits, Advocate, Wonkette, The Awl, The Political Carnival, The Other McCain, At-Largely, Wake up America and Gawker
Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:
Turkey recalls its ambassador after House panel passes genocide resolution — The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the resolution in an extremely close 23-22 vote, which could send the measure to the House floor. — The resolution would recognize the killing of 1.5 million Armenians …
Discussion:
The Politico
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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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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
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
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:
The Politico, Roll Call, Hot Air, The Hill, MyDD, NewsBusters.org, Right Pundits, Wizbang, YID With LID, Left Coast Rebel and The TrogloPundit
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.
Michael Cieply / New York Times:
For Movie Stars, the Big Money Is Now Deferred — LOS ANGELES — When Wolfgang Puck lays out the annual post-Oscar banquet in Hollywood on Sunday, he might want to think about doggie bags. — Movie stars, who not so long ago vied to make $20 million or even $25 million a picture …
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.
PhysOrg.com:
Study: Arctic seabed methane stores destabilizing, venting — A section of the Arctic Ocean seafloor that holds vast stores of frozen methane is showing signs of instability and widespread venting of the powerful greenhouse gas, according to the findings of an international research team led …