Top Items:
The Politico:
Nancy Pelosi snaps at White House adviser Gene Sperling — In a tense moment that may well have encapsulated the frustrations of three-plus months in the minority, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi snapped at a top presidential economic adviser, Gene Sperling, during a closed-door meeting …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, The Lonely Conservative, The Note, National Review, Don Surber, Hot Air, Swampland, Weasel Zippers, Pirate's Cove, Ballot Box and The Hill
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Washington Post:
House approves budget deal that averted shutdown — Alex Wong/ GETTY IMAGES - U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, holds up a copy of the 2012 Republican budget proposal. — Eliminating any threat of a government shutdown until the fall …
Discussion:
The Politico, The Hill, Firedoglake, Michelle Malkin, Outside the Beltway, Politics, TPMDC, Pajamas Media, News Desk, FrumForum and Gawker
The Politico:
Obama puts GOP in no mood to deal — President Barack Obama extended a fiscal olive branch to Republicans on Wednesday. Then he beat them up with it. — Obama's long-anticipated speech on the deficit at George Washington University was one of the oddest rhetorical hybrids of his presidency …
Discussion:
The New Republic, Reuters and FrumForum
The Note:
Harry Reid ‘Embarrassed’ About 2006 Opposition To Raising Debt Limit — ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today told ABC News that he feels “embarrassed” that four years ago he argued against raising the country's debt limit.
Discussion:
The Politico, Political Punch, Weasel Zippers, ABCNEWS, Michelle Malkin, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Fox News
Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
House approves FY 2011 spending bill in 260-167 bipartisan vote — The House on Thursday passed a bill reflecting last week's agreement to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal 2011 by a 260-167 vote in which most Republicans supported it and most Democrats opposed it.
Discussion:
Cubachi, Hot Air, Weasel Zippers, The Other McCain, Liberty Pundits Blog and The Politico
John Bresnahan / The Politico:
GOP reached out to Steny Hoyer for help on budget vote
GOP reached out to Steny Hoyer for help on budget vote
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog
Jonathan Allen / The Politico:
Nancy Pelosi fades as power player
Nancy Pelosi fades as power player
Discussion:
Fox News, The Daily Caller, The Raw Story, Pajamas Media and FrumForum
Azi Paybarah / New York Observer:
Trump: ‘Always Had a Great Relationship With The Blacks’ — You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialize correctly. — Donald Trump speaking with Fred Dicker. — Donald Trump shot down a report claiming …
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Trump and the blacks — Donald Trump was asked just now on Fred Dicker's radio show about African-American support for President Obama. — “I have a great relationship with the blacks,” he said, continuing to call the overwhelming black support for President Obama “frightening.”
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, TPMDC, CNN, Salon and Gawker
Lauraklairmont / CNN:
Trump to make announcement about announcement
Trump to make announcement about announcement
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, The Note, Wake up America, FrumForum, NewsMax.com, Outside the Beltway and GOP 12
Zaid Jilani / ThinkProgress:
Scott Walker Admits Union-Busting Provision 'Doesn't Save Any' Money For The State Of Wisconsin — Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called Govs. Scott Walker (R-WI) and Peter Shumlin (D-VT) to testify in a hearing titled “State and Municipal Debt: Tough Choices Ahead.”
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Page, JSOnline, The Washington Independent, The Awl, First Draft, Wonkette and host.madison.com
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Sara Murray / Washington Wire:
Gov. Walker Gets Some Awkward Questions — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker faced some awkward questions during his much-anticipated testimony Thursday before the House Oversight Committee. … Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) had intended the hearing to focus on state and municipal debt …
Discussion:
The Hill, Sky Dancing and Althouse
Wall Street Journal:
The Presidential Divider — Obama's toxic speech and even worse plan for deficits and debt. — Did someone move the 2012 election to June 1? We ask because President Obama's extraordinary response to Paul Ryan's budget yesterday—with its blistering partisanship and multiple distortions …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, National Review, The Lonely Conservative, Washington Monthly, Mediaite, Boston Globe, CNSNews, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Christian Science Monitor, Ironic Surrealism, Firedoglake, No More Mister Nice Blog, Patterico's Pontifications, Hot Air, Big Government, The New Republic, The Daily Dish, Washington Post, The Gateway Pundit, The Moderate Voice, The Mahablog, The Daily Caller, Riehl World View, Bloomberg, GayPatriot, Conservatives4Palin, Real Clear Politics, Booman Tribune, The Foundry, Don Surber, Pajamas Media, UrbanGrounds, Fausta's Blog, Fox Nation, Shot in the Dark, CBS News, Taylor Marsh, Crooks and Liars and The Atlantic Online
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Nicholas D. Kristof / New York Times:
Raise America's Taxes
Raise America's Taxes
Discussion:
Questions and Observations, NewsBusters.org, Washington Post and Daily Kos
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
DeMint: If vote to raise debt ceiling is GOP's Waterloo, ‘let it be’ — A top conservative senator on Thursday indicated he is willing to go to extreme lengths to prevent a vote on raising the debt ceiling, even if it hurts the Republican Party politically.
