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.
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 …
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
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 …
Discussion:
The Fix, Hotline On Call, Hot Air, Talking Points Memo, RedState, Taegan Goddard's …, Swing State Project, The Eye and Weasel Zippers
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
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:
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
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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, Peach Pundit, The Corner on National …, The New Republic, Real Clear Politics and Washington Post
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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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ABCNEWS:
Suspect, Police Hurt in Pentagon Shootout — 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.
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 …
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:
Daily Kos, Bakersfield Californian, Talking Points Memo, CBS News, The Bilerico Project, TPMMuckraker, KMPH-TV, Breitbart.tv, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Indecision Forever, Right Pundits, LA Daily, pandagon.net, Advocate, Wonkette, The Awl, The Political Carnival, The Other McCain, At-Largely, Wake up America and Gawker
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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Peterhamby / CNN:
Steele: Leaked RNC presentation ‘unfortunate’ — Congressional GOP aides expressed their frustration over their perception that Michael Steele is using his book tour to undermine the party's political message. — Washington (CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele …
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Brian Knowlton / New York Times:
House Panel Says Armenian Deaths 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 that seemed sure …
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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:
Laura Rozen's Blog
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
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 …
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, The TrogloPundit and Left Coast Rebel
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 …
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 …