Top Items:
Murphy / The Beast:
Koch Whore — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker answers his master's call — “David Koch”: We'll back you any way we can. What we were thinking about the crowd was, uh, was planting some troublemakers. — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: You know, well, the only problem with that—because we thought about that...
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, The Atlantic Online, JSOnline, TPMMuckraker, Little Green Footballs, Ben Smith's Blog, CANNONFIRE, No More Mister Nice Blog, The New Republic, AOL News, Salon, The Raw Story, driftglass, blue cheddar, The Right Sphere, AMERICAblog News, WisPolitics Budget Blog, Daily Kos, Wonkette, Tucson Citizen, Gawker, Muckety, Power Line, Mercury Rising, The Future of Capitalism, Oliver Willis, Parker Spitzer and The Impolitic
RELATED:
Adam Weinstein / Mother Jones:
Did Scott Walker Get Crank-Call Pwned? (AUDIO) — Is that really Scott Walker? A New York-based alt-news editor says he got through to the embattled Wisconsin governor on the phone Tuesday by posing as right-wing financier David Koch...then had a far-ranging 20-minute conversation about the collective bargaining protests.
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Governor Walker's office confirms prank Koch call — The Internet is burning up with the news that Governor Scott Walker may have been pranked by a caller claiming to be David Koch, and a spokesman for the Governor, Cullen Werwie, emails a statement confirming the call is legit:
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Mediaite, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, Althouse and The Maddow Blog
Ezra Klein:
What a prank call proves about Wisconsin — Gonzo journalist Ian Murphy noticed one of Wisconsin's Senate Democrats complaining that Gov. Scott Walker was impossible to reach on the phone. So Murphy came up with a prank call: He posed as right-wing financier David Koch and called Walker's receptionist.
Discussion:
Yglesias and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
Sam Stein / Reuters:
Gov. Walker Informed That Bill Targeting Unions May Cost State $46 Million In Federal Funds … WASHINGTON — Budget referees and transportation officials in Wisconsin have informed Gov. Scott Walker (R) that if he were to pass his controversial anti-union legislation into law …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Outside the Beltway, Daily Kos and AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
Michelle Malkin:
The Howard Stern-ing of the Wisconsin showdown — A left-wing website that specializes in pranking celebrities, pundits, and politicians — a la Howard Stern — is doing a Snoopy dance over a fake call its operatives made to GOP Gov. Scott Walker. — The hoaxer pretended to be David Koch, the progs' favorite capitalist target.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Salon, WFRV-TV and Whiskey Fire
David Weigel / Slate:
Did Scott Walker Reveal His Crisis-Ending Ruse to a Prank Caller? — MADISON, Wisc. — The governor's main line is busy, so I'll have to grab an in-person spokesman confirmation or denial in a bit. * Until then: Ian Murphy of the Buffalo Beast claims to have posed as “David Koch” …
Discussion:
The Hill, Associated Press and AmSpecBlog
David Dayen / Firedoglake:
Wisconsin Governor Walker Punked by Fake Koch Call
Wisconsin Governor Walker Punked by Fake Koch Call
Discussion:
Dependable Renegade
Jason Linkins / The Huffington Post:
Scott Walker Gets Punked By Journalist Pretending To Be David Koch
Scott Walker Gets Punked By Journalist Pretending To Be David Koch
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Balloon Juice
The Huffington Post:
Top Six Revelations in the Call Between Fake David Koch and Governor Scott Walker
Top Six Revelations in the Call Between Fake David Koch and Governor Scott Walker
Discussion:
JSOnline, The Blaze, campaignmoney.org, Verum Serum, msnbc.com and Booman Tribune
Tim Fernholz / NationalJournal.com:
Bait and Switch? — Walker's budget plans don't fix what he says is the crisis.
Bait and Switch? — Walker's budget plans don't fix what he says is the crisis.