Discussion:
The Politico, Hot Air, Washington Monthly and FrumForum
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Jonathan Chait / The New Republic:
Obama's Insane Hostage Bargaining Strategy
Obama's Insane Hostage Bargaining Strategy
Discussion:
Yglesias, Mother Jones and Reuters
David Weigel / Slate:
Dancing on the Ceiling — How Republicans are framing the debate …
Dancing on the Ceiling — How Republicans are framing the debate …
Discussion:
OpenSecrets.org, Weigel and protein wisdom
Dennis Cauchon / USA Today:
Share of population working — Roll over each state to see the share of the population working in 2010: — Sources: USA TODAY, Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics — The share of the population that is working fell to its lowest level last year since women started entering the workforce …
Alan J. Kuperman / Boston Globe:
False pretense for war in Libya? — EVIDENCE IS now in that President Barack Obama grossly exaggerated the humanitarian threat to justify military action in Libya. The president claimed that intervention was necessary to prevent a “bloodbath” in Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city and last rebel stronghold.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Eunomia, GayPatriot and The Daily Dish
Henry Blodget / The Business Insider:
PROFESSOR: Sarah Palin Probably Staged A Gigantic Hoax About Being Trig's Mother — An interesting footnote has emerged to a theory that raged around the Internet during Sarah Palin's candidacy for Vice President: — The theory is that Sarah Palin is actually the grandmother of her purported son Trig …
Discussion:
The Other McCain, Indecision Forever and The Daily Dish
Joan Biskupic / USA Today:
Health care law gets day in court — WASHINGTON — Legal challenges to the sweeping federal health care overhaul backed by the Obama administration are heading toward the Supreme Court, where the justices who would decide the law's fate could have as much at stake as the parties battling over it.
Discussion:
Wonk Room, SCOTUSblog and American Prospect
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Derek Tang / Macroadvisers:
The Economic Effects of the Ryan Plan: Assuming the Answer? — Last week the House Budget Committee, chaired by Congressman Paul Ryan (R, WI) issued a Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2012 along with a Republican blueprint for addressing the nation's long-term fiscal imbalance.
Discussion:
Paul Krugman, FrumForum, Yglesias and Connecting.the.Dots
Jonathon M. Seidl / The Blaze:
OLBERMANN: S.E. CUPP SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN, PROVES ‘NECESSITY’ OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD — Keith Olbermann is not known for his candor. In a sense, it's what's made him a popular figure on the left. And sure, he makes off-the-wall comments sometimes in order to evoke a response.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Pajamas Media, Mediaite and NewsBusters.org
Robert Costa / National Review:
West: Boehner Needs to ‘Come to Jesus’ — The House will vote on the Boehner-White House spending deal this afternoon. Outside of the chamber, Republicans predict that the measure will pass, though numerous defections are expected, according to aides. One tells us that some members …
Discussion:
Cubachi, Firedoglake, Los Angeles Times, Daily Kos, Weasel Zippers, Liberty Pundits Blog, iOwnTheWorld.com, The Right Scoop and Fox Nation
Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic Online:
The Torture Apologists Who Corrupted America's Youth — 3 in 5 teens believes it's acceptable to abuse captive enemy soldiers - and a long list of Americans shares blame for a generation less enlightened than their elders … Three-in-five teenagers thinks it's sometimes acceptable …
Discussion:
Guardian and American Prospect
Donald L. Luskin / Wall Street Journal:
Remembering the Real Ayn Rand — The author of “Atlas Shrugged” was an individualist, not a conservative, and she knew big business was as much a threat to capitalism as government bureaucrats. — Tomorrow's release of the movie version of “Atlas Shrugged” is focusing attention …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Hit & Run, Big Government and Outside the Beltway
George Stephanopoulos / George's Bottom Line:
Obama Exclusive: Concedes Senate Vote Against Raising Debt Limit Was ‘Political’ — In my exclusive interview with President Barack Obama, the president acknowledged that Democrats are going to bear the “burden” of extending the national debt limit later this spring - and he explained …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Patterico's Pontifications and TPMDC
Kevin Drum / Mother Jones:
Just the Simple Truth — Have I mentioned my favorite part of Obama's speech yesterday? Here it is: … Translation: F**k you, Republicans. — And I'd say it's a well deserved flip of the bird. Republicans, as you can imagine, are less enthusiastic, and this bit of the speech undoubtedly accounts …
Discussion:
SEIU and The White House
Steven E.F. Brown / bizjournals:
Marijuana causes global warming, uses 1% of U.S. electricity — People growing marijuana indoors use 1 percent of the U.S. electricity supply, and they create 17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year (not counting the smoke exhaled) according to a report by Evan Mills …
Discussion:
The TrogloPundit, Weasel Zippers, Boing Boing and Clayton Cramer's Blog
NBC New York:
Bill Clinton Recalls “Romantic” Days of Prostitutes in Times Square — Former President Bill Clinton fondly remembers a “romantic” time when you could still get a prostitute in Times Square. — Clinton was at a news conference in Times Square with Mayor Bloomberg on Wednesday when a reporter asked …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Mediaite and Fausta's Blog
Kelly Chernenkoff / Fox News:
GWU Suicide Tragically Coincides with Obama Speech — George Washington University students in Washington, D.C. learned of a tragic coincidence of timing on their campus Wednesday. As President Obama delivered a speech on deficit reduction in the Jack Morton Auditorium …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, Mediaite and Daily Kos
Ezra Klein / Washington Post:
How do $38.5 billion in cuts become $350 million? — (By Mark Wilson/Getty Images) So how do the $38.5 billion in 2011 cuts become $352 million when the CBO looks at them? Well, they don't, not really. They become more like $20-$25 billion. But that's still a lot less than $38.5 billion.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Open Congress and Mother Jones
iowahawk:
16 Tons — Contents © 1999-2010 by David Burge / Iowahawk. — For reprint inquiries, please contact Lynn Chu. — IOWAHAWK'S OTHER HAUNTS — BLURBS — Het Vrije Volk (Netherlands) — “Laat de rijken de crisis betalen, zegt de SP. Let's eat de rich, zegt Michael Moore.
Discussion:
AMERICAN DIGEST