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Married GOP Congressman Sent Sexy Pictures to Craigslist Babe — Rep. Christopher Lee is a married Republican congressman serving the 26th District of New York. But when he trolls Craigslist's “Women Seeking Men” forum, he's Christopher Lee, “divorced” “lobbyist” and “fit fun classy guy.”
Discussion:
The Politico, New York Times, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Crooks and Liars, Washington Monthly, The Moderate Voice, Ben Smith's Blog, Raw Story, Mediaite, msnbc.com, Open Congress, AOL News, Politics, Hot Air, AMERICAblog News, Daily Kos, Wonkette, Swampland, National Review, This Just In and Balloon Juice
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Congressman Chris Lee Resigns After Shirtless Photo Posted on Internet — New York Republican Reportedly Sent Revealing Photos to a Woman He Met on Craigslist — Rep. Chris Lee, R-N.Y., resigned from Congress after a report emerged that he had sent flirtatious e-mails …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Gateway Pundit and The Daily Caller


N.Y. Rep Declines Comment on Claim He Sent Shirtless Photo to Woman on Craigslist — Rep. Christopher Lee is declining to comment on a report claiming the married Republican congressman sent a shirtless photo of himself to a woman on Craigslist. — Lee, asked by Fox News …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Talking Points Memo, TPMDC, Towleroad News #gay and Gawker


Statement from Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26) — “It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Western New York. I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents. I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all.
Discussion:
AOL News


New York Rep. Chris Lee resigns from the House — New York Rep. Chris Lee has resigned his seat. Photo by Derek Gee/Washington Post — Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.) resigned from the House Wednesday evening effective immediately, an announcement that came just hours after a Web site reported …
Discussion:
OpenSecrets.org, Gawker and Daily Kos


What started last month with an anonymous woman's Craigslist dating search for men who don't “look like toads” ended Wednesday with the resignation of two-term Rep. Christopher Lee, R-N.Y., a married father who passed himself off as a divorced lobbyist when he sent her a topless muscle photo of himself.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland


Republicans endure another floor loss — House Republicans endured another embarrassing floor loss Wednesday, one day after a vote on the Patriot Act failed on their watch. — A bill that would retrieve money already paid to the United Nations failed Wednesday afternoon 259-169, 290 votes were needed for passage.
Discussion:
CNN, The Hill, Washington Monthly, The Caucus, Hot Air and Prairie Weather
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GOP cuts deep as right revolts — Faced with a revolt on the right, House Republicans began sketching out more than $40 billion in specific spending cuts Wednesday but may be forced to double their bets with a further across-the-board reduction to appease tea party supporters.
Discussion:
Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Instapundit, The Note, Proof Positive, The Reaction, The Hill and The Nation

CR Spending Cuts to Go Deep
Discussion:
The Politico, Bloomberg, RHRealityCheck.org, Associated Press, The Hill, Politics Daily, USA Today and CNN


The Tea Party and civil liberties
Discussion:
Washington Post, Cato @ Liberty, Daily Kos, Liberal Values, Balloon Juice and Barefoot and Progressive

Newsflash: Tea Party didn't kill Patriot Act
Discussion:
Examiner, Weigel, Firedoglake and PostPartisan

Webb won't seek reelection — Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb plans to announce today that he won't seek reelection, the Senator confirmed Wednesday. — Webb appeared likely to face a rematch with former Senator George Allen, whom he beat in a bruising 2006 contest.
Discussion:
National Review, Raw Story, Hot Air, CNN, Outside the Beltway, The Washington Note, AmSpecBlog, Politics, Pajamas Media and JOSHUAPUNDIT
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Sen. James Webb won't run for reelection in 2012
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Wonkette, The Page, AMERICAblog News and Gawker

Jim Webb's retirement (and what it means)
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay, msnbc.com and The Maddow Blog


Jim Webb to retire; Democrats eye Tim Kaine
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Commentary and Ballot Box

Virginia Democrat Webb Won't Seek Re-Election to Senate
Discussion:
Patterico's Pontifications

Democrats: Justice Thomas should recuse himself in healthcare reform case — A group of 73 House Democrats on Wednesday demanded U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from any case examining the constitutionality of healthcare reform. — Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, The Note and The Mahablog
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House Democrats say Justice Thomas should recuse himself in health-care case — Seventy-four House Democrats have signed a letter to Clarence Thomas asking the Supreme Court justice to recuse himself from any deliberations on the constitutionality of the national health care overhaul …

At CPAC, the race for second place as Paul goes all out — The Conservative Political Action Conference's annual straw poll typically indicates three things: Whom CPAC's segment of the conservative base prefers for president; who bought tickets for their supporters; and whether Ron Paul is really trying.
Discussion:
Wonkette
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Monetary Policy Hearing Today, or: Ron Paul Versus the Kochtopus.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Financial Services Committee, Paul Krugman, Raw Story and RedState

The Strange Case of Pro-Confederate Monetary Policy
Discussion:
LewRockwell.com Blog

Dem accuses witness invited by Ron Paul of ‘hate group’ ties
Discussion:
Oliver Willis

Labor — Surveying the GOP's latest efforts to usher forth a particular species of fiscal responsibility, I was recalled to a bit of personal history, which I try to not to think about. Like a lot of couples, the notice that our family would increase by a half was greeted with great joy.
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The Wages of Disengagement — Senator Barbara Boxer is outraged …
Discussion:
Ann Friedman and Eschaton

‘Forcible Rape’ Language Remains In Bill To Restrict Abortion Funding
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Daily Kos and Mother Jones

Under Banner of Fiscal Restraint, Republicans Plan New Abortion Bills


AOL stock sheds $315M — HuffPo price tag — You pay for what you get. — Arianna Huffington and Ken Lerer, co-founders of the Huffington Post, are said to be walking away with a combined $80 million to $100 million from an original $2 million per person investment — but so far AOL stockholders aren't seeing that kind of return.
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, more at Mediagazer »
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EXCLUSIVE: White House to Cut Energy Assistance for the Poor — Budget proposal would cut billions from aid program. — President Obama's proposed 2012 budget will cut several billion dollars from the government's energy assistance fund for poor people, officials briefed on the subject told National Journal.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Hot Air, Economist's View, Oliver Willis and Daily Kos


Aide: Giffords can speak — (CNN) — U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, recovering from a gunshot wound to the head sustained January 8, is regaining part of her ability to speak, her spokesman said Wednesday. — C.J. Karamargin would not divulge what Giffords has said, other than saying she asked for toast.
Discussion:
The Politico, Pajamas Media and Gawker

Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low — Egypt ranks among issues on which Obama is best rated — PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's approval rating for handling the federal budget deficit has gone from bad to worse in recent months, even as his ratings …

Insurance reality hits House GOP — Ask any House Republican about repealing President Barack Obama's health care law, and you'll get the same fiery, self-assured talking points about tearing down what Speaker John Boehner has called a “monstrosity.” — But talk to some of the 16 freshman lawmakers …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, ThinkProgress, USA Today, Washington Monthly and The New Republic