Top Items:
Washington Post:
Once critical of financial regulation bill, Republicans change their tone — Key Senate Republicans on Tuesday began to back away from their sharp criticism of proposed new financial regulations and expressed optimism that a bipartisan deal on a bill that would drastically change …
RELATED:
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Sen. Carper: Dems should drop areas of disagreement from Wall St. reform bill — Democrats should drop areas of disagreement with Republicans from their Wall Street reform bill in order to move forward, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) suggested Wednesday. — Carper, a member of the Senate Finance Committee …
Discussion:
AMERICAblog News
The Politico:
Dems haunted by corporate ties — President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are promising a climactic clash with Wall Street, but there's a complication in their battle plan: The Democratic Party is closer to corporate America — and to Wall Street in particular — than many Democrats would care to admit.
Discussion:
CNN, Townhall.com, Associated Press, The Note, USA Today, McClatchy Washington Bureau, Michelle Malkin and The Plum Line
St. Petersburg Times:
U.S. attorney, IRS and FBI investigating Florida GOP credit card use — Federal law enforcement agencies have launched a criminal investigation into the use of American Express cards issued by the Republican Party of Florida to elected officials and staff, according to sources familiar with the probe.
RELATED:
Matt Towery / Southern Political Report:
SPR exclusive bulletin: Crist to run for Florida Senate as an independent — It may be the worst-kept secret in American politics today, and it's apparently about to become a reality. Reliable sources informed me today that embattled Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, whose early lead …
Quinnipiac University:
Obama's Bounce Goes Flat, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; But Voters Confident He Will Pick Good Judge — President Barack Obama's job approval, which bounced slightly to a 45 - 46 percent split March 25 in the wake of his health care victory, has flattened out at 44 - 46 percent …
RELATED:
Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Supreme Court pick to be made by May 26
Supreme Court pick to be made by May 26
Discussion:
CNN, The Swamp, New York Magazine, Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, Cato @ Liberty and Washington Wire
Jonathan Weisman / Washington Wire:
Next Up? Obama Calls Sen. Scott Brown About Immigration — President Barack Obama called Massachusetts' new Republican senator, Scott Brown, from Air Force One today to deliver some news: Democrats are moving forward with an immigration overhaul in a month.
RELATED:
JammieWearingFool:
Earthquake in New Jersey: Majority of School Budgets Defeated — In a crushing rejection of the thug tactics of the teacher's unions, voters turned out in unusually high numbers Tuesday to reject a majority of proposed school budgets across the state of New Jersey, handing Governor Chris Christie …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Ariz House: Check Obama's Citizenship — PHOENIX — The Arizona House on Monday voted for a provision that would require President Barack Obama to show his birth certificate if he hopes to be on the state's ballot when he runs for reelection. — The House voted 31-22 to add the provision to a separate bill.
RELATED:
Noah Shachtman / Danger Room:
Would the U.S. Shoot Down an Israeli Jet? Top Officer Won't Say — MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — I'm not going to make a big deal of this, although some dug deep in the trenches of the Middle East debate might. But America's top military officer wouldn't rule the possibility today …
RELATED:
Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
Mike Allen, the Man the White House Wakes Up To — Before he goes to sleep, between 11 and midnight, Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, typically checks in by e-mail with the same reporter: Mike Allen of Politico, who is also the first reporter Pfeiffer corresponds with after he wakes up at 4:20.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Wonkette, The Politico, The Page, FishbowlDC, Mediaite, Mother Jones and First Draft
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Dems To Attack Sue Lowden With “Chickens For Checkups” Web Site — Chickens for Checkups! — That's the name of a new Web site the DSCC is planning to unveil today in an effort to draw national attention to GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden, who doubled down this week on her assertion …
RELATED:
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
GOPer Tries to Ape My Snark
GOPer Tries to Ape My Snark
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, TPMDC, The Political Carnival, The Poor Man Institute and Balloon Juice
PRWeb:
FreedomWorks Bullies GEICO To Axe Voice Over Actor — GEICO voice over actor targeted by Tea Party members after expressing opinion on FreedomWorks voicemail. — Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 21, 2010 — Los Angeles actor, D.C. Douglas, says he was dropped from the upcoming GEICO …
Discussion:
Joe. My. God.
RELATED:
David Weigel / Right Now:
GEICO voice actor fired after insulting tea parties
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
EVEN LINDSEY GRAHAM DOESN'T DESERVE THIS.... I'm not generally in the habit of defending Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), but some of the abuse he's been receiving from the right is ridiculous. — Over the weekend, an even-crazier-than-usual Tea Party event was held in Greenville, South Carolina …
Discussion:
Salon, Hullabaloo, slacktivist, Joe. My. God., Riehl World View, American Power and Indecision Forever
RELATED:
Reid Wilson / Hotline On Call:
RNC Spent $340K On Hawaii Meeting — The RNC spent more than $340K at a semi-annual meeting in Honolulu in Jan., the latest example of the party spending lavishly on itself while GOP officials worry they won't have enough money to take advantage of a promising national landscape this fall.
David Brody / The Brody File:
Senator DeMint to Brody File: Tea Party Movement Will Bring On “Spiritual Revival” — Senator Jim DeMint tells The Brody File that the Tea Party is a “spiritual revival” waiting to happen. He compares it to “The Great Awakening”. You can watch his fascinating comments below and read a partial transcription as well.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog
Bill Gertz / Washington Times:
Iran boosts Qods shock troops in Venezuela — Pentagon predicts U.S. clash with Islamist paramilitary — Iran is increasing its paramilitary Qods force operatives in Venezuela while covertly continuing supplies of weapons and explosives to Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq …
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
Economic Scene: As Markets Fizzle, Buying May Cost Less Than Renting — In much of the country, for much of the last decade, renting a home has usually been a better financial move than buying one. It's been true in Southern California, San Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas and large parts of Florida …
R. Jeffrey Smith / Washington Post:
Both national party committees spend big chunks on fancy meals, hotels, travel — Both the national Democratic and Republican party committees spend about two-thirds of the money they take in on the care and comfort of committee staffs and on efforts to raise more funds, with lavish spending on limousines …
Allan Hall / Telegraph:
Roots of Islamic funamentalism lie in Nazi propaganda for Arab world, book claims — The roots of Islamic fanaticism can be traced to Adolf Hitler's radio messages broadcast around the Arab world during the Second World War, according to a new book. — “Your only hope for rescue …
Discussion:
Jihad Watch