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“Best Wishes, Donald Trump”: A Future President's Letter to Vanity Fair — The Donald has inveighed (in Sharpie!) against our intrepid blogger. We found his comments so delightful, we had to share. — It was with great delight and a sense of kinship that we at Vanity Fair read Donald Trump's letter …
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Donald Trump fires back after White House aide declares that he has ‘zero chance’ to be President — The White House stopped just short of dismissing Donald Trump as a clown Sunday - calling him a “sideshow” act with “zero chance” of becoming president. — Chief Obama adviser David Plouffe unleashed …
Discussion:
The Reaction, The Gateway Pundit, Pajamas Media, Ben Smith's Blog and The Hill


Hearst exclusive: Obama talks about his golf habit, his favorite magazines and personal frustrations
Discussion:
Lynn Sweet, The Atlantic Online, The Lonely Conservative, Political Punch and The Cloakroom

Trump says he is Obama campaign's ‘worst nightmare’
Discussion:
Mediaite, Cubachi, Taylor Marsh, The Hill, Ben Smith's Blog and The Democratic Daily

Exclusive: Donald Trump to Brody File: ‘I believe in God. I am Christian.’
Discussion:
Washington Wire, Don Surber, Pajamas Media, GOP 12 and The Page

Statement & Account of Ramona Kitzinger, Waukesha Board of Canvassers member since 2004: — (Waukesha County Democratic Party)On Tuesday night, I received a voice message from someone in the office of Clerk Kathy Nickolaus informing me of a Wednesday canvass meeting, which I returned …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Pajamas Media, WisPolitics Election Blog, National Review, TPMDC, Ben Smith's Blog, RandyMelchert.com and Verum Serum
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Democrat on Waukesha County vote panel speaks out — By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel — Waukesha - The Democrat on the Waukesha County Board of Canvassers who was widely quoted as endorsing Waukesha County's official ballot count that flipped the Supreme Court winner last week has more to say.

CNN Poll: Majority support deal to avert government shutdown — Washington (CNN) - Who won last week's showdown over the federal budget and the government shutdown-that-wasn't? — It looks like the public gives the Democrats more credit for the deal than the Republicans …
Discussion:
The Politico, Yglesias, Washington Monthly, msnbc.com, Hullabaloo, Zandar Versus The Stupid and Daily Kos
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WH: Obama regrets vote against raising debt limit
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Moderate Voice, Weasel Zippers, msnbc.com, InvestmentWatch and The Politico

Boehner: Relationship with Obama improved after budget battle
Discussion:
The Politico and Indecision Forever


Michele Bachmann stares down heckler in Iowa — IOWA CITY, Iowa — Michele Bachmann said again Monday that the American intervention in Libya was a mistake — but this time she had to talk over a heckler who shouted vulgarities at her. — Jenny Watkins, 22, shouted at Bachmann …
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In Iowa, Bachmann blasts GOP on budget deal
Discussion:
Radio Iowa, The Politico and CNN


Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home — To encourage healthful eating, Chicago school doesn't allow kids to bring lunches or certain snacks from home — and some parents, and many students, aren't fans of the policy — A Little Village Academy student cringes at an enchilada dish served at his school.
Discussion:
protein wisdom, Hot Air, Patterico's Pontifications, The Foundry, Outside the Beltway, LewRockwell.com Blog, Moonbattery, Weasel Zippers, iOwnTheWorld.com, AOL News, Michelle Malkin, Pajamas Media, Sister Toldjah, The Lonely Conservative, Althouse, Big Government, Fausta's Blog and Fox Nation
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Chicago school bans homemade lunches, the latest in national food fight
Discussion:
Blogcritics


Gas Prices Climbing Toward $5 Per Gallon — CHICAGO (CBS) - At one time, $5 per gallon gas seemed like a farfetched idea, but that is no longer the case. — As CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports, as of Monday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the Chicago area is $4.11 …
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, BizzyBlog, The Politico and The Lonely Conservative
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Appeals court upholds Justice challenge on Ariz. immigration law — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a lower court decision that blocked the most contested provisions of Arizona's immigration law from taking effect. — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals …
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Appeals court rules against SB 1070
Discussion:
Arizona Republic, Crooks and Liars, MyDD, The Atlantic Online, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Guardian

