Top Items:

Poll: Majorities support recall of two Wisconsin GOP senators — Here's something that could give some momentum to efforts to recall Wisconsin GOP state senators in the wake of last night's end-run passage of Scott Walker's measure to roll back public employee bargaining rights.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Hullabaloo, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Daily Kos, The New Republic and AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
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Was what Scott Walker did legal? — Assuming Scott Walker's procedural maneuvering last night was legal — and, as I'll explain in a moment, there are some questions about that — then it was also legitimate. Certainly as legitimate as the Democrats fleeing the state to deny the Republicans quorum.


Is Wisconsin the Real Republican Waterloo? — Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader, Scott Fitzgerald (via Daylife) — After the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, conservative writer David Frum called the passage of the bill the GOP's “Waterloo” in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte's crushing defeat …
Discussion:
Newshoggers.com, The Huffington Post, Weigel and FrumForum


AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka ‘thanks’ Scott Walker — AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is anointing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker the “Mobilizer of the Year” for galvanizing union members and supporters into action. — While blasting Walker and Wisconsin's Republican legislators for their …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh

Liberal groups raise $200,000 overnight — In the aftermath of Wisconsin Republicans using a procedural move to pass an anti-collective bargaining bill last night, two liberal groups reported a fundraising bump of $200,000 alone since the bill passed. — Combined with last night's take …
Discussion:
USA Today, The Raw Story, AMERICAblog News, JSOnline, Weigel and techPresident

First Muslim in Congress breaks into tears during radicalization hearing — The first Muslim elected to Congress broke into tears Thursday as he delivered his opening remarks at a hearing on radicalization in the Muslim American community. — Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, The Daily Dish, Riehl World View, Maggie's Notebook, Indecision Forever and The Moderate Voice
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Rep. Ellison Breaks Into Tears Explaining Story Of Muslim First Responder Who Died To Save Americans On 9/11

Republicans and Democrats Disagree on Muslim Hearings
Discussion:
PostPartisan, TPMMuckraker, The Hill, Right Turn, TPMDC, The Raw Story and Politics Daily

Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05) Testimony Before The House Homeland Security Committee
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, C-SPAN Recent Events, Emptywheel, The Politico, American Prospect, ACS Blog, DownWithTyranny!, Civilrights.org Latest Posts, Salon, Yglesias, The Moderate Voice, Minnesota Independent, Washington Monthly, Taylor Marsh, AOL News, Daily Kos, George's Bottom Line and Shakesville

Three Other Hearings King Could Have Held
Discussion:
The Plum Line, Bloomberg, No More Mister Nice Blog, Weigel and Danger Room

Dingell warns against Muslim hearings drifting toward McCarthyism
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers

DEATH THREATS — Since the MSM appears intent on downplaying the growing intimidation and escalating threats of violence around the union power issue, I am reprinting verbatim an email that was sent to Republican senators. The email was signed, but I have deleted the name pending what I hope will be a thorough police investigation.
Discussion:
Big Government, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, The Sundries Shack and Weigel
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Death wishes and hate to Gov. Walker on twitter — The tweets speak for themselves. There could be a bunch more but I just don't have that kind of time. — Click the images to see the original tweet: — Oy. — UPDATE: This is a letter that was sent to the Wisconsin Republicans (via TheBlaze)

Capitol Chaos: Lawmakers Get Death Threats
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool, The Moderate Voice, neo-neocon, RedState and Vox Popoli

They Brought a Tote Bag to a Knife Fight: The Resignation of NPR's CEO, Vivian Schiller — I feel compelled to share my view of the events that led yesterday to the resignation of Vivian Schiller as CEO of NPR. I don't know if they add up to a coherent response. Maybe not.
Discussion:
Poynter, NPR Topics and Current.org Blog
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GOP: Full speed ahead on defunding NPR
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The Huffington Post, Hot Air, FrumForum and National Review

WGBH gets static over executives' pay, ‘Taj Mahal’
Discussion:
Current.org Blog


Assembly passes union measure 53-42 after bitter debate — By Jason Stein, Lee Bergquist, Don Walker and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel — Madison - After police carried demonstrators out of the state Assembly Thursday, Republicans entered the chamber and approved …
Discussion:
The Hill, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Hot Air, Pundit & Pundette and Althouse
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Wisconsin Assembly Approves Bargaining Curbs
Discussion:
Althouse and Prairie Weather


Christie's Talk Is Blunt, but Not Always Straight — New Jersey's public-sector unions routinely pressure the State Legislature to give them what they fail to win in contract talks. Most government workers pay nothing for health insurance. Concessions by school employees would have prevented any cuts in school programs last year.

