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High flyer: RNC Chairman Steele suggested buying private jet with GOP funds — According to two knowledgeable sources, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele once raised the possibility of using party money to buy a private jet for his travel.
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Michael Steele's Bondage Party Has an O.C. Connection — If you haven't seen it, the Huffington Post is having a fantastic time today with a story about the lavish spending by RNC Chair, Michael Steele. — Steele's questionable expenditures aside— and they should certainly be examined closely …

FEC report details lavish Republican spending, including nearly $2,000 at Voyeur West Hollywood — The Republican National Committee gave nearly $2,000 to a Southern California GOP contributor for meal expenses at Voyeur West Hollywood, a lesbian-themed California nightclub …
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Gawker, Jay Bookman, RHRealityCheck.org, Wonkette, American Power, DISSENTING JUSTICE and No More Mister Nice Blog


Rejected RNC solicitations of the day — As you know, I've been printing rejected RNC solicitation forms and disgusted e-mails from readers for months — see here, here, here, and here, for example. Financial fraud has wracked other major GOP outfits — remember the NRCC accounting scandal …

A familiar pattern — It has almost become routine now: There is some controversy surrounding Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Republican professionals are embarrassed, some of them gripe about the latest episode and then they move on — until it happens again.

GOP consultant who charged 2K to RNC at risque nightclub to return $
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Firedoglake

Tucker Carlson responds to RNC complaints about DC's Michael Steele article

RNC “Investigating” Party Funds Spent On Bondage-Themed Nightclub
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The Atlantic Online, Don Surber, Grasping Reality …, Guardian, AMERICAblog News and Hullabaloo


In the Wake of Arrests in Three States, Right-Wingers Rush to Defend Terror Suspects, Criticize FBI — Pictured: a non-Muslim Caucasian, and therefore, not a terrorist, — CNN: … Those are some serious charges. Attempted use of WMD. Seditious conspiracy.
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9 Tied to Militia Charged in Plot to Murder Officers — WASHINGTON — Nine members of a Michigan-based Christian militia group have been indicted on sedition and weapons charges in connection with an alleged plot to murder law enforcement officers in hopes of setting off an anti-government uprising.
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The Moderate Voice, Washington Monthly, Hatewatch, Firedoglake, RaceWire, democracyarsenal.org, TalkLeft and Confederate Yankee


Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Rep. Eric Cantor — The U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia released this statement today. The text of an accompanying affidavit is also below. TPM's ongoing coverage of the story is here. — PRESS RELEASE — PHILADELPHIA - Today …
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Document drop: FBI charges anti-Semitic nutball with threats against GOP Rep. Cantor & family; “...you receive my bullets in your office, remember they will be placed in your heads.” — Just obtained this from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia: — Today, a two-count complaint …

DNC will give Cantor threat suspect's donations to charity
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The Politico, Crew of 42, TPM LiveWire, The Washington Independent, Maggie's Notebook and Wonkette


CNN Poll: Big shift on closing of Guantanamo Bay facility — Washington (CNN) - Attitudes about the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have changed dramatically since President Barack Obama took office, according to a new national poll. — Support for closing the facility …
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New iPhone May End AT&T U.S. Monopoly — Apple Inc. plans to begin producing this year a new iPhone that could allow U.S. phone carriers other than AT&T Inc. to sell the iconic gadget, said people briefed by the company. — The new iPhone would work on a type of wireless network called CDMA, these people said.

Delaware and Tennessee Win First Race to The Top Grants — FOR RELEASE: — U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that Delaware and Tennessee have won grants in the first phase of the Race to the Top competition. — “We received many strong proposals from states all across America …
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Humans ‘too stupid’ to save climate — In his first in-depth interview since the theft of UEA emails, the scientist blames inertia and democracy for lack of action — • Read the full transcript of James Lovelock's G2 interview with Leo Hickman — Humans are too stupid …

VERSION ESPAÑOL — En los últimos meses me di a la tarea de escribir mis memorias. — VIEW ENGLISH VERSION BELOW — En los últimos meses me di a la tarea de escribir mis memorias. Un proyecto que sabia seria uno verdaderamente importante para mi porque desde que …


Iceland Bans Strip Clubs — Reykjavik, Iceland (cc photo by ezioman) — Iceland has decided to ban strip clubs, earning it the title of “the world's most feminist country” from Guardian columnist Julie Bindel. Not everyone is so sure. Miriam Perez says that “criminalizing …


Michael Calderone Leaving Politico, Latest In Mini-Exodus — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — Politico media blogger Michael Calderone is leaving the site for Yahoo. — According to sources, he is expected to leave Politico within a matter of weeks to join Yahoo News' original content project, overseen by blogging editor Andrew Golis.
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FishBowlDC


In Defense of Sarah Palin — She understands that the U.S. has been a force for good in the world—which is more than can be said of our president. — Nothing annoys certain of my fellow conservative intellectuals more than when I remind them, as on occasion I mischievously do …
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The New Republic, The Daily Dish, Eunomia, TigerHawk, Democratic Strategist, Cato @ Liberty and Washington Post

Students want ‘Our Lord’ phrase off diplomas — READ — A group of students at Trinity University is lobbying trustees to drop a reference to “Our Lord” on their diplomas, arguing it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus. — “A diploma is a very personal item …
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Jihad Watch

A Long Post: The Complete List of Obama Statement Expiration Dates — By: Jim Geraghty — By popular demand, a comprehensive list of expired Obama statements... HEALTH CARE MANDATES — STATEMENT: “We've got a philosophical difference, which we've debated repeatedly …
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Big Journalism

BREAKING VIDEO: Reid Supporters Throwing Eggs And Assaulting Andrew Breitbart — Here is a smidge of our video from Saturday's Tea Party Express coverage in Searchlight, Nevada. — The AP calls this a hospitality tent. We call it destruction of property and assault. Either way, this is Harry Reid's Democrat Party.


Grayson Threatened, Compares GOP To Nazis — Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), known for saying outrageous things to rile Republicans, told a radio show last week that he received a threatening phone call, according to Politico. — Grayson said a woman called his home and threatened his life.


Gallup crumble: ObamaCare underwater again, GOP surges on generic ballot — The One's bounce has already started to fade but the numbers for the bill itself were an open question since Gallup's shocker last week showing a surge of support to 49/40. Momentary spike due to glowing media coverage of the historic historicness of passage?
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USA Today