Court backs Eric Holder on Arizona law
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, The Lonely Conservative and JOSHUAPUNDIT


New earthquake jolts Japan coast — Are you there? Send your images, video via iReport. — Tokyo (CNN) — At least six people were killed when a magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck Japan Tuesday morning, a local fire department said. — The six were killed when a landslide triggered …
Discussion:
The Foundry
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U.S. Military Spending vs. the World — The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has a new report out highlighting global military expenditures. As the above chart indicates, the U.S. retains a healthy lead. Regionally, defense spending in Europe has fallen 2.8 percent …
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Capitol Police arrest DC mayor at rally against budget deal
Discussion:
CNN and Weasel Zippers

REPORT: U.S. Military Spending Has Almost Doubled Since 2001
Discussion:
American Prospect, Yglesias, Outside the Beltway, Shakesville, Comments from Left Field and The Agonist

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO OFFER THE LOW-WAGE WORKFORCE FOR FOREIGN COMPANIES.... Ikea's labor dispute in Southern Virginia should be a bigger story. … It's quite an ordeal. Workers are forced to work overtime, often with little notice, and those who don't go along face disciplinary action.
Discussion:
The Reality-Based Community
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Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Yglesias, The Impolitic and Balloon Juice

WHAT PAUL RYAN'S CONSTITUENTS THINK, AND WHY IT MATTERS.... Rep. Paul Ryan's (R) Wisconsin district isn't competitive. Over the last decade, his most competitive race was the one he won by “only” 26 points. Last year, the margin was 38 points. — But when the Associated Press checked …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and Booman Tribune

Democrat in Missouri to Oppose Health Care Law — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri's Democratic attorney general broke with his party on Monday and urged a federal judge to invalidate the central provision of the new health care law. — The filing of the court brief by Attorney General Chris Koster …
Discussion:
Moe Lane, Weasel Zippers and Pajamas Media

Jonathan Alter out at Newsweek — The final member of the “Newsweek Six” has left the building. — Jonathan Alter, the only remaining member of the gang of television-loving newsweekly scribes so dubbed by Slate's Jack Shafer, is no longer with the publication.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, more at Mediagazer »


Revolver — Why do some of the most capable public servants in America, people like economist Peter Orszag, keep circling back from Washington to Wall Street? One guess. — When Peter Orszag left his post as White House budget director last summer, it made perfect sense, on several levels …


Chevy Recalls Cruze After A Steering Wheel Falls Off … Imagine turning your car's steering wheel, or giving it a gentle tug, and having it break away from the steering column. Now you're speeding along holding the suddenly useless wheel. — It sounds like a vision from a cartoon, or every driver's nightmare.
Discussion:
The Lonely Conservative, Pajamas Media and InvestmentWatch

Pakistan Tells U.S. It Must Sharply Cut C.I.A. Activities — ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan has demanded that the United States steeply reduce the number of Central Intelligence Agency operatives and Special Operations forces working in Pakistan, and that it put on hold C.I.A. drone strikes aimed …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, The Page, Washington Post, Swampland, Truthdig, Balloon Juice and Los Angeles Times


His students know ‘squat’ — What's next, extra credit for going freegan? — An eccentric SUNY Purchase art professor held a “class” yesterday in SoHo where he instructed his hipster students on how to illegally squat in condos around the city. — Chris Robbins organized the seminar …
Discussion:
Moonbattery and Runnin' Scared

Where Hippie Punching Gets You — Jonathan Cohn makes the good point that Obama's speech on Wednesday is unfortunately going to be seen as the left most position in the debate which makes a compromise between his plan and Ryan's the “juuust right” sweet spot.
Discussion:
The TrogloPundit, Eschaton and Shakesville