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More on Research 2000 — I have just published a report by three statistics wizards showing, quite convincingly, that the weekly Research 2000 State of the Nation poll we ran the past year and a half was likely bunk. — Since the moment Mark Grebner, Michael Weissman …
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Research 2000: Problems in plain sight — A bit over two weeks ago, a group of statistic wizards (Mark Grebner, Michael Weissman, and Jonathan Weissman) approached me with a disturbing premise — they had been poring over the crosstabs of the weekly Research 2000 polling we had been running …

Daily Kos To Sue Former Pollster — Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas announced today he will file a lawsuit against MD-based pollster Research 2000, alleging that polls Research 2000 was conducting for the liberal blog were fabricated. — Moulitsas today published a report by three readers …

Kagan may get confirmed, but Thurgood Marshall can forget it — Oppo researchers digging into Elena Kagan's past didn't get the goods on the Supreme Court nominee — but they did get the Thurgood. — As confirmation hearings opened Monday afternoon, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee took …
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Dems quietly cheer gun ruling — When the Supreme Court extended the individual right to own a gun Monday, they handed Second Amendment advocates—many of whom are at home in the GOP—one of their most significant legal victories ever. — But who won the day in politics? The Democrats.

WHAT DID THURGOOD MARSHALL EVER DO TO THE GOP?.... In early May …
Discussion:
Salt Lake Tribune, TPMDC, Pam's House Blend, Talking Points Memo, The Washington Independent and Jules Crittenden

Senators inquire about Kagan's family, she defends views on Marshall
Discussion:
The Fix, The Volokh Conspiracy, RHRealityCheck.org, The Huffington Post, PostPartisan, Truthdig, Law Blog, The Caucus, The Awl, The Plum Line, msnbc.com and TalkLeft

Brown Sends Letter To Dodd, Frank Opposing $19 Billion Bank Tax In Financial Reform Bill — WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) sent the following letter to Senate Committee on Banking Chairman Chris Dodd and House Committee on Financial Resources Chairman Barney Frank …
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Wall Street bill back to conference as Democrats don't have the votes
Discussion:
New York Times, Firedoglake, The Hill, Wonk Room, The Caucus, Open Left and Right Wing News

Feingold will vote ‘no’ on Wall Street bill
Discussion:
The Politico, New York Times, CNN, Washington Monthly, The Daily Caller, Wonk Room, msnbc.com, Reuters and The Daily Beast

Obama's good for GOP, Boehner says — PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW — House Minority Leader John Boehner, the Ohio Republican with his eye on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's gavel, said the tide is turning the GOP's way. — “The American people have written off the Democrats,” …
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Top Republican: Raise Social Security's retirement age to 70
Discussion:
Pat Dollard


In Ireland, a Picture of the High Cost of Austerity — DUBLIN — As Europe's major economies focus on belt-tightening, they are following the path of Ireland. But the once thriving nation is struggling, with no sign of a rapid turnaround in sight. — Nearly two years ago …
Discussion:
Guardian, Ezra Klein, Matthew Yglesias, Washington Monthly, National Review, Calculated Risk and The Impolitic
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A Terrible Ugliness Is Born — Liz Alderman offers an excellent, if depressing, portrait of Ireland in austerity. To fully appreciate its significance, you want to juxtapose it with what the apostles of austerity are saying. Jean-Claude Trichet: … Uh-huh.


Sharron Angle Is Against Abortion In The Case Of Rape Or Incest: It Would Interfere With God's ‘Plan’ — In a radio interview with Bill Manders on Jan. 25, Sharron Angle — the GOP candidate and Tea Party darling challenging Harry Reid for Nevada's U.S. Senate seat — came out firmly against abortion.
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Sharron Angle, Camera-Shy Candidate, Shifts Coverage — RENO — There is a game in Nevada called “Where's Sharron Angle?” that the press is tired of playing. — Ms. Angle, a Nevada Senate candidate and Tea Party darling, has steadfastly refused to talk to reporters here …


Reward: $100,000 for Full ‘JournoList’ Archive; Source Fully Protected — I've had $100,000 burning in my pocket for the last three months and I'd really like to spend it on a worthy cause. So how about this: in the interests of journalistic transparency, and to offer the American public …

Gen. Petraeus' nomination puts some Democrats in awkward spot — President Barack Obama's nomination of Gen. David Petraeus has put some Democrats in a politically awkward position. — While Senate Democrats are expected to rally behind Petraeus to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal …
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Post, Gateway Pundit, Hot Air, Pajamas Media, ABCNEWS, Weasel Zippers, The Swamp, Commentary, Taylor Marsh, NRSC and Neptunus Lex
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Petraeus: I'll Change Afghanistan's Rules of War
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Telegraph, Vanity Fair, BLACKFIVE, CBS4 and Weasel Zippers, more at Mediagazer »


Spy ring's ‘femme fatale’ — A ring of 11 Russian moles right out of a Cold War spy novel was smashed yesterday — and among those busted was a flame-haired, 007-worthy beauty who flitted from high-profile parties to top-secret meetings around Manhattan. — Russian national Anna Chapman …
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, Telegraph, Left Coast Rebel, Chicago Boyz, Jules Crittenden, CBS News, Mediaite, Don Surber and LewRockwell.com Blog

Feingold leads by 2 — It's looking more and more likely that Wisconsin will be in the top tier of competitive Senate races this fall. Russ Feingold leads challenger Ron Johnson by only two points, 45-43. Johnson is polling closer to Feingold than Tommy Thompson was as he contemplated a potential campaign.


Aides: Byrd to lie in repose in Senate chamber — The body of Sen. Robert Byrd will lie in repose Thursday in the Senate chamber. — Washington (CNN) - The body of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, will lie in repose in the U.S. Senate chamber on Thursday, two Senate aides familiar with the plans told CNN.
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Robert Byrd's Klan History, and the 150 Recruits He Brought With Him
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo

Lara Logan, You Suck — Lara Logan, come on down! You're the next guest on Hysterical Backstabbing Jealous Hackfest 2010! — I thought I'd seen everything when I read David Brooks saying out loud in a New York Times column that reporters should sit on damaging comments to save their sources from their own idiocy.

Wrong Track Distress — It's getting harder and harder for most Americans, looking honestly at the state of the nation, to see the glass as half full. And that's why the public opinion polls contain nothing but bad news for Barack Obama and the Democrats.