Top Items:
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Allen West tirade: Wasserman Schultz ‘vile...despicable...not a Lady’ — Florida GOP Congressman Allen West this afternoon dispatched a scathing personal email to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, calling her “vile, unprofessional ,and despicable,” “a coward …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Fox News, New York Magazine, TPMDC, Scared Monkeys, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Other McCain, Hotline On Call, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Gawker, CNN, Althouse, Weasel Zippers, Doug Ross, JammieWearingFool, Washington Post, The Gateway Pundit, The Raw Story, Balloon Juice and Hit & Run
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Russell Berman / The Hill:
House GOP passes ill-fated ‘cut, cap, and balance’ legislation — House Republicans on Tuesday approved an ambitious but legislatively ill-fated plan to enact deep spending restraints that could clear the decks for a compromise over the debt limit. — The so-called “cut, cap and balance” …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The New Republic and Outside the Beltway
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Russell Berman / The Hill:
Two House lawmakers call for vote on Gang of Six plan — A House Republican and a member of the New Democrat coalition are jointly calling on Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to bring the Senate's “Gang of Six” deficit-reduction proposal to a House vote alongside an increase in the debt ceiling.
Discussion:
The Politico, Erick's blog, Roll Call and RedState
Americans for Tax Reform RSS:
What should taxpayers think about the “Gang of Six” announcement today?
What should taxpayers think about the “Gang of Six” announcement today?
Discussion:
The Note, Pajamas Media and National Review
Daniel J. Mitchell / Cato @ Liberty:
The Gang of Six Is Back from the Dead: Contemplating the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in Their Budget Plan
The Gang of Six Is Back from the Dead: Contemplating the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in Their Budget Plan
Discussion:
americanthinker.com and National Review
Rosalind S. Helderman / Washington Post:
House pursues balanced-budget bill; need for backup plan acknowledged
House pursues balanced-budget bill; need for backup plan acknowledged
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Huffington Post, Slate Magazine, Balkinization, Economist's View and The Gateway Pundit
Jim Geraghty / National Review:
Jay Carney: ‘Leadership Is Not Proposing a Plan.’
Jay Carney: ‘Leadership Is Not Proposing a Plan.’
Discussion:
Political Punch, Pajamas Media, The Other McCain, Weasel Zippers and nation.foxnews.com
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
Obama tries to box in House GOP
Obama tries to box in House GOP
Discussion:
The New Republic, The Ed Schultz Show, The Hill, The White House and Zandar Versus The Stupid
Michael Crowley / Swampland:
Reporter Accosted After Bachmann Comments on Migraines — It's not easy to get to Michele Bachmann. Her appearance at a rally on Tuesday in Aiken, South Carolina, attended by perhaps 150 people, featured three uniformed police officers and two body guards in plain clothes.
Discussion:
afa.net, Mediaite, nation.foxnews.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Gateway Pundit, Washington Post, Top of the Ticket, Slate, The Other McCain, Outside the Beltway, The Politico, New York Magazine, AMERICAblog Elections, CNN, The Daily Caller, Washington Monthly, Confederate Yankee, Liberal Values, The Reality-Based Community, Fox News, TPMDC, ABCNEWS, Ben Smith's Blog, Crooks and Liars, Politics, The Raw Story, National Review, The Note, msnbc.com, Riehl World View, Weasel Zippers, Sky Dancing, americanthinker.com, Wonkette, The Mahablog, The Atlantic Online, Towleroad News #gay, Sister Toldjah, Gawker and USA Today
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Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Michele Bachmann's handlers get rough with reporter — This morning, the Daily Caller published a story I was inclined to leave to others: Michele Bachmann suffers from severe migraines. — But now the Bachmann camp has suddenly invited a whole lot more scrutiny to the story.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Bachmann Says Migraines Won't Be a Problem if She's Elected President
Bachmann Says Migraines Won't Be a Problem if She's Elected President
Guardian:
Phone hacking: David Cameron braced for tough questions from MPs — Prime minister likely to be asked about his party's links to phone-hacking suspect in Commons debate following his statement to house — David Cameron is braced for tough questions from MPs about his party's links …
Discussion:
Left Foot Forward, AMERICAblog News and The Wire, more at Mediagazer »
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Alan Cowell / New York Times:
British Leader Defends His Actions in Hacking Case
British Leader Defends His Actions in Hacking Case
Discussion:
Guardian, New York Magazine and Connecting.the.Dots
Vikram Dodd / Guardian:
News International ‘deliberately’ blocked investigation
News International ‘deliberately’ blocked investigation
Discussion:
msnbc.com, The Nation and Left Foot Forward, more at Mediagazer »
Allen West / National:
At this Point, Anyone with an Obama 2012 Bumper Sticker is a Threat to the Gene Pool — Greetings to our constituents, fellow Floridians, and all Americans, here we are for another weekly update. There is only one word that describes the past week: appalling.
