memeorandum: Libya protests: 84 killed in growing unrest, says HRW (BBC)

6:10 PM ET, February 19, 2011

Top Items:

What's at Stake in Wisconsin's Budget Battle — Who's in charge of our political system—voters or unions? — This week President Obama was roundly criticized, even by many of his allies, for submitting a federal budget that actually increases our already crushing deficit.

Discussion: NO QUARTER, International Liberty, Questions and Observations, Daily Kos, YID With LID, Instapundit, Da Techguy's Blog and American Spectator

Patrick McIlheran / Real Clear Politics:

FDR's Ghost Is Smiling on Wisconsin's Governor — Somewhere, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is grinning past his cigarette holder at Wisconsin's governor. They are on the same page regarding government unions. — Except that Scott Walker — Republican cheapskate, his visage Hitlerized …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Maggie's Notebook and Althouse

Michelle Malkin:

Badger State Battle: Unions vs. Tea Party in Wisconsin; Runaway Dems could be AWOL “for weeks;” recall campaigns launched; nine anti-Walker protesters arrested; fake doctors' notes for fake sick teachers (VIDEO) — It's Battle of the Protest Bands in Madison today, with thousands …

Discussion: New York Times, The Other McCain, GayPatriot, ABCNEWS, JSOnline, The Page, Doug Ross, Fire Andrea Mitchell! and AmSpecBlog

Monica Davey / New York Times:

For Wisconsin Governor, Battle Was Long Coming — MADISON, Wis. — Just last fall, people here were waving campaign signs. But the blocks around the State Capitol have been filled for the past week with protesters brandishing signs with a different message — demanding a recall of Gov. Scott Walker …

Discussion: Runnin' Scared

Washington Times:

Obama's war on democracy — President's campaign forces seize Wisconsin statehouse — Message to Wisconsin taxpayers: President Obama and the Democratic National Committee have declared war on you. Message to other states: You're next. — The political unrest in Wisconsin …

Discussion: UrbanGrounds

David S Morgan / CBS News:
Lawmaker: Gov's plan has torn Wisconsin apart

Discussion: The Daily Caller

MacIver Institute: Fake Doctors' Notes Being Handed Out at Wisconsin Gov. Union Rally

New York Times:
Wisconsin Leads Way as Workers Fight State Cuts

Discussion: L'Hôte, Leiter Reports, New York Times, Daily Kos and The Daily Dish

Steven Greenhouse / New York Times: A Watershed Moment for Public-Sector Unions

Rachel Maddow / PolitiFact:
Rachel Maddow says Wisconsin is on track to have a budget surplus this year

Discussion: Z on TV, Outside the Beltway, PostPartisan, NewsBusters.org blogs, Firedoglake, RedState, TPMDC, PoliPundit.com, ThinkProgress, JSOnline and The Week Magazine

JSOnline:
Assembly's abrupt adjournment caps chaotic day in Capitol

Discussion: American Prospect, Washington Monthly, Pajamas Media, Hot Air and WTMJ

Nicholas Kristof / New York Times:

Delirious Joy in Bahrain — BAHRAIN — There's delirious joy in the center of Bahrain right now. People power has prevailed, at least temporarily, over a regime that repeatedly used deadly force to try to crush a democracy movement. Pro-democracy protesters have retaken the Pearl Roundabout …

Discussion: The Daily Dish, The Reaction, msnbc.com, Newshoggers.com, Hit & Run, Firedoglake and Opinion L.A.

Aljazeera:
Protesters back in Bahrain centre

Discussion: New York Times, Committee to Protect …, The Independent, Washington Post, The Page, Outside the Beltway, Firedoglake, USA Today and Mother Jones

CNN:
Protesters in Bahrain retake downtown square

Discussion: New York Magazine and The Jawa Report

David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:

House Votes to Cut $60 Billion, Setting Up Clash — WASHINGTON — The House voted early Saturday to slash more than $60 billion from the federal budget over the next seven months, showing how powerfully the grass-roots, antispending fervor of the November elections is driving …

Discussion: Firedoglake, The Politico, The Democratic Daily, Washington Monthly, Wake up America and Truthdig

