Top Items:
Robert Draper / New York Times:
This Year's Maverick — Lindsey Graham was sitting in a sedan early one morning and contentedly discussing the various fellow South Carolina conservatives who dislike him — Tea Partiers, Constitutionalists, immigration hardliners — when Van Cato, his upstate regional director …
Discussion:
Reuters, Washington Monthly, CNN, Ben Smith's Blog, Pat Dollard, The Corner on National … and The Page
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Michael Memoli / The Swamp:
Boehner fires back at ‘whining’ White House — House Minority Leader John Boehner today escalated a growing battle with Congressional Democrats and the White House, accusing the latter of “childish partisanship” after President Obama criticized him for remarks about the financial crisis.
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Sen. Graham predicts Tea Party movement will eventually ‘die out’ — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has earned the ire of Tea Party groups for his penchant for negotiating with Democrats, predicted this week the movement will “die out.” — Graham, who has partnered with Democrats …
Gail Collins / New York Times:
The Most Unhappy Fellow — Our Independence Day weekend winner of the title of Most Unhappy Person in Washington is: John Boehner, the House minority leader. — I know this is a bit of a surprise since the award almost always goes to the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, whose job is frequently compared to herding cats.
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Harsh Words for G.O.P. From Obama
Harsh Words for G.O.P. From Obama
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Fox News, Latest Open Salon Blog, Wonkette, The Caucus and The Gavel
The Huffington Post:
Unemployment Extension Fails: Senate Rejects Jobless Benefits 58-38 — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — The Senate rejected Wednesday — for the fourth time — a bill that would have reauthorized extended benefits for the long-term unemployed, by a vote of 58 to 38.
Discussion:
Indecision Forever, Washington Monthly, Hullabaloo, Center for American Progress, Wonk Room and The Monkey Cage
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Brian Beutler / TPMDC:
With Millions Losing Benefits, Ben Nelson Blocks Extension Of Unemployment Insurance
With Millions Losing Benefits, Ben Nelson Blocks Extension Of Unemployment Insurance
E.J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
Have Obama and the Democrats forgotten how to fight?
Have Obama and the Democrats forgotten how to fight?
Discussion:
Prairie Weather
Stephen Ohlemacher / Associated Press:
1.3 million unemployed won't get benefits restored
1.3 million unemployed won't get benefits restored
Discussion:
Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, The Washington Independent, Sweetness & Light, DownWithTyranny! and Hullabaloo
Courtland Milloy / Washington Post:
In Clarence Thomas's gun rights opinion, race plays a major role — He hardly ever speaks during oral arguments, often appearing asleep on the bench. But in his written opinion Monday supporting the right to bear arms, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas roared to life.
Devin Dwyer / ABCNEWS:
Obama Targets ‘Polarization’ and ‘Pettiness’ in Push for Immigration Reform — With Arizona Law Set to Take Effect, Obama Calls for ‘Clear National Standard’ and ‘Accountability’ — President Obama today sought to tap into national frustration over the country's “fundamentally broken” …
Discussion:
The Note, The Politico, Cassy Fiano, Wake up America, Political Punch, American Power, RealClearPolitics Video Log and Firedoglake
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David Jackson / USA Today:
Obama: Immigration reform ‘cannot pass without Republican votes’
Obama: Immigration reform ‘cannot pass without Republican votes’
Discussion:
Think Progress, Hot Air, New York Magazine, Immigration Chronicles, Michelle Malkin, NY Daily News and NPR
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Democrats to punt on taxes — Democratic leaders are likely to punt the task of renewing Bush-era tax cuts until after the election. — Voters in November's midterms will thus be left without a clear idea of their future tax rates when they go to the polls.