Discussion:
MyDD, The Raw Story and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
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The Note:
ABC News/Washington Post Poll: Dissatisfaction With Washington Hits 19-Year High — Analysis by ABC News' Pollster Gary Langer (@LangerResearch): — Discontent with Washington's budget battles has spurred public dissatisfaction with the federal government to its highest level in nearly 20 years …
Discussion:
Top of the Ticket, CNN, Scared Monkeys, The Daily Caller and Taegan Goddard's …
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Michele Bachmann / Washington Post:
Post-ABC poll: GOP too dug in on debt talks; public fears default consequences
Post-ABC poll: GOP too dug in on debt talks; public fears default consequences
Discussion:
Angry Bear and CNN
JSOnline:
Democratic senator Hansen retains seat in recall attempt — Tea party activist, attorney are winners in Republican primaries — By Tom Tolan, Lee Bergquist and Georgia Pabst of the Journal Sentinel — Democratic state Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay was the first of nine state senators …
The Politico:
Iowa caucuses in December? It's possible — That's not the only domino. With South Carolina's primary facing money troubles after state funding for election operations was cut, Florida — which had been planning to go fifth, on March 1 or 3 — has been pushing to go earlier.
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …
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Emily Schultheis / The Politico:
Iowa caucuses in December? It's possible — Iowa officials are being very clear: no matter the chatter or any official moves from other early states to move up their primary dates, the first caucuses will stay first. — And if that means pushing the voting to January — or even December …
Discussion:
americanthinker.com, Outside the Beltway and Iowa Caucuses
Gautham Nagesh / The Hill:
Report: Obama top recipient of News Corp. donations — Political donations by News Corp., its employees and their families were evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, with President Obama the all-time leading recipient, according to a report from the Sunlight Foundation.
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool and Weasel Zippers, more at Mediagazer »
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Ryan Sibley / Sunlight Foundation Blog:
Murdoch's influence extends to U.S., global politics — The phone hacking scandal currently plaguing News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch, began in London, and because of rumors that his employees hacked the phone messages of 9/11 victims as well, the scandal has made it's way to the U.S. …
Discussion:
TalkLeft, Towleroad News #gay, Mixed Media and New York Times
Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Obama to Back Repeal of Law Restricting Marriage — WASHINGTON — President Obama will endorse a bill to repeal the law that limits the legal definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman, the White House said Tuesday, taking another step in support of gay rights.
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Adam Bink / Prop 8 Trial Tracker:
BREAKING: President Obama endorses the Respect for Marriage Act
BREAKING: President Obama endorses the Respect for Marriage Act
Discussion:
Poliglot, Daily Kos, Pam's House Blend, Don Surber, Good As You and Towleroad News #gay
Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Finally, Minnesota open for business — Minnesota's legislature approved a budget deal in the early hours of Wednesday morning that will end the state's 20-day government shutdown - the longest ever in a state - once Gov. Mark Dayton signs it later in the day.
Discussion:
CNN
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Conn Carroll / Washington Examiner:
BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL — Gang of six plan raises taxes by $3 trillion — The Gang of Six “Bipartisan Plan to Reduce Our Nation's Deficits” claims their tax reforms would be scored by the Congressional Budget Office as a $1.5 trillion net cut. But no details are provided on how they arrive …
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Erik Wasson / The Hill:
Gang of Six plan punts on key details
Gang of Six plan punts on key details
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Taylor Marsh and Opinion L.A.
David Wessel / Washington Wire:
‘Gang of Six’ Plan: Tax Increase or Tax Cut?
‘Gang of Six’ Plan: Tax Increase or Tax Cut?
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Politico, The Note, Wall Street Journal, Marginal Revolution and New York Magazine
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Is Obama Against Romney a Toss-Up? — Looking at head-to-head polls can be treacherous so far in advance of a presidential election. Instead, I'd suggest that you devote most of your attention to President Obama's approval ratings and perhaps the favorability ratings of the Republican candidates …
Discussion:
The New Republic
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Jonathan Weisman / Washington Wire:
WSJ/NBC Poll: Bachmann Surges to Second Place
WSJ/NBC Poll: Bachmann Surges to Second Place
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, msnbc.com, Outside the Beltway and The Moderate Voice
JSOnline:
Step aside, senator — Freshman Sen. Ron Johnson is blocking a well-qualified candidate from appointment to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Give her a hearing. — Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is single-handedly blocking the nomination of a University of Wisconsin law professor …
Timothy Geithner / Wall Street Journal:
A Dodd-Frank Retreat Deserves a Veto — Only six congressional Republicans crossed the aisle to support reform one year ago. The GOP is still working to thwart change. — Two and a half years ago, with our country on the edge of a second Great Depression, we met with the president …
Discussion:
The Politico and Politics
Ron Nixon / New York Times:
Cost-Cutters, Except When the Spending Is Back Home — WASHINGTON — Freshman House Republicans who rode a wave of voter discontent into office last year vowed to stop out-of-control spending, but that has not stopped several of them from quietly trying to funnel millions of federal dollars into projects back home.
Discussion:
Politics and Prairie Weather
Laura King / Los Angeles Times:
Taliban denies texting Mullah Omar's death, blames hacking — A spokesman for the Afghan militia says its phones and website were tampered with. Later emails angrily denounce the death report. — A previous report of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar didn't pan out.
Discussion:
Mediaite and Weasel Zippers