Top Items:
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
RNC loses top fundraiser — In another serious blow to the Republican National Committee, one of its top fundraisers — and its few remaining connections to the traditional GOP donor base — has resigned a senior, unpaid position. — Former Ambassador Sam Fox, a top supporter of George W. Bush …
Discussion:
The Note, Washington Wire, ABCNEWS, NPR, Pam's House Blend, The Other McCain, TPM LiveWire, The Eye and The Page
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Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
RNC chief of staff Ken McKay resigns — Republican National Committee chief of staff Ken McKay has resigned in the wake of a controversy over an expenditure at a risque California nightclub, RNC communications director Doug Heye said Monday. — McKay's resignation comes one week …
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Reid Wilson / Hotline On Call:
RNC Chief of Staff Quits — RNC chief of staff Ken McKay has resigned from the national committee a week after improper expenditures came to light, a top GOP source tells Hotline OnCall. — McKay had been on the job about a year. His exit is the latest moment of fallout in a scandal …
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Shakeup: RNC Chief of Staff resigns — Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay resigned Monday, becoming the highest-ranking official to depart the committee after revelations that the national party spent nearly $2,000 at California sex club.
ABCNEWS:
W.H. Blasts RNC's Steele for ‘Race Card’
W.H. Blasts RNC's Steele for ‘Race Card’
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Washington Post, George's Bottom Line, Another Black Conservative, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Atlantic Online, The Note, The Politico, The Swamp, Think Progress, Don Surber, Riehl World View, Gawker, The Hill, Jack & Jill Politics, NewsBusters.org, Hotline On Call, NY Daily News, Michelle Malkin, Ben Smith's Blog, Associated Press, Moonbattery, Taegan Goddard's …, D.C. Now, The Moderate Voice, The Lonely Conservative and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Gibbs: Steele remark is ‘silly’
Gibbs: Steele remark is ‘silly’
Discussion:
CNN, The Daily Caller, Politics Daily, AMERICAblog News, Hot Air, Washington Monthly, Daily Kos, Riehl World View and The Political Carnival
David Margolick / Newsweek:
A maverick fights for his political life—and his soul. … From the magazine issue dated Apr 12, 2010 — Late last month, at a dusty fairground outside Tucson, John McCain stood behind the person who is, at least for the next few years, surely his most important legacy to American politics.
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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
‘I NEVER CONSIDERED MYSELF A MAVERICK’.... To say that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) built his most recent persona — the latest in a series — around the notion of being a “maverick” would be a dramatic understatement. The “m” word was practically a verbal tick for McCain — he'd use it constantly …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Wonkette, Open Left, Swing State Project and Mad Kane's Political Madness
Andy Barr / The Politico:
Hayworth ribs ‘nonmaverick’ McCain
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
McCain ‘never considered myself a maverick’
McCain ‘never considered myself a maverick’
Discussion:
The Political Carnival
New York Times:
Obama Limits When U.S. Would Use Nuclear Arms — WASHINGTON — President Obama said Monday that he was revamping American nuclear strategy to substantially narrow the conditions under which the United States would use nuclear weapons, even in self defense. — But the president …
Bill Roggio / Weekly Standard:
‘Collateral Murder’ in Baghdad Anything But — Wikileaks, the website devoted to publishing classified documents on the Internet, made a splash today with a video claiming to show that the U.S. military “murdered” a Reuters cameraman and other Iraqi “civilians” in Baghdad on July 12, 2007.
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Lydia Saad / Gallup:
Tea Partiers Are Fairly Mainstream in Their Demographics — Skew right politically, but have typical profile by age, education, and employment — PRINCETON, NJ — Tea Party supporters skew right politically; but demographically, they are generally representative of the public at large.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Mother Jones, American Prospect, FiveThirtyEight, The Plum Line, Top of the Ticket, The Impolitic, NO QUARTER, DISSENTING JUSTICE, YID With LID, Democratic Strategist, The Swamp, Mediaite, Crooks and Liars, Moonbattery, Ruby Slippers, skippy the bush kangaroo, Riehl World View, PERRspectives, Left Coast Rebel, Don Surber, Newsweek Blogs, D.C. Now, Wake up America, TPM LiveWire, Liberal Values, msnbc.com, Taylor Marsh, Politics Daily, Sister Toldjah, American Power, Hot Air, Questions and Observations and The Foundry
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Jon Ralston / Las Vegas Sun:
Why Sen. Ensign should be worried about possible indictment — In the federal penal code, it is known as “structuring.” — And it is a word Sen. John Ensign should remember because it is very likely to be on any indictment with his name on it. — That's what I am told by a reliable source familiar …
Discussion:
Salon, The Fix, Daily Kos, MyDD, The Reaction, Washington Monthly, TPMMuckraker, AMERICAblog News and Gretawire
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Political Punch:
Obama Throws “Disappointing” First Pitch — Marking a 100-year tradition, President Obama today threw out the first pitch at Nationals Stadium, kicking off the season at the opening game of the Washington Nationals vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. — The presidential pitch went high and wide …
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Chairman Tim Kaine / Democratic National Committee:
Mark Your Calendars: The Democratic National Convention to be Held the Week of September 3, 2012 — I am excited to announce that the Democratic Party will gather for our 46th National Convention during the week of September 3, 2012. At the convention, we will re-nominate President Barack Obama …
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John Hiscock / Telegraph:
Tina Fey interview: Sarah Palin in her sights — Tina Fey talks about her new film - and plans to revive her sensational impression of the former vice-presidential candidate. — One day Tina Fey was an actress in a little-seen television sitcom, worshipped by an ardent cult following but mainly ignored by mainstream audiences.
Chris Currey / FrumForum:
How the GOP Purged Me — I am an old Republican. I am religious, yet not a fanatic. I am a free-marketer; yet, I believe in the role of the government as a fair evenhanded referee. I am socially conservative; yet, I believe that my lesbian niece and my gay grandchild should have the full protection …
Gretawire:
Senator Reid pokes fun at Gov Palin - check out the video — The focus is bad (yes, I know)....but here is Senator Reid having some fun with his supporters:
Ross Douthat / New York Times:
Can CNN Be Saved? — Listening to Jon Stewart helped destroy CNN. Now imitating him might be the network's only hope of salvation. — It was October of 2004, the heat of the presidential campaign, when Stewart showed up on “Crossfire,” long CNN's flagship political program, and delivered a now-legendary tirade.
Tim Mak / FrumForum:
The End of Candidate Giuliani? — Rudy Giuliani's decision to endorse Marco Rubio in the hotly contested Florida senatorial primary may be more than an act of revenge. By backing a candidate that has little overlap with the brand of Republicanism that he embodies, Rudy may be signaling …
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U.S. Department of Transportation:
Secretary LaHood Announces DOT is Seeking Maximum Civil Penalty from Toyota — WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking the maximum civil penalty of $16.375 million …
Discussion:
Courthouse News Service, LA Daily, Swampland, Truthdig, The Consumerist and The Washington Independent
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Micheline Maynard / New York Times:
U.S. to Seek $16.4 Million Fine Against Toyota
U.S. to Seek $16.4 Million Fine Against Toyota
Discussion:
The Page
Glen Whitman / Cato Unbound:
The Rise of the New Paternalism — For as far back as memory reaches, people have been telling other people what's good for them — and manipulating or forcing them to do it. But in recent years, a novel form of paternalism has emerged on the policy stage.