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Oregonian:
Portland police will investigate accusations that Al Gore groped woman — Portland police announced today that it will re-open and investigate a Portland massage therapist's allegations that former Vice President Al Gore sexually assaulted her at a downtown hotel in October 2006.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Pirate's Cove, Indecision Forever, Power Line, NewsBusters.org, JustOneMinute, Scared Monkeys, Pat Dollard, TalkLeft, Say Anything, Sister Toldjah, Ben Smith's Blog, Weasel Zippers, Sweetness & Light, Politics Daily, Mediaite, Hot Air, New York Magazine, CBS4 and Cold Fury
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Doug Powers / Michelle Malkin:
NAACP, NY Times Whitewash Robert Byrd's Past — Somebody at the NAACP either needs a history lesson or is being intentionally deceptive about somebody's horrid past just because the person in question was a liberal Democrat (don't tell me which it is and ruin the suspense). — From Mike Riggs at the Daily Caller:
Discussion:
Don Surber
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Christopher Hitchens / Vanity Fair:
An Update from Christopher Hitchens — I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my esophagus. This advice seems persuasive to me. I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice. — Keywords:
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Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Independent Voters Favor GOP in 2010 Election Tracking — Prefer Republican candidate to Democrat by an average of 45% to 35% — PRINCETON, NJ — By an average 10 percentage-point margin since March, 45% to 35%, independent registered voters have consistently preferred the Republican …
Brian Stelter / Media Decoder:
Huckabee Trying Out a Daily Show for News Corp. — Mike Huckabee, the weekend Fox News Channel host and possible 2012 presidential candidate, is getting a six-week tryout as a daily talk show host. — Called “The Huckabee Show,” it will have a preview run on weekdays for six weeks …
Cynthia Laird / ebar.com:
Speier: 5 years for ENDA — Congresswoman Jackie Speier put a damper on hopes for swift House passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, telling the Bay Area Reporter over the weekend that she doesn't see the LGBT workplace protections becoming law anytime soon.
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Tara Siegel Bernard / New York Times:
Google to Add Pay to Cover a Tax for Same-Sex Benefits — Working for a company as rich as Google comes with an incredible number of fringe benefits: the free food, the free laundry, the doctor on duty at company headquarters and the impressive five months of maternity leave with full pay and benefits, to mention a few.
Andy Barr / The Politico:
Breitbart, Sullivan in JournoList spat — Andrew Breitbart's $100,000 offer for the full archives of the now-defunct liberal listserve JournoList has prompted a fight between Breitbart and Atlantic blogger Andrew Sullivan. — Breitbart has not yet had any takers for the offer …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh
Sarah Kliff / The Politico:
Health site promotes vodka, P. Diddy — With HHS's rollout of a new web portal, HealthCare.Gov, you can investigate health insurance plans and provisions of the new health care law. And for a while, you could also learn some not so health-related information, like that HealthCare.Gov enjoys P. Diddy and Indian politicians.
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Washington Post:
Pentagon recommends Medal of Honor for a living soldier — The Pentagon has recommended that the White House consider awarding the Medal of Honor to a living soldier for the first time since the Vietnam War, according to U.S. officials. — The soldier, whose nomination must be reviewed by the White House …
Washington Wire:
Transcript of Obama's Immigration Speech — President Barack Obama today gave his first speech devoted to laying out his case for an overhaul of immigration laws since he became president. Click here for the WSJ story. — Here is the official transcript released by the White House:
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Politics Daily and ImmigrationProf Blog
The U.S. Department of Labor:
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis — EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION — Program Contact: — TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL — (202) 693-4676 — UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT — SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
Erika Lovley / The Politico:
Senate denies C-SPAN coverage — As the late Sen. Robert Byrd's coffin lies in repose on the Senate floor, C-SPAN has been refused permission to broadcast the event, causing members of the Radio-Television Correspondents Association to send a formal complaint to Senate Rules Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Frank J. Donatelli / The Politico:
We're looking more like France — Republicans can barely contain their glee at their electoral prospects for this year. — There is reason for this optimism. The Obama administration's poll numbers continue to sink, and history tells us that things could get worse before they get better.
Rasmussen Reports:
Election 2010: Pennsylvania Senate — Pennsylvania Senate: Toomey (R) 45%, Sestak (D) 39% — Republican Pat Toomey continues to hold a modest advantage over Democrat Joe Sestak in the race to replace Arlen Specter as U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. — A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey …