memeorandum: Tea Party With a Difference (Thomas L. Friedman/New York Times)

1:25 PM ET, April 25, 2010

Top Items:

John M. Broder / New York Times:

Graham Pulls Support for Major Senate Climate Bill — WASHINGTON — In a move that may derail a comprehensive climate change and energy bill in the Senate, one of the measure's central architects, Senator Lindsey Graham, has issued an angry protest over what he says are Democratic plans …

Discussion: Wonk Room, Swampland, Mother Jones, No More Mister Nice Blog, Left Coast Rebel, The Caucus, Washington Monthly, Prairie Weather, The Daily Caller, MyDD, TPM LiveWire, Althouse, Gateway Pundit, The Page, EnviroKnow and The Politico

Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:

Tea Party With a Difference — I've been trying to understand the Tea Party Movement. Sounds like a lot of angry people who want to get the government out of their lives and cut both taxes and the deficit. Nothing wrong with that — although one does wonder where they were in the Bush years.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, protein wisdom, Newshoggers.com, Hit & Run, JammieWearingFool and Climate Progress

John Cole / Balloon Juice:

Still Not Getting It — The Mustache of Understanding: … They weren't around protesting during the Bush years BECAUSE THE TEA PARTY IS REPUBLICANS. They don't care about the deficit. They care that a Democrat (and a black “Muslim,” to boot), is in the White House.

Discussion: Eschaton

Jim Hoft / Gateway Pundit:

That Was Quick... Forget the Dialogue & Civility- Angry Coffee Party Mob Wants Blood! — THE TALK IS OVER... The leftist astroturfed Coffee Party Club advertised that they wanted to sit, sip coffee and discuss the important issues facing the country. This leftist group …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Other McCain, RedState and NewsBusters.org

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

GRAHAM ASKED FOR ‘STEPPED UP’ ACTION ON IMMIGRATION.... Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is so upset that Dems might take up immigration reform this year, he's prepared to kill his own tri-partisan climate/energy bill. Some of his concerns are reasonable — Graham was told the climate bill …

Discussion: The Hill, The Politico and TPM LiveWire

Ian Swanson / The Hill:

Summers: Administration can pursue both climate bill, immigration reform — The Obama administration wants to pursue both climate change and immigration legislation, according to a senior advisor to the president. — There is “no either/or” between the two issues, which are “both important …

Discussion: The Political Carnival

Ben Geman / The Hill:
Monday climate bill rollout scuttled as Graham decides to walk away

Discussion: RedState and Doug Ross

Juliet Eilperin / Washington Post:
Sen. Graham threatens to halt work on climate and energy bill

Discussion: Grist and Climate Progress

Ben Geman / The Hill:
Graham threatens to ditch climate bill if Dems push immigration bill

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, Mother Jones, Commentary and Gateway Pundit

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:

Sens. Dodd, Shelby say no deal on financial bill ahead of Monday vote — The top two senators negotiating the terms of the financial regulatory reform bill said Sunday that a deal has not been reached ahead of a key test vote Monday. — Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) …

Manu Raju / Politico Live's Blog:

Shelby: Dems will lack votes Monday — Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and the committee's ranking Republican, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, said Sunday they don't have a deal yet on the financial regulatory reform bill - but said they were on the verge of one.

Discussion: Washington Monthly

New York Times:

G.O.P. Threatens Seats Long Held by Democrats — ASHLAND, Wis. — Representative David R. Obey has won 21 straight races, easily prevailing through wars and economic crises that have spanned presidencies from Nixon's to Obama's. Yet the discontent with Washington surging through politics …

Discussion: Althouse and AMERICAblog News

Mark Silva / The Swamp:

Obama's Quincy, Ill., appearance open — With his “White House to Main Street Tour” this week — at a time when the debate over Wall Street reform is heating up in Washington — President Barack Obama will hold an open house for all-comers Wednesday at the civic center in Quincy, Ill.

Discussion: Chicago Breaking News

BBC:

Contacting aliens could be risky, Hawking warns — Aliens almost certainly exist but humans should make every attempt to avoid them, Stephen Hawking has warned. — In a series for the Discovery Channel the renowned astrophysicist said it was “perfectly rational” to assume intelligent life exists elsewhere.

Discussion: Mediaite

Mark Silva / The Swamp:

Obama: Americans ‘are all family’ — President Barack Obama, who will deliver the eulogy today for 29 miners killed in the explosion at a West Virginia mine — the worst U.S. mine disaster in four decades — will not only call for greater mine safety, but also summon a spirit of American “family.”