Top Items:
Los Angeles Times:
Obama expected to announce major Afghan drawdown — Pentagon and White House officials say about 10,000 troops will probably come home this year, a bigger number than Gen. David Petraeus wanted. — U.S. troops examine confiscated weapons and ammunition during a raid in Sabari, in eastern Afghanistan, on Sunday.
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ThinkProgress, The Politico, Washington Post, AmSpecBlog, CNN, ABCNEWS, USA Today and americanthinker.com
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CNN:
U.S. ‘surge’ forces could leave Afghanistan by end of 2012, source says — [Updated at 9:06 a.m. ET] President Barack Obama is presently mulling how many troops to bring home this summer and how many to bring home late next year, a source says. — He is expected to discuss preserving flexibility …
Discussion:
CBS News and Ricochet Conversation Feed
CNN:
Obama to announce plan to pull 30,000 troops out of Afghanistan — Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama is expected to announce this week that 30,000 U.S. “surge” forces will be fully withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, an administration official has told CNN.
Discussion:
The Agonist
David Brooks / New York Times:
Smart Power Setback — So far, few politicians have embraced my plan for a Marshall Plan Tax. The idea is that every time a think-tanker, op-ed writer or retired senator calls for a new Marshall Plan or a moonshot-type initiative to solve a social problem, they would have to pay a tax of $50.
Discussion:
JustOneMinute and Vox Popoli
New York Times:
Obama to Announce Plans for Afghan Surge Pullout — WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to announce his decision on the scale and pace of troop withdrawals from Afghanistan in a speech on Wednesday evening, an administration official said Monday. — As he closes in on a decision …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine and AmSpecBlog
CBS News:
Changing of the guard in Afghan war leadership
Changing of the guard in Afghan war leadership
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Associated Press
Karen DeYoung / Washington Post:
Obama to announce Afghan plans Wednesday
Obama to announce Afghan plans Wednesday
Discussion:
The Hill, NationalJournal.com, Hot Air, Firedoglake, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Connecting.the.Dots, JustOneMinute and The Hill
Sheila Marikar / ABCNEWS:
Bristol Palin Reveals True Feelings About the McCains, ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ Levi Johnston and More — From Levi Johnston to Meghan McCain, Bristol Palin has been put off by a lot of people. — In her upcoming memoir, “Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far,” the 20-year-old daughter …
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Washington Wire, Mediaite, Wonkette, Taegan Goddard's …, Flap's Blog, New York Magazine and The Note
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Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National:
Jon Stewart: “Who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers? ... Fox viewers, consistently, every poll.” — “Who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers? ... Fox viewers, consistently, every poll.” — “President Obama and liberal former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine's $787 billion stimulus failed to create jobs.”
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Rich Lowry / National Review:
The Rise of Uncompassionate Conservatism — The Republican noncandidate flavor of the week is Texas governor Rick Perry. If you squint just right, you could mistake him at a podium for his predecessor, George W. Bush. Except for his message. — There might be no more powerful symbol …
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org blogs, Washington Monthly and The Daily Dish
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The Politico:
Dems win fundraising month, with Obama help …
Dems win fundraising month, with Obama help …
Discussion:
msnbc.com, CNN and Taegan Goddard's …
Richard Black / BBC:
World's oceans in ‘shocking’ decline — Coral reefs are subject to “multiple stressors” that could destroy many within a human generation — The oceans are in a worse state than previously suspected, according to an expert panel of scientists. — In a new report, they warn that ocean life is …
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Lori Montgomery / Washington Post:
White House, lawmakers speed up debt-reduction talks — The White House and congressional leaders are accelerating negotiations over the biggest debt-reduction package in at least two decades amid mounting concern that the effort is running out of time. — Over the next six weeks …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Politico and Prairie Weather
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Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
Kyl: GOP wants 10-year plan to cut spending as part of debt deal
Kyl: GOP wants 10-year plan to cut spending as part of debt deal
Discussion:
The New Republic
David A. Fahrenthold / Washington Post:
Obama's negation of ‘hostilities’ in Libya draws criticism — The White House has officially declared that what's happening in Libya is not “hostilities.” — But at the Pentagon, officials have decided it's unsafe enough there to give troops extra pay for serving in “imminent danger.”
Discussion:
New York Times, Hot Air, TomDispatch, msnbc.com, Lawfare, CFR.org and The Daily Caller
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John Merline / Investor's Business Daily:
Did Obama Really Prevent A Second Great Depression?
Did Obama Really Prevent A Second Great Depression?
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Power Line
Dahlia Lithwick / Slate Magazine:
Class Dismissed … Like This Story … - Can Airlines Really Insist That You Pull Your Pants Up? - How Your Relationship To Debt Changes Completely When You Turn 28- Holy Gamoly! TV Chefs Reacting to the Taste of Their Own Food- Shafer: Why Synthetic Pot Is Worse …
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Washington Monthly, New York Times, Balloon Juice, The Talking Dog, The Huffington Post and Newshoggers.com
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Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Huntsman to warn of ‘un-American’ future in speech — Liberty State Park, New Jersey (CNN) - Not known for throwing out red meat to conservative audiences, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is expected to warn voters the country is facing an “un-American” future in his campaign kick-off speech Tuesday.
Discussion:
Reuters, Ben Smith's Blog and Taylor Marsh
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Katie Moisse / ABCNEWS:
N.C. Man Allegedly Robs Bank of $1 to Get Health Care in Jail — A 59-year-old man has been jailed in Gastonia, N.C., on charges of larceny after allegedly robbing an RBC Bank for $1 so he could get health care in prison. Richard James Verone handed a female teller a note demanding the money …
Discussion:
In the Arena, JammieWearingFool and Mock, Paper, Scissors
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fda.gov:
Cigarette Health Warnings — Beginning September 2012, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States. These warnings mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years and are a significant advancement …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Washington Post, Healthwatch, FOX News Radio and Reuters
Patrik Jonsson / msnbc.com:
Actions in Alabama and New York highlight opposite directions — Below: — Christian Science Monitor — ATLANTA — America's red and blue states are increasingly going in exactly opposite directions on the issue of illegal immigration - a testament to how difficult finding middle ground has become on the federal level.
Discussion:
Right Wing News
Steven Greenhouse / New York Times:
N.L.R.B. Rules Would Streamline Unionizing — In a move that will undoubtedly please labor unions, the National Labor Relations Board announced on Tuesday morning that it was proposing new rules to speed up unionization elections, largely by streamlining various procedures.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Washington Examiner and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Audrey Hudson / Human Events:
Obama's Food Police in Staggering Crackdown on Market to Kids — Tony the Tiger, some NASCAR drivers and cookie-selling Girl Scouts will be out of a job unless grocery manufacturers agree to reinvent a vast array of their products to satisfy the Obama administration's food police.
Discussion:
Questions and Observations
Guy Kovner / Santa Rosa Press-Democrat:
Sources: Woolsey to announce retirement — Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who has represented the North Bay in Congress for nearly two decades, is expected to announce her retirement next Monday at her home in Petaluma. — Woolsey, 73, released a statement Monday saying that she will make an unspecified announcement …
Discussion:
Ballot Box
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Axelrod: Left will ‘fully engage’ with Obama in 2012 — The liberal base will give its full support to President Obama in 2012 despite its frustration over the lack of progress on certain key issues, former White House senior adviser David Axelrod said Monday.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers