Trump: 'I don't get Rick Santorum;' talks Romney cabinet position  —  Donald Trump sits down with CNN anchor Ashleigh Banfield to discuss GOP candidates for president as well as what position he would want in Mitt Romney's cabinet.  —  Trump says, “Rick Santorum was a sitting senator …

Why White House sees political opportunity in the contraception battle  —  (Public Religion Research Institute) The controversy over the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation's decision to eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood—and subsequent reversal— continues.

The 2012 Index of Dependence on Government  —  Abstract: The great and calamitous fiscal trends of our time—dependence on government by an increasing portion of the American population, and soaring debt that threatens the financial integrity of the economy—worsened yet again in 2010 and 2011.

ROLAND MARTIN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ANTI-LGBT VIOLENCE; GLAAD CALLS ON HIM TO MEET WITH ADVOCATES  —  CNN Remains Silent after Calls for a Statement  —  CNN political analyst Roland Martin posted an apology on his website following calls from GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) …

Thoughts on the Ninth Circuit's Same-Sex Marriage Decision  —  1. This is going up to the Supreme Court.  I suspect that the backers of Prop. 8 won't even ask for en banc review by the Ninth Circuit, since they're unlikely to win there.  Depending on how quickly they file their petition for certiorari …

Congress' Job Approval at New Low of 10%  —  Republicans and Democrats equally negative  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A record-low 10% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, down from 13% in January and the previous low of 11%, recorded in December 2011.

Republican Enthusiasm Issue is Real  —  The paltry turnout in the Republican Presidential contests over the last week reflects what we've seen in our recent national polling: Democrats are now more excited about voting this fall than Republicans are, reversing the enthusiasm gap that plagued the party in 2010.

Santorum Compares 9th Circuit To Soviet Union, Says Court Is ‘Intolerant’ For Striking Down Proposition 8  —  During a town hall in McKinney, Texas on Wednesday afternoon, Rick Santorum lashed out at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for striking down Proposition 8, arguing that the judges displaced …

Study: ‘Conservative’ Movies Make More Money Than ‘Liberal’ Movies (Exclusive)  —  Patriotism and traditional values, like those displayed in “Thor,” “The Artist,” “Soul Surfer” and “Hugo,” are what moviegoers want, says a group that will honor such films at an awards gala Friday.

Nation's Largest Catholic University: We Offer ‘A Prescription Contraceptive Benefit’  —  The largest Catholic university in the nation has admitted to providing contraception coverage as part of its health care benefit package, further undermining the GOP's claims that Obama's regulation requiring insurers …

Clint Eastwood's Chrysler Super Bowl Ad: The Untold Obama Connection  —  Two members of the creative team that produced the two-minute minute spot for ad agency Wieden+Kennedy donated their personal time in 2008 to make pro-Obama art.  —  This year's most discussed Super Bowl ad …

Schneiderman's Last-Minute Cancellation Spells Trouble for Foreclosure Fraud Settlement  —  NY AG Eric Schneiderman abruptly cancelled press conference re settlement (Photo: azipaybarah, flickr)  —  As I mentioned in last night's roundup, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman abruptly cancelled …