Top Items:
Juli Weiner / Vanity Fair:
“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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Lukas I. Alpert / NY Daily News:
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, Pajamas Media, The Gateway Pundit, Ben Smith's Blog and The Hill
Richard Dunham / Texas on the Potomac:
Hearst exclusive: Obama talks about his golf habit, his favorite magazines and personal frustrations — President Obama makes a surprise visit to the Lincoln Memorial this weekend. — President Obama wants you to know that he is not a golf addict. — He simply spends so much time unwinding …
Discussion:
Lynn Sweet, The Atlantic Online, The Lonely Conservative, Political Punch and The Cloakroom
David Brody / The Brody File:
Exclusive: Donald Trump to Brody File: ‘I believe in God. I am Christian.’
Exclusive: Donald Trump to Brody File: ‘I believe in God. I am Christian.’
Discussion:
Don Surber, GOP 12 and The Page
Myglesias / Yglesias:
A Debt Ceiling Hostage Rescue Strategy — As Jon Chait and Josh Marshall write this morning, the way the tax cut deal and the appropriations deal went down makes it clear that the White House needs a better hostage rescue strategy heading into the debt ceiling fight. Fortunately, I think one is available.
RELATED:
Lauraklairmont / CNN:
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, Hullabaloo, msnbc.com, Washington Monthly, Zandar Versus The Stupid and Daily Kos
Erica Werner / Associated Press:
WH: Obama regrets vote against raising debt limit
WH: Obama regrets vote against raising debt limit
Discussion:
Associated Press, msnbc.com, The Moderate Voice, Weasel Zippers, InvestmentWatch and The Politico
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Boehner: Relationship with Obama improved after budget battle
Boehner: Relationship with Obama improved after budget battle
Discussion:
The Politico and Indecision Forever
First Read / msnbc.com:
WH, Dems want clean debt-ceiling vote
WH, Dems want clean debt-ceiling vote
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, TPMDC, Daily Kos, Hot Air, The Raw Story, Speaker and That Mr. G Guy's Blog
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Change The Terms — To paraphrase the late Sen. Moynihan …
Change The Terms — To paraphrase the late Sen. Moynihan …
Discussion:
Wake up America, American Power, The Politico, AMERICAblog News, Donklephant, Pajamas Media, Outside the Beltway and Balloon Juice
orchidforchange.com:
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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JSOnline:
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.
The Note:
Mitt Romney Announces 2012 Presidential Exploratory Committee: 'Obama's Policies Have Failed' — ABC News' Michael Falcone reports: — UPDATED: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney formally launched his 2012 presidential exploratory committee on Monday in a Web video, declaring that “President Obama's policies have failed.”
Discussion:
CNN, TPMDC, The Politico, Washington Wire, The Atlantic Online, The Daily Caller, Pam's House Blend, MyDD and Pajamas Media
RELATED:
Lauraklairmont / CNN:
Trump says he is Obama campaign's ‘worst nightmare’
Trump says he is Obama campaign's ‘worst nightmare’
Discussion:
The Hill, Cubachi, Taylor Marsh, Ben Smith's Blog and The Democratic Daily
Jonathan Weisman / Washington Wire:
Trump: White House's ‘Worst Nightmare?’
Trump: White House's ‘Worst Nightmare?’
Discussion:
Mediaite, Pajamas Media and Weasel Zippers
Chicago Tribune:
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.
Washington Post:
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 …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, The Washington Independent and ACS Blog
RELATED:
Dylan Smith / TucsonSentinel.com:
Appeals court rules against SB 1070
Appeals court rules against SB 1070
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, The Atlantic Online, Arizona Republic, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Guardian
Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
Court backs Eric Holder on Arizona law
Court backs Eric Holder on Arizona law
Discussion:
ABCNEWS and JOSHUAPUNDIT
Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:
REPORT: U.S. Military Spending Has Almost Doubled Since 2001 — A new report released today by SIPRI, a Swedish-based think tank, reveals that U.S. military spending has almost doubled since 2001. The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade.
Discussion:
American Prospect, Yglesias, Outside the Beltway, Comments from Left Field, Shakesville and The Agonist
RELATED:
Debbie Siegelbaum / The Hill:
Capitol Police arrest DC mayor at rally against budget deal
Capitol Police arrest DC mayor at rally against budget deal
Discussion:
CNN and Weasel Zippers
Greg Scoblete / RealClearWorld:
U.S. Military Spending vs. the World
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
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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Nathaniel Popper / Los Angeles Times:
Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers
Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Yglesias, The Impolitic and Balloon Juice
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
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
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
The President Is Missing — What have they done with President Obama? What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected? Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn't seem to stand for anything in particular? — I realize that with hostile Republicans controlling the House …
New York Review of Books:
Private Manning's Humiliation — Bruce Ackerman and Yochai Benkler — Bradley Manning is the soldier charged with leaking US government documents to Wikileaks. He is currently detained under degrading and inhumane conditions that are illegal and immoral.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Guardian, Washington Post, Weasel Zippers, The Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit, Firedoglake, Ben Smith's Blog, The Nation, MyDD and The Agonist
RELATED:
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Manning, Obama and U.S. moral leadership
Manning, Obama and U.S. moral leadership
Discussion:
Guardian, Big Brass Blog, Associated Press and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
Gabriel Sherman / New York Magazine:
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 …
Discussion:
Democracy in America, Hit & Run, The Daily Caller, Fox News, YID With LID, The Caucus, Washington Post, The Politico, Hot Air, Ben Smith's Blog and Balloon Juice
Charles Ommanney / Newsweek:
What's Really Going On With Gabby Giffords? — The untold story of the congresswoman's struggle, her husband's faith, and their long, hard road to recovery. — PHOTOS: According to doctors, Sen. Gabrielle Giffords has made significant advances. But they caution that injuries to the brain …
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Romney slogan was once Kerry's — Mitt Romney's launched his exploratory committee today with a dynamic new slogan: “Believe in America.” — If that slogan sounds a little familiar, that's because it was the title of John Kerry's cross-country tour in August of 2004, as CNN reported a two-week …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Washington Wire, Swampland, Wonkette, CNN, Weasel Zippers, The Caucus, Politics, New York Magazine, Daily Kos and The New Republic
CBS Chicago:
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:
The Politico and The Lonely Conservative
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Republican lawmakers sour on 2012 field — A presidential primary favorite is emerging among the ranks of congressional Republicans: none of the above. — The dissatisfaction with the likely GOP field — long whispered among party activists, operatives and elected officials — is growing more audible in the House and Senate.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Mother Jones, Salon, The Raw Story, Firedoglake, msnbc.com, Booman Tribune and National Review
Digby / Hullabaloo:
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:
Wall Street Journal, The TrogloPundit, Eschaton and Shakesville
New York Times:
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:
Weasel Zippers and Pajamas Media
Zack Ford / ThinkProgress:
Alan Simpson On GOP: ‘We Have Homophobes In Our Party’ — On MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews today, former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY), co-chair of President Obama's debt commission, railed against the social conservatives in the Republican party. He admonished male legislators …
The Right Scoop:
Beck: Draft Allen West for Pres but Sarah Palin not so much — Glenn Beck rarely talks politics on his radio or tv show but he did spend a good bit of time on it this morning. Turns out he really wants to start a ‘draft Allen West campaign’ for President with Michele Bachmann as his VP.
Discussion:
Ballot Box
Jessica Simeone / New York Post:
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