Discussion:
The Plum Line, The Atlantic Online, Wonk Room, Saint Petersblog, The Raw Story, TPMDC and Yglesias
Judith Davidoff / host.madison.com:
Koch brothers quietly open lobbying office in downtown Madison
Koch brothers quietly open lobbying office in downtown Madison
Discussion:
Weigel, AOL News, The Awl, Sky Dancing, Guardian, Sunlight Foundation Blog, Minneapolis Star Tribune, TPMDC and ThinkProgress
Devin Dwyer / ABCNEWS:
Wisconsin Governor Pranked by Reporter Posing as Billionaire Conservative Activist
Wisconsin Governor Pranked by Reporter Posing as Billionaire Conservative Activist
Discussion:
The Note, No More Mister Nice Blog and Prairie Weather
Michael Barone / Washington Examiner:
Public unions force taxpayers to fund Democrats
Public unions force taxpayers to fund Democrats
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, theblogprof, Coffee & Markets, Betsy's Page and Cold Fury
Steven Pearlstein / Washington Post:
Making sense of Wisconsin's union showdown
Making sense of Wisconsin's union showdown
Discussion:
Balkinization, Firedoglake, Ezra Klein and Saint Petersblog
Edward Morrissey / The Week Magazine:
The real threat to democracy in Wisconsin
The real threat to democracy in Wisconsin
Discussion:
Left Coast Rebel, theblogprof, Daily Kos and Michelle Malkin
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Progressive Caucus head: Walker ‘basically taking up the posture of a dictator’
Progressive Caucus head: Walker ‘basically taking up the posture of a dictator’
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
The United States Department of Justice:
Statement of the Attorney General on Litigation Involving the Defense of Marriage Act — WASHINGTON - The Attorney General made the following statement today about the Department's course of action in two lawsuits, Pedersen v. OPM and Windsor v. United States, challenging Section 3 of the Defense …
Discussion:
TPMDC, The Huffington Post, The Atlantic Online, Washington Monthly, msnbc.com, Ben Smith's Blog, Crooks and Liars, AMERICAblog Gay, JONATHAN TURLEY, Wonk Room, New York Magazine, The Volokh Conspiracy, Sky Dancing, Mother Jones, Daily Kos, The Right Sphere, Hit & Run, Wonkette, The Daily Caller, PostPartisan, Booman Tribune, Yglesias, AOL News, Blog of Rights, Christianity Today, The American Independent and Unfogged
RELATED:
Marc Ambinder / NationalJournal.com:
Obama Won't Go to Court Over Defense of Marriage Act — An opponent of California's Prop 8 holds an American flag and gay pride flag during a demonstration outside of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 6, 2010 in San Francisco. — President Obama believes that the Defense …
Discussion:
Hot Air, National Review, The Daily Dish, Indecision Forever and Gawker
Pete Yost / Associated Press:
Gov't drops defense of anti-gay marriage law — WASHINGTON — In a major policy reversal, the Obama administration said Wednesday that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of a federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriage. — Attorney General Eric Holder said President Barack Obama …
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs, Maryland Politics and The Page
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Obama Orders End to Defense of Federal Gay Marriage Law
Obama Orders End to Defense of Federal Gay Marriage Law
Discussion:
Poliglot, Outside the Beltway and Above the Law
Ryan J. Reilly / TPMMuckraker:
Obama, DOJ Say Part Of DOMA Is Unconstitutional, Will Not Defend It In Court
Obama, DOJ Say Part Of DOMA Is Unconstitutional, Will Not Defend It In Court
Jonathan Capehart / PostPartisan:
Breaking News: Obama action against DOMA coming
Breaking News: Obama action against DOMA coming
Discussion:
Pam's House Blend
Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
Department of Justice won't defend law defining marriage
Department of Justice won't defend law defining marriage
Discussion:
CNN
Emily Schultheis / The Politico:
Newt Gingrich confronted over affair — PHILADELPHIA — Newt Gingrich's speech at the University of Pennsylvania Tuesday night quickly took a turn for the dramatic when the first student to question him brought up his admitted extra-marital affair and accused him of being “hypocritical” for espousing moral values.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Right Turn, nancynall.com, Salon, CNN, The Other McCain, Wonk Room, The Moderate Voice, Wonkette, New York Magazine, Jay Bookman and Dependable Renegade
Adam Weinstein / Mother Jones:
Indiana Official: “Use Live Ammunition” Against Wisconsin Protesters — A conservative deputy AG let his emotions get out of hand. It wasn't the first time. — Post Comment — On Saturday night, when Mother Jones staffers tweeted a report that riot police might soon sweep demonstrators …
