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 …
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
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.
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
David Jackson / USA Today:
Trump keeps beating ‘birther’ drum against Obama
Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Boehner: I'm with the tea party
Boehner: I'm with the tea party
Discussion:
Cubachi, George's Bottom Line, Pat Dollard, Washington Post, The Reaction, The Gateway Pundit and Liberty Pundits Blog
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
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.
RELATED:
Peter Nicholas / Los Angeles Times:
White House fears gas prices could tank Obama
White House fears gas prices could tank Obama
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, Right Wing News, James Pethokoukis and Associated Press
Doug Powers / Michelle Malkin:
Obama to Person Concerned About Fuel Prices: Trade in Your Gas Guzzler Instead of Complaining
Obama to Person Concerned About Fuel Prices: Trade in Your Gas Guzzler Instead of Complaining
Discussion:
Associated Press, RealClearPolitics Video Log and Pundit & Pundette
Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
Brian Taff — More: Bio, Facebook, Twitter, News Team
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Obamateurism of the Day; Update: Video added
Obamateurism of the Day; Update: Video added
Discussion:
Instapundit, The Daily Caller, Sister Toldjah, GayPatriot and Daily Pundit
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, SFGate, The Hill and Washington Monthly
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, Swampland, Latest Open Salon Blog, USA Today, The Raw Story and The Politico
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, The Daily Dish, TPMDC, 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
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
Matthew Boyle / The Daily Caller:
Election fraud allegations fly in close Wisconsin Supreme Court race — Wisconsin citizens and election experts are questioning the veracity of the state's Supreme Court race, which the Associated Press reports left-wing legal activist JoAnne Kloppenburg won by 204 votes over Justice David Prosser …
RELATED:
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Election fraud in Wisconsin election?
Election fraud in Wisconsin election?
Discussion:
Pundit Press, Wall Street Journal, The Mahablog and Blue Collar Philosophy
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Dan Gainor / Fox News:
Two George Soros Events Aim to Remake the Financial Order and the Media — So Where's the Reporting? — FILE: Billionaire financier George Soros speaks at a Reuters Newsmaker event in New York on Sept. 15, 2010. — Apparently, megalomaniacs need schedulers. — Just ask George Soros.
Discussion:
Sister Toldjah, Weasel Zippers and The Lonely Conservative
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Federal Departments Lay Out Plans in the Event of a Government Shutdown — WASHINGTON — With the possibility of a government shutdown looming, Obama administration officials raced Wednesday to identify essential government services that would have to be provided if the government ran out of money.
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Post, ProPublica and US Office of Personnel …