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Last Defense at Troubled Reactors: 50 Japanese Workers — A small crew of technicians, braving radiation and fire, became the only people remaining at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on Tuesday — and perhaps Japan's last chance of preventing a broader nuclear catastrophe.
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Japan suspends work at stricken nuclear plant — FUKUSHIMA, Japan - Japan suspended operations to keep its stricken nuclear plant from melting down Wednesday after surging radiation made it too dangerous to stay. — Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the workers dousing the reactors …
Discussion:
Sky Dancing, The Moderate Voice, New York Times and Al Jazeera Blogs

Experts Had Long Criticized Potential Weakness in Design of Stricken Reactor — The warnings were stark and issued repeatedly as far back as 1972: If the cooling systems ever failed at a “Mark 1” nuclear reactor, the primary containment vessel surrounding the reactor would probably burst as the fuel rods inside overheated.


Japanese nuclear workers ordered away from posts amid radiation fears
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, naked capitalism and National Review

Fukushima Daiichi reactors evacuated after radiation spikes
Discussion:
Kyodo News and CANNONFIRE


Sarah Palin losing more ground among Republicans, Post-ABC poll finds — Virginia Postic/ AP - According to a new poll, fewer than six in 10 Republicans and GOP-leaning independents see former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, shown here in December, in a favorable light.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, CNN, FITSNews, Mediaite, FrumForum and Prairie Weather
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Sarah Palin Rips Obama on Drilling: '2012 Can't Come Soon Enough' — ABC News' John Berman and Gary Langer report: — Sarah Palin says 2012 “can't come soon enough.” — But for what? A dramatic run or the White House? Another reality show? — No, according to her latest post on Facebook …
Discussion:
Conservatives4Palin


The $4-Per-Gallon President — Is it really any surprise that oil and gas prices are surging toward the record highs we saw in 2008 just prior to the economic collapse? Despite the President's strange assertions in his press conference last week, his Administration is not a passive observer …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, The Politico, Associated Press and Climate Progress

Poll: Palin's numbers slide among Republicans — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is losing ground with Republicans as some of her possible opponents for the GOP presidential nomination gain ground. — Palin's unfavorable numbers with Republicans are at an all-time high …
Discussion:
CNN


John McCain's daughter speaks at KSU; wants Romney, not Palin, for president
Discussion:
The Huffington Post and The Daily Caller

More from our Republican poll
Discussion:
GOP 12, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Washington Monthly and Weigel


World events test ‘No Drama Obama’ — A dizzying succession of major world events is bombarding a president who insists on controlling his own time, emotions and political message. — With Japan's nuclear crisis teetering on the verge of catastrophe, with Libya and Bahrain in violent turmoil …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Fox Nation
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President Obama's Trivial Pursuits
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Hot Air, HazZzMat, Swampland, UrbanGrounds, Guardian, TPMDC, The Lonely Conservative, The Politico and National Review

Obama Administration Pushing For Banks To Modify Millions Of Mortgages To Settle Foreclosure Claims — NEW YORK — The Obama administration is seeking to force the nation's five largest mortgage firms to reduce monthly payments for as many as three million distressed homeowners in as little …
Discussion:
Clusterstock and naked capitalism


Japanese emperor ‘deeply worried’ — Emperor Akihito thanked those involved in disaster relief and urged an all-out rescue effort — Japanese Emperor Akihito has said he is “deeply worried” about the crisis his country is facing following last Friday's earthquake and tsunami.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Wonk Room, newsfeed.time.com, UK Commentators and Time


House GOP Declares Emergency ... Over NPR Funding — House Republicans are holding an emergency meeting of the Rules Committee on Wednesday to take up legislation that would block funding to NPR in the wake of James O'Keefe's hidden camera prank on the news organization.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Hot Air, The Political Carnival, Daily Kos and Gawker
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How NPR Helped Empower James O'Keefe
Discussion:
Liberal Values and Balloon Juice

NPR Boardmembers and Fundraisers Give Overwhelmingly to Democrats — Of nearly $2.2 million in political contributions, most goes to the left — The ongoing budget crisis and accusations of liberal bias have fueled renewed calls by conservative politicians for an end to NPR's public funding.
Discussion:
Don Surber and Weasel Zippers


Wholesale prices up 1.6 pct. on steep rise in food — Wholesale prices rise 1.6 pct. due to biggest jump in food costs in more than 36 years — WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices jumped last month by the most in nearly two years due to higher energy costs and the steepest rise in food prices in 36 years.
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool


Marco Rubio starts building national brand — Sen. Marco Rubio is done with the quiet freshman act. — With a landmark spending debate engulfing Washington, the Florida Republican has, virtually overnight, launched the national profile the conservative movement has been clamoring for.
Discussion:
Naked Politics

Court frees CIA contractor accused of murder: Rana Sanaullah — ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan court on Wednesday freed CIA contractor Raymond Davis, who was accused of murdering two men in Lahore, after blood money was paid in accordance with sharia law, the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, msnbc.com and ABA Journal Daily News

Clinton: No U.S. support for Libya no-fly zone — From Cairo, NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports on the ongoing negotiations over a no-fly zone in Libya. — Carrie Dann writes:We wrote this morning that lawmakers - and the public - are split about whether the United States should implement …
Discussion:
Sky Dancing, Booman Tribune, Hot Air, TPMDC and National Review
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Rick Scott, John Kasich, Scott Walker, and a GOP Problem for 2012 — I was talking the other day to a Democrat who'd been battle-scarred by the 2010 Florida campaign, in which Democrats lost everything. Everything. Alan Grayson's career died quickly. Kendrick Meek became a trivia question.

Cut Pentagon's budget, reduce Afghan forces — DAVENPORT, Iowa — America should slash defense spending — and consider shrinking its presence in Afghanistan, Haley Barbour said Monday night. — Barbour, a likely candidate for president in 2012, told Iowa county leaders and activists …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, USA Today, New York Magazine, Swampland and GOP 12

Learning to Love the (Shallow, Divisive, Unreliable) New Media — Everyone from President Obama to Ted Koppel is bemoaning a decline in journalistic substance, seriousness, and sense of proportion. But the author, a longtime advocate of these values, takes a journey through the digital-media world …
Discussion:
Yglesias

Powder at Kennedy Space Center tests positive for cocaine — Miami (CNN) — NASA's Inspector General's Office says an investigation is under way after a white powdery substance found at the Kennedy Space Center tested positive for cocaine. — “Law enforcement personnel field tested the substance …
Discussion:
The Jawa Report

Miami-Dade voters fire Mayor Carlos Alvarez over pay hikes, tax increase — Miami-Dade recall election draws strong voter turnout — Related Content — If voters recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez, would you vote to re-elect him? — WHAT'S NEXT? — • The Miami-Dade County Canvassing …
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's … and Naked Politics

Senate Republicans to drop contempt finding against Democrats — By Jason Stein and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel — Madison — The top GOP leader in the state Senate backtracked Tuesday, saying Republicans would lift fines and a contempt finding against Democrats …