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs, Outside the Beltway, Hullabaloo, TPMDC, Mother Jones, New York Magazine, The Raw Story and Shakesville
RELATED:
George Zornick / ThinkProgress:
Indiana Official On Wisconsin Protestors: ‘Use Live Ammunition’
Indiana Official On Wisconsin Protestors: ‘Use Live Ammunition’
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Daily Dish
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
WHEN THE RIGHT'S RHETORIC TURNS VIOLENT.... In the wake …
WHEN THE RIGHT'S RHETORIC TURNS VIOLENT.... In the wake …
Discussion:
Balloon Juice
Mary Beth Schneider / Indianapolis Star:
Indiana Senate leader says right-to-work bill is dead — Daniels clarifies statements on pending legislation — Gov. Mitch Daniels this morning toughened his words about House Democrats who have fled the state is protest of Republican legislative proposals.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Washington Monthly, USA Today, AFL-CIO NOW BLOG, The Daily Caller, Little Green Footballs and Swampland
RELATED:
Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Indiana kills ‘right-to-work’ bill
Indiana kills ‘right-to-work’ bill
Discussion:
Courier-Journal, The American Independent and Politics
John McCormack / Weekly Standard:
Video: The Daily Show Tortures a Camel in Madison — Madison, Wisc. — No joke: The Daily Show brought a camel to the protests in Madison the other day, presumably to help make fun of the Cairo/Madison comparisons. As this video shows, the gag didn't turn out so well:
Discussion:
JSOnline, The Jawa Report, Breitbart.tv, iOwnTheWorld.com and The Gateway Pundit
Patrick Hynes / New Hampshire Journal:
Dem Rep to unions: Time to get ‘bloody’ — A Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts is raising the stakes in the nation's fight over the future of public employee unions, saying emails aren't enough to show support and that it is time to “get a little bloody.”
RELATED:
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Democrat urges unions to ‘get a little bloody when necessary’
Democrat urges unions to ‘get a little bloody when necessary’
Discussion:
Dorchester Reporter, Michelle Malkin, The Jawa Report, Mediaite, RedState and Atlas Shrugs
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Dem Congressman tells unions that they “need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody”
Dem Congressman tells unions that they “need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody”
Discussion:
Pajamas Media and NewsBusters.org
Zaid Jilani / ThinkProgress:
Fox Reverses Results Of Gallup Poll To Claim Americans Oppose Union Collective Bargaining Rights — Yesterday, USA Today and Gallup released a new poll that found that a whopping 61 percent of Americans oppose efforts like those of Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) to strip public sector unions of collective bargaining rights.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, AFL-CIO NOW BLOG, US News and Talking Points Memo
RELATED:
Sarah Palin / Facebook:
Here's to Libya's Freedom — It's a little perplexing looking at the White House today. There was a statement on the horrible earthquake in New Zealand, and certainly our hearts go out to all those affected by this horrible natural disaster. But nothing on the slaughter in Libya?
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, Al Jazeera Blogs, Cubachi and Guardian, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:
Matt Negrin / The Politico:
W.H.: Obama won't speak on Libya
W.H.: Obama won't speak on Libya
Discussion:
BBC, CNN, Babalú Blog, Sense of Events, Hit & Run and Fausta's Blog
Linda Borg / Providence Journal:
Providence plans to pink slip all teachers — PROVIDENCE — The school district plans to send out dismissal notices to every one of its 1,926 teachers, an unprecedented move that has union leaders up in arms. — In a letter sent to all teachers Tuesday, Supt.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, The Greenroom, HazZzMat, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, JONATHAN TURLEY, Sweetness & Light and Wake up America
Ezra Klein:
Another judge rules the individual mandate constitutional — This time it was Judge Gladys Kessler in the D.C. Circuit Court. Kessler, interestingly, rejected the idea that the individual mandate is a tax. Her ruling for the mandate's constitutionality rested on the “necessary and proper clause …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway
RELATED:
Frank Newport / Gallup:
D.C., Hawaii Still Most Approving of Obama; All States Decline — Approval is higher than average in 12 states plus D.C., lower than average in 18 states — PRINCETON, NJ — Residents of Hawaii gave native son President Barack Obama the highest average 2010 job approval rating (66%) …
Discussion:
Ballot Box, Politics Daily, CNN, Hot Air, Wake up America, The Moderate Voice, The Politico and The Daily Caller