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U.S. Added 192,000 Jobs in February; Rate at 8.9% — America's job engine picked up some steam last month. — The nation's employers added 192,000 jobs in February, after having added just 63,000 the previous month, the Labor Department reported on Friday. — The February number was about what economists had been forecasting.
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February jobs report: Unemployment falls again — NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The jobs outlook brightened in February, as strong business hiring helped trim unemployment to its lowest level in nearly two years. — The unemployment rate fell to 8.9% last month, from 9.0% in January, the best reading since April of 2009.
Discussion:
The Note, The Moderate Voice, msnbc.com, The Maddow Blog, The Political Carnival and FrumForum

Understated Progress on Jobs?
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Daily Kos and LA Observed


The Disposable Woman — FORTY-THREE minutes into his “special live edition” with Charlie Sheen on Monday night, Piers Morgan finally got around to asking his guest a real question. Before that, Mr. Morgan and Mr. Sheen had mostly traded chuckles and anecdotes about multiday benders …
Discussion:
The Wire, The New Republic, The Awl and Runnin' Scared
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It's Morgan In America — Where did Piers Morgan come from? And is there any way to send him back? Reviewing the debut “gets”—Oprah! Rudy! Condoleezza!—of Larry King's blustery British heir, the author examines the failures behind Morgan's success. — If you're going to go in, go in big.
Discussion:
Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

Statement on SB 116 (Same-Sex Marriage Bill) — I have heard from constituents, friends, and advocates from across the spectrum of views and have thought about the issue of same-sex marriage extensively. I understand their concern—this is a very serious issue, and one that many people feel passionately about.
Discussion:
Wonk Room, The Daily Dish, PostPartisan, Maryland Politics, Joe. My. God. and AMERICAblog Gay
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Sam Arora speaks: I'm now against same-sex marriage but I'll vote for the bill anyway — A bizarre statement just released by Maryland Delegate Sam Arora, who, up until a few weeks ago, was an ardent supporter of marriage equality and regularly bragged to constituents about his support.
Discussion:
Balloon Juice

Arora Flip “a Shock”
Discussion:
PostPartisan, AMERICAblog Gay, Pam's House Blend and Towleroad News #gay

TRENDING: Huckabee's problem with Natalie Portman — (CNN) - Mike Huckabee is highlighting what he considers a symbol of degraded American values: Oscar winner Natalie Portman. — The former Arkansas governor and possible Republican presidential candidate criticized the actress this week …
Discussion:
Indecision Forever
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HUCKABEE TURNS HIS ATTENTION FROM A PRESIDENT TO A MOVIE STAR. …
Discussion:
Media Matters for America and The Daily Dish

How to Kill a Recovery — The economic news has been better lately. New claims for unemployment insurance are down; business and consumer surveys suggest solid growth. We're still near the bottom of a very deep hole, but at least we're climbing. — It's too bad that so many people …
Discussion:
The Gavel, TalkLeft, Daily Kos, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/*, Taylor Marsh and Prairie Weather

State says damage to marble at Capitol could hit $7.5 million — Madison - State officials said Thursday that damage to the marble inside and out the State Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million. — Cari Anne Renlund, chief legal counsel for the state Department of Administration …
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Sherrod Brown: You know who else didn't like unions? Hitler and Stalin
Discussion:
theblogprof, The Daily Caller, Breitbart.tv, Moe Lane, Conservatives4Palin and The Blast

