Top Items:
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
WOULD BOEHNER SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT OVER PLANNED PARENTHOOD?.... The good news is, Democrats and Republicans have reportedly reached a general agreement on the size of the cuts for the rest of the fiscal year. As of this morning, the package is up to $34.5 billion, from $33 billion …
Discussion:
The Caucus and MyDD
RELATED:
New York Times:
Obama Meeting Fails to End Stalemate Over Federal Budget — WASHINGTON — President Obama and Congressional leaders said Wednesday that a late-night White House bargaining session produced no budget breakthrough that would avert a government shutdown this weekend but agreed the two sides …
Mike Lillis / The Hill:
Pelosi predicts ‘strong’ Dem opposition to GOP's one-week spending patch — Despite an enticing Pentagon-funding provision, House Democrats will unite in “strong” opposition to the Republicans' one-week spending patch, expected to hit the floor sometime Thursday, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) predicted.
Discussion:
National Review
The Hill:
Boehner: ‘Far more than one provision’ holding up agreement — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday he is less optimistic about averting a government shutdown one day after a White House meeting failed to lead to a breakthrough in talks. — Reid (D-Nev.) said he is significantly …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh and Daily Kos
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Obama: I'll veto funding for the troops
Obama: I'll veto funding for the troops
Discussion:
BLACKFIVE and Pajamas Media
NationalJournal.com:
Reid Says Government Shutdown Likely
Reid Says Government Shutdown Likely
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Hill and TPMDC
Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:
Rifts Within Both Parties Test Leaders in Budget Fight
Rifts Within Both Parties Test Leaders in Budget Fight
Discussion:
The Hill, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, msnbc.com and The Agonist
Stephen Dinan / Washington Times:
Costs of federal shutdown would be felt far and wide
Costs of federal shutdown would be felt far and wide
Discussion:
American Spectator
Carrie Dann / msnbc.com:
Reid on shutdown: “It looks like it's headed in that direction”
Reid on shutdown: “It looks like it's headed in that direction”
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Poynter and Outside the Beltway
Zaid Jilani / ThinkProgress:
Pence Lets Truth Slip On Uncompromising Stance: 'We're Trying To Score A Victory For The Republican People' — The federal government appears to be hurtling towards a shutdown following the inability of congressional negotiators to reach a compromise last night on a continuing resolution.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, CNN, TPMDC, SFGate and The Hill
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Donald Trump. Seriously? — Donald Trump finished second in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll testing the 2012 Republican presidential field. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel DunandIn the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, businessman and reality television star Donald Trump finished second behind …
Discussion:
Washington Wire, Washington Monthly, Wonkette, The Hill, neo-neocon, Swampland, Latest Open Salon Blog, USA Today, The Politico and The Raw Story
Wall Street Journal:
Shutdown Has Perils for GOP
Shutdown Has Perils for GOP
Discussion:
New York Times, Guardian, Gallup, Roll Call, Fox Nation, Erick's blog, ThinkProgress, Scared Monkeys, The Caucus, The Hill, Hot Air and Daily Kos
David Neiwert / Crooks and Liars:
‘Shut It Down!’ Mike Pence and AFP Tea Partiers leave little doubt who's pushing for a shutdown
‘Shut It Down!’ Mike Pence and AFP Tea Partiers leave little doubt who's pushing for a shutdown
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, TPMDC and Balloon Juice
Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit:
OBAMA: Get Used To High Gas Prices. “Obama needled one questioner who asked about gas prices, now averaging close to $3.70 a gallon nationwide, and suggested that the gentleman consider getting rid of his gas-guzzling vehicle.” — High gas prices aren't a bug, they're a feature.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Patterico's Pontifications, The Gateway Pundit, Associated Press, The Politico, Sister Toldjah, Wizbang, Pajamas Media, The Other McCain, theblogprof, Right Wing News, The Daily Dish, Weasel Zippers, GayPatriot, The Lonely Conservative, Clarion Advisory, Daily Pundit and Cold Fury
RELATED:
John Cole / Balloon Juice:
I Can't Help Myself — Sullivan: … The Ryan/GOP Plan, as has been pointed out to Sullivan a hundred times now with little to no effect, slashes taxes by trillions and makes up for those tax cuts by slashing trillions in services to our neediest members of society.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish and Lawyers, Guns & Money
RELATED:
Ross Douthat:
Notes on the Ryan Budget
Notes on the Ryan Budget
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog, The TrogloPundit, TPMDC, The Daily Dish, Wonk Room, National Review and Yglesias
Lauraklairmont / CNN:
Obama friend arrested in Hawaii — (CNN) - A friend of President Barack Obama was arrested Monday for allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute, according to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now. — Robert Richard Titcomb, 49, was arrested with three …
Discussion:
Booman Tribune and New York Magazine
RELATED:
Minna Sugimoto / Hawaii News Now:
President Obama's close friend arrested during prostitution sting — HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - One of President Obama's closest friends is scheduled to appear at Honolulu District Court next month, after he allegedly solicited sex from an undercover officer.