Americans' Concern About Economy Rises to 12-Month High — Mentions of federal budget deficit and gas prices edge higher in March — PRINCETON, NJ — Seventy-two percent of Americans cite some aspect of the U.S. economy as the “most important problem” facing the country today.
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The Social Animal by David Brooks: A Scornful Review — The laudably ambitious aim of the The Social Animal: A Story of Love, Character, and Achievement, the new book by New York Times columnist David Brooks, is to weave a unified picture from the scattered discoveries in the various sciences …
Discussion:
The Other McCain


So unfav: Palin's poll plunge — Sarah Palin's unfavorable rating is off the charts. — The former Alaska governor's numbers are astonishingly upside-down, according to a new Bloomberg poll showing a 32 percentage point spread between those who have an unfavorable rating of Palin and those who view her favorably.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, Indecision Forever, TPMDC, GOP 12 and FrumForum

Rand Paul Blames Energy Department for Faulty Toilets, Among Other Things — Senator Rand Paul's toilets don't work, and he blames the Department of Energy. — At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday, Mr. Paul lambasted Kathleen Hogan …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, TBogg and Booman Tribune
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Guest writer John Phillips: For Republicans in 2012, it's Sarah Palin or another big fat L — Palin for Prez? — Somebody asked me the other day who the Republicans should plop atop their presidential ticket next year. And I said, Sarah Palin. — Before you look at your computer …
Discussion:
Conservatives4Palin and GOP 12

Blogger Poll: The 2nd Annual Ultimate Like/Dislike Poll For Famous People On The Right — Right Wing News emailed more than 260 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to rate 55 prominent people and organizations on the Right as either strongly liked, liked, disliked, or strongly disliked.
Discussion:
Vox Popoli and Riehl World View


Qaddafi Forces Take Back Strategic Town From Rebels — RAS LANUF, Libya —Forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi retook this strategic refinery town after an assault by land, air and sea Thursday, opposition leaders and fighters said, an onslaught that sent scores of rebels fleeing along …
Discussion:
Aljazeera, Danger Room and Outside the Beltway
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Clinton to Meet With Libyan Rebels
Discussion:
The Investigative Project … and FrumForum


Domestic terrorism of the right-wing kind: Spokane arrest manifests once again where the threat lies — Not that it'll ever happen, but boy, does Bill O'Reilly owe Mark Potok an apology. — One day after castigating Potok publicly on his Fox News show for contending that …
Discussion:
Hatewatch, Spokesman.com and Media Matters for America

House GOP to cut $6B in three-week measure funding government — House Republican appropriators are drafting a three-week measure that cuts another $6 billion in spending this year. — The precise cuts in the continuing resolution, which is to be unveiled Friday, have not been detailed.
Discussion:
NPR Topics

Fed Report Finds No Wrongful Foreclosures By Banks, Consumer Advocates Slam Methodology … WASHINGTON, D.C. — A months-long investigation into abusive mortgage practices by the Federal Reserve found no wrongful foreclosures, members of the Fed's Consumer Advisory Council said Thursday.
Discussion:
Emptywheel and naked capitalism

Three Strikes and You're Out: Lindsey Graham Calls for General James Clapper's Resignation — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in an exclusive interview with Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron, called for Gen. James Clapper to resign or be fired as Director of National Intelligence …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Pajamas Media


Sheen Sues Warner Bros. & Lorre for $100 Million — TMZ has learned ... Charlie Sheen has just filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre, and he's not only demanding he get paid for the 8 scrapped “Two and a Half Men” episodes, he's also suing on behalf of the cast and crew …
Discussion:
Deadline.com, Inside TV and TVLine, more at Mediagazer »

Spending plan vote backfires as Democrats suffer defections — Senate Democrats suffered a wave of defections Wednesday as their proposal to cut just over $6 billion from federal spending this year went down to defeat. — The Democratic bill attracted two fewer votes than the rival GOP measure …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Firedoglake, The Note, Liberty Pundits Blog, The Hill, Booman Tribune, The Politico and Right Turn


Blind man keeps his old guide dog after it loses its sight... and then gets a new one who now leads them both around — After six years of loyal service, Graham Waspe was devastated when his guide dog Edward was left blind after developing cataracts. — But his devastation turned to joy …