McConnell: White House offer to cut $6.5B is ‘unserious’ — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday rejected the White House's opening offer to cut an additional $6.5 billion in spending as “unserious.” — Speaking on the Senate floor, the GOP leader said that Republicans …
Discussion:
The Page
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Presidential hopefuls Huntsman, Romney share Mormonism and belief in themselves — IN SALT LAKE CITY — Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mitt Romney go way back. — In the Huntsman Corp. headquarters below Red Butte Canyon, Peter Huntsman, the younger brother of Jon Huntsman Jr. …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog and msnbc.com
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Soldier in Leaks Case Was Jailed Naked, Lawyer Says — WASHINGTON — A lawyer for Pfc. Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking secret government files to WikiLeaks, has complained that his client was stripped and left naked in his cell for seven hours on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Law Office …, Guardian, Outside the Beltway, Wonkette, FrumForum, Just An Earth-Bound Misfit, I, New York Magazine, The BLT and Salon
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Lawyer, Pentagon spar over WikiLeaks suspect's treatment
Discussion:
Emptywheel, Firedoglake, The Law Office … and The Agonist


NASA satellite rocket launch fails, lands in ocean — WASHINGTON (AP) — A rocket carrying an Earth-observation satellite plummeted into the Pacific Ocean after a failed launch attempt Friday, the second-straight blow to NASA's weakened environmental monitoring program.
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, Weasel Zippers, Babalú Blog, LewRockwell.com Blog and JammieWearingFool

Public Broadcasting Should Go Private — If these outfits can afford to pay lavish salaries to their heads, they don't need taxpayer help. — When presidents of government-funded broadcasting are making more than the president of the United States, it's time to get the government out of public broadcasting.
Discussion:
The Hill, Hot Air, Maggie's Notebook, GOP 12, NewsBusters.org, Doug Ross, The Lonely Conservative and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog


James Franco Straddles Two Roles at Yale — On Sunday night he was in Hollywood, as co-host of the Oscar telecast in black tie. At 9 the next morning, he was in a Starbucks in New Haven, hunched over a book and barely recognizable in a gray sweatshirt, but still wearing his tuxedo pants.
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, Outside the Beltway, Gothamist, Prairie Weather, PopEater, ArtsBeat, Shakesville and The Reality-Based Community

Agent: I was ordered to let U.S. guns into Mexico — ATF agent says “Fast and Furious” program let guns “walk” into hands of Mexican drug cartels with aim of tracking and breaking a big case — WASHINGTON - Federal agent John Dodson says what he was asked to do was beyond belief.

Rep. Nick Milroy tackled while trying to enter Capitol — MADISON (WKOW) — Representative Nick Milroy (D-South Range) had a confrontation with Capitol police as he tried to enter the building Thursday night. — Milroy was trying to get clothes from his office but police would not let him into the building.
Discussion:
TPMDC, Talking Points Memo, TPMMuckraker, New York Magazine and MoveOn.Org


Newt Gingrich's rough week — And so it didn't begin. — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was supposed to make big news in Atlanta Thursday, announcing a major step toward running for president in 2012. — What he announced instead was a website, the oddly named NewtExplore2012.com.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Taylor Marsh, GOP 12, Washington Wire, Politics Daily, ThinkProgress and Weigel


GOP Aims to Tame Benefits Programs — Boehner Promises Entitlement Review — WASHINGTON—House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that he's determined to offer a budget this spring that curbs Social Security and Medicare, despite the political risks, and that Republicans will try to persuade voters that sacrifices are needed.

Rick Scott Rejects Obama Administration's Last-Ditch Pitch On High-Speed Rail … WASHINGTON — Putting a formal end to attempts to satisfy his concerns with the project, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has rejected a last-ditch effort by the Department of Transportation to build a portion of a national high-speed rail system in his state.


Protests in Tripoli after prayers — Anti-Gaddafi protesters fled after security forces opened fire with tear gas and baton rounds — Libyan security forces have used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters after Friday prayers in Col Gaddafi's stronghold of Tripoli.
Discussion:
Reuters, New York Times, CNN, The Daily Beast, AOL News and FrumForum

Wisconsin Governor Walker: 43% Approval Rating — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker won his job last November with 52% of the vote, but his popularity has slipped since then. — A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters finds that just 34% Strongly Approve of the job he is doing …
Discussion:
TPMDC, WisPolitics Budget Blog, Another Black Conservative, Firedoglake and Daily Kos