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, The Raw Story and msnbc.com
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Election fraud in Wisconsin election? — In the aftermath of close elections, allegations of fraud and manipulation almost always arise, especially when the election was fought as bitterly as the one in Wisconsin. The Daily Caller reports that accusations of both are already flying …
Discussion:
Pundit Press, The Mahablog, Blue Collar Philosophy and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
RELATED:
Telegraph:
First homosexual caveman found — Archaeologists have unearthed the 5,000-year-old remains of what they believe may have been the world's oldest known gay caveman. — The male body - said to date back to between 2900-2500BC - was discovered buried in a way normally reserved only for women …
Discussion:
AOL News, The Raw Story and iOwnTheWorld.com
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Obama's support among blacks slips unexpectedly, Hispanics too — Barack Obama rode to a comfortable presidential election win in 2008 on the electoral wings of a coalition based on liberal whites, independents and blacks, especially blacks. — Obama lost much of his independent support during …
Discussion:
Proof Positive and Weasel Zippers
RELATED:
Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Obama Approval Slips Among Blacks, Hispanics in March
Obama Approval Slips Among Blacks, Hispanics in March
Discussion:
Moe Lane
City Room:
Cathie Black Is Out as City Schools Chancellor — Cathleen P. Black with Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott, who will replace her as schools chancellor, at a news conference in January. — 11:44 a.m. | Updated Cathleen P. Black, a magazine executive with no educational experience who was named …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, News Desk, Ben Smith's Blog, New York Magazine, The Wire and Gawker
Andrew Restuccia / The Hill:
Senate rejects block to EPA climate regs — The Senate rejected a GOP-backed amendment Wednesday that would have permanently blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. — The amendment did not reach the 60 votes necessary for passage. The final vote count was 50-50.
Discussion:
Cubachi and Liberty Pundits Blog
RELATED:
Ben Geman / The Hill:
Amendment that says climate change is occurring fails in House
Amendment that says climate change is occurring fails in House
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, New York Times, Climate Progress and Pirate's Cove
Ynetnews:
Iron Dome intercepts first rocket — Ashkelon residents report seeing Grad explode in midair as dozens of rockets fired at south, meanwhile Hamas says Israel taking advantage of Goldstone's regret over Gaza war report to bomb Strip — Latest Update: — Residents in Ashkelon reported …
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, Pajamas Media and JOSHUAPUNDIT
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
EVEN THE THREAT OF A SHUTDOWN IS EXPENSIVE.... If congressional Republicans go through with their threat and shut down the government tomorrow night, the costs will be considerable. It's ironic that those hoping to cut the budget will force a shutdown that's needlessly expensive.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland
Quinnipiac University:
Obama Hits Losing Trifecta In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Increased Support For Offshore Drilling — President Barack Obama hits a losing trifecta with Florida voters: They disapprove 52 - 44 percent of the job he is doing; they prefer an unnamed Republican challenger …
Discussion:
msnbc.com, Don Surber, Post on Politics, Pundit Press, Hotline On Call and National Review
Matt Bai / New York Times:
Mario Cuomo Still Believes — You would think that Mario Cuomo would have been proud to watch his son Andrew sworn in as governor of New York last New Year's Eve, ascending to the job his old man held for 12 years. Apparently, you would be wrong. — “You really want to know how I felt?” the elder Cuomo asked me last month.
Discussion:
Lean Left
Elisabeth Rosenthal / New York Times:
Rush to Use Crops as Fuel Raises Food Prices and Hunger Fears — The starchy cassava root has long been an important ingredient in everything from tapioca pudding and ice cream to paper and animal feed. — But last year, 98 percent of cassava chips exported from Thailand …
Discussion:
Green, Pirate's Cove and AmSpecBlog
Kimi Yoshino / L.A. NOW:
Reported pipe bomb explodes outside Jewish temple in Santa Monica [Updated] — This post has been corrected. See note at bottom for details. — A device believed to be a pipe bomb exploded about 6:45 a.m. Thursday in the parking lot of a Jewish temple in Santa Monica, authorities said.
Discussion:
Associated Press