Top Items:


Bachmann won't take Fox host's apology — Via POLITICO's Jennifer Epstein, Michele Bachmann isn't accepting an apology from Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace for asking her yesterday, “Are you a flake?” — ABC News' Jon Karl, who's been getting face-time with Bachmann in Waterloo in advance …
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, Hot Air, Washington Monthly, The Atlantic Online, The Moderate Voice, Outside the Beltway, No More Mister Nice Blog, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, CNN, Taylor Marsh, Pundit & Pundette, Fox News, Mediaite, Indecision Forever, Althouse, The Daily Caller, This Just In, National Review, Michelle Malkin and The Lonely Conservative
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Bachmann Is In, Officially — WATERLOO, Iowa - Representative …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, AmSpecBlog, Barefoot and Progressive, The Daily Caller and msnbc.com

Chris Wallace On Michele Bachmann's ‘Flake’ Question: 'I Messed Up, I'm Sorry'

Is Michele Bachmann Just Another Mike Huckabee?
Discussion:
Roll Call, Pajamas Media, USA Today and The Politico

Bachmann well-positioned for Iowa, and maybe beyond
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Reuters, The Atlantic Wire, The Politico, NY Daily News, GOP 12 and Taylor Marsh

Gay Marriage: Where's Mr. Obama? — On Thursday night, when same-sex marriage in New York State was teetering on a razor's edge, President Obama had a perfect opportunity to show the results of his supposed evolution on gay marriage. — Unfortunately, he did not take it, keeping his own views in the shadows.
Discussion:
Guardian, Queerty, Pam's House Blend, AMERICAblog News, Balloon Juice, Hotline On Call, Shakesville, AMERICAblog Gay and LGBTQ Nation
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How the Same-Sex Marriage Deal Nearly Collapsed — Until the end, when 33 state senators had cast their votes on Friday night, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo privately feared that his bill to legalize same-sex marriage would fail. — A few days before, it nearly did.


I was wrong about same-sex marriage — Editor's note: David Frum writes a weekly column for CNN.com. A special assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2002, he is the author of six books, including “Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again,” and is the editor of FrumForum.
Discussion:
Good As You and FrumForum


Hillary Clinton backs New York gay marriage law
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay

Beyond New York, Gay Marriage Faces Hurdles
Discussion:
Law Blog, PolitickerNY and New York Magazine

Justices Reject Ban on Violent Video Games for Children — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday refused to let California regulate the sale or rental of violent video games to children, saying governments do not have the power to “restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed” despite complaints about graphic violence.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, PopWatch and New York Magazine, more at Techmeme »
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High Court Strikes Down California Videogame Law
Discussion:
Truthdig

Supreme Court strikes down Arizona matching funds campaign law
Discussion:
The Politico

Breaking: Supreme Court rejects ban on violent video game sales to kids
Discussion:
FrumForum

U.S. Plans Stealth Survey on Access to Doctors — WASHINGTON — Alarmed by a shortage of primary care doctors, Obama administration officials are recruiting a team of “mystery shoppers” to pose as patients, call doctors' offices and request appointments to see how difficult it is for people to get care when they need it.

GOP compromise on debt: Cut military spending? — As President Obama prepares to meet Monday with Senate leaders to try to restart talks over the swollen national debt, some Republicans see a potential path to compromise: Significant cuts in military spending.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Moderate Voice, Taegan Goddard's …, ThinkProgress, msnbc.com and Battleland
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Putting defense spending on the table
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Dish and Hullabaloo


In Response To Prosser Choking Allegations, Fox's Van Susteren Calls On Female Chief Justice To Resign — Over the weekend, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Justice David Prosser “grabbed fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley around the neck in an argument in her chambers last week …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, National Review and JSOnline


TSA stands by officers after pat-down of elderly woman in Florida — (CNN) — The Transportation Security Administration stood by its security officers Sunday after a Florida woman complained that her cancer-stricken, 95-year-old mother was patted down and forced to remove her adult diaper while going through security.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, USA Today, Techdirt, Sister Toldjah, TIME.com, Hot Air, Pajamas Media, Mediaite, The Daily Caller and This Just In


Bristol Palin Cites ‘Foolish Decision’ on Virginity and ‘Not Accusing Levi of Date Rape’ — Bristol Palin's contention that former boyfriend Levi Johnston “stole” her virginity is no attempt to bash him for their first sexual encounter, she said on “Good Morning America” today.


LI man busted for ‘pretending’ to be soldier to get first-class upgrade — This GI Joe wannabe got a hero's welcome just by dressing the part. — A Long Island man was arrested for donning an Army uniform and brazenly posing as a soldier so he'd get bumped up to first class on a flight …
Discussion:
Outside The Wire


Several States Forbid Abortion After 20 Weeks — Dozens of new restrictions passed by states this year have chipped away at the right to abortion by requiring women to view ultrasounds, imposing waiting periods or cutting funds for clinics. But a new kind of law has gone beyond such restrictions …
Discussion:
Feministe, Weasel Zippers, The Mahablog, Daily Kos and Booman Tribune


Inside Nancy Pelosi's drive to win the House majority back for Democrats — View Photo Gallery — It has been almost six months since the California congresswoman relinquished the speakership of the House. Now, as minority leader, she is focused on winning back Democratic control.
Discussion:
The New Republic, James Pethokoukis, Booman Tribune, The Heritage Foundation, Taylor Marsh, Balloon Juice and ThinkProgress

Robertson: God Will Destroy America For Marriage Equality — Following a story on New York passing marriage equality, Pat Robertson on The 700 Club warned that God will destroy America just like God destroyed Sodom, saying that “there's never been a civilization ever in history …
Discussion:
Indecision Forever, Holy Bullies … and Shakesville

160 Million and Counting — In 1990, the economist Amartya Sen published an essay in The New York Review of Books with a bombshell title: “More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing.” His subject was the wildly off-kilter sex ratios in India, China and elsewhere in the developing world.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Outside the Beltway and Lawyers, Guns & Money


Tim Pawlenty Haunted By Past Of Trying To Help Protect Kids from Pollution … MINNEAPOLIS, MN (with apologies to The Onion) — Though Tim Pawlenty is considered to be a contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, the national spotlight has forced him to repeatedly confront …


N Korean children begging, army starving — Footage shot inside North Korea and obtained by the ABC has revealed the extent of chronic food shortages and malnutrition inside the secretive state. — The video is some of the most revealing footage ever smuggled out of the impoverished North Korean state.
Discussion:
The Right Scoop, Pajamas Media and Boing Boing


Cuomo's prez-rumor warning to staff: Don't ‘run’ off at the mouth — Don't call him President Cuomo, yet! — Gov. Cuomo moved swiftly this weekend to halt an eruption of media speculation that he'll be a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 because of his victory in bringing gay marriage to New York.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Politics on the Hudson, PolitickerNY, City Room and The Politico


Perry's Predicament: Does He Have Time to Build a National Campaign? — Texas Gov. Rick Perry is still weeks away from a decision on joining the 2012 Republican presidential race, but his camp has already made some key decisions about how he would run if he does, according to his top political adviser.
Discussion:
GOP 12