David Rogers / The Politico:
House passes $60 billion in spending cuts

Discussion: CNN, Washington Monthly, New York Magazine, National Review, The Other McCain, Hot Air, Patterico's Pontifications and The Hill

Felicia Sonmez / Washington Post:
Conservative budget amendment fails House amid fissure among Republicans

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Politics Daily, Ace of Spades HQ and National Review

BBC:

Libya protests: 84 killed in growing unrest, says HRW — Former UK envoy to Libya: “The most exciting question is what happens in Tripoli” (Footage from Libyan TV and amateur sources) — The number of people killed in three days of protests in Libya has risen to 84, according to the New York-based group Human Rights Watch.

Discussion: The Jawa Report, Outside the Beltway, Suburban Guerrilla and Libya February 17th

BBC:
Libya protests: Reports of intense Benghazi violence

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Guardian, Unqualified Offerings and Libya February 17th

hrw.org:
Libya: Security Forces Kill 84 Over Three Days

Discussion: Arabist.net

Al Jazeera Blogs:
Live Blog - Libya

Discussion: Guardian, The Daily Dish, EA WorldView, The Reaction, FP Passport, L.A. Times Tech Blog, Renesys Blog, Libya February 17th, Outside the Beltway, Daily Kos, Hit & Run and CNN, more at Techmeme »

Oregonian:

Rep. David Wu's staff confronted him over concerns about his mental health — WASHINGTON — Three days before the Nov. 2 election, U.S. Rep. David Wu's most loyal and senior staffers were so alarmed by his erratic behavior that they demanded he enter a hospital for psychiatric treatment.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Fox Nation, Associated Press and JammieWearingFool

John Merline / AOL News:

Opinion: What Does Government Do? … Pop quiz. What's the biggest single job the federal government undertakes? — National defense? Nope. — Homeland security? Wrong. — Transportation? Not even close. — Law enforcement? No way. — Education? Getting colder. — Foreign aid?

Discussion: Hot Air, Verum Serum, Outside the Beltway and CARPE DIEM

Lady Liberty / The Gateway Pundit:

Bloggers For Peace Flotilla Arrives In Madison...SITUATION TENSE ...Update: Thousands of Walker Supporters Are Here! — This is an update from Jim. He's on the ground and in the thick of things. He will be phoning in updates throughout the day. — (Pygalgia)

Discussion: Washington Times, Weasel Zippers, Da Techguy's Blog, Instapundit and Atlas Shrugs

Sarah Palin / Facebook:

Union Brothers and Sisters: Seize Opportunity to Show True Solidarity — The union-led school closures and demonstrations in Madison have left most ordinary Americans shaking their heads in disbelief. Months ago, I penned a message to my fellow union brothers and sisters when I found myself …

Discussion: Washington Times, Hot Air, Cubachi, Bloomberg, Conservatives4Palin and National Review

Doug Powers / Michelle Malkin:

The ‘Union Hires Non-Union Picketers’ Story of the Day — Unions hiring non-union labor to walk picket lines certainly isn't a rarity, but this story from Michigan has some bonus irony: The business a local carpenter's union hired homeless people to picket is a company that is a partner …

Discussion: Fire Andrea Mitchell!

Jonathon M. Seidl / The Blaze: MICH. UNION HIRING HOMELESS PEOPLE TO PICKET

Rick Piltz / Climate Science Watch:

House votes 244-179 to kill U.S. funding of IPCC — Just before 2 a.m. on February 19, the war on climate science showed its grip on the U.S. House of Representatives as it voted to eliminate U.S. funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Republican majority …

Discussion: Watts Up With That?, The Reality-Based Community, Right Wing News and Pirate's Cove

John Cole / Balloon Juice:

Under Assault — I'm just starting to get a real bunker mentality- Planned Parenthood is apparently the new Acorn. We'll do a fundraiser for them sometime soon. — As to Sullivan's “Of course cuts hurt people” bulls**t, a couple thoughts: — 1.) Who is this ED Kain and what did he do with the old one?

Discussion: The Daily Dish, Corrente and Newshoggers.com