Top Items:

Obama to Offer ‘Accomodation’ on Contraception Rule — With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Washington Post, Michelle Malkin, The Maddow Blog, The New Republic, ThinkProgress, Hullabaloo, CatholicVote.org, LifeNews.com, US Politics, Don Surber, Political Mojo, The Hinterland Gazette, News Desk, Jezebel, Weasel Zippers, Rumproast, Shakesville, The Page, The Raw Story, Hot Air, Right Wing News, Campaign 2012, Business Insider, Outside the Beltway, The PJ Tatler, The Daily Caller, Daily Kos, Taylor Marsh and 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, more at Mediagazer »
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Low Turnout and the Big Tune-Out — Voters aren't bothering with the GOP, but Obama has lost their attention too. — The Romney campaign is better at dismantling than mantling. They're better at taking opponents apart than building a compelling candidate of their own.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, GOP 12, Outside the Beltway, Business Insider and Hot Air

Statement by Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on Obama Administration Announcement on Birth Control Coverage Benefit: — “In the face of a misleading and outrageous assault on women's health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment …
Discussion:
Daily Kos and The PJ Tatler


President Obama boxed in on birth control — It was no secret inside the West Wing that Bill Daley, a Catholic with deep connections to the church hierarchy, vehemently opposed the administration's proposal to require church-run hospitals and universities to give their employees free contraception.
Discussion:
Washington Wire, McClatchy Washington Bureau, Taylor Marsh, Sky Dancing and Weasel Zippers

Obama retreats on birth control — The White House will announce a retreat from its controversial rule requiring religious organizations like charities and hospitals to include contraception in their healthcare plans. — President Obama has come under heavy criticism from the Catholic Church …
Discussion:
Washington Post and Taegan Goddard's …

White House to announce adjustment to birth-control rule — Seeking to allay the concerns of Catholic leaders, the White House is planning to announce an adjustment to its health care rule requiring religious employers to provide women access to contraception, a senior administration official said.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Firedoglake, Rod Dreher, Big Government, The Lonely Conservative, The Atlantic Online and ABCNEWS


Birth-control compromise to be announced by White House — The White House plans to announce a compromise designed to allay the concerns of religious organizations on a Health and Human Services rule that would require religious employers to cover birth control, a senior administration official confirmed to POLITICO.
Discussion:
Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Both Catholic Health Assn and Planned Parenthood Say They're Pleased With Contraception Rule Announcement
Discussion:
National Review and LifeNews.com

Santorum says ‘other types of emotions’ could preclude women in combat — For a candidate with virtually no staff and who tends to talk off the cuff, Rick Santorum has been nearly gaffe-free. However, this evening might have been his first, and it comes at a time when he is trying …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, ThinkProgress, Althouse and msnbc.com
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Santorum: Combat concerns — Rick Santorum, in an interview with CNN's John King a bit ago, was asked whether he thinks it's a good idea or a bad idea for the Pentagon to relax some of the rules about women taking frontline roles in combat, “perhaps opening the door to a broader role for, ultimately, women in combat.”
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Jezebel, Feministing, New York Times, Political Mojo and Hullabaloo


Santorum Gets Spirited Reception at CPAC — Rick Santorum got such a positive reception from a meeting of the party's conservative base Friday morning, the former senator almost cut his speech short while he was ahead. Well, almost. … Halfway through a speech to the Conservative Political …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
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Mitt Romney's Struggles Take Republican Angst To New Heights
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, NationalJournal.com, Chicago Tribune, New York Magazine, Politico and Wall Street Journal

Rep. King predicts critical day for GOP presidential candidates
Discussion:
CNN

Rep. Spencer Bachus faces insider-trading investigation — The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, CBS News, The Maddow Blog, Politico and Big Government


Is 2012 Slipping Away From the GOP? — For a long time, I was confident that Republican voters would oust Barack Obama in 2012, hold the House and, in all likelihood, take the Senate. Obama is a weak incumbent, who has been chronically unpopular since early in his term.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

The Crowd Pleaser — At first glance, President Obama and Mitt Romney share some similar traits. Both Harvard Law School grads are smart and analytical. Both are emotionally reserved rather than touchy-feely. Both are traditionalist in their family and personal lives.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog


Obama's Worst Year — The inside story of his brush with political disaster. — Shortly after four o'clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 13, 2011, U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner walked down the hallway near his office toward a large conference room facing the building's interior.
Discussion:
Politico and Brad DeLong

Pelosi might have skirted House ethics rules on campaign solicitations — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) might have briefly run afoul of congressional ethics rules at a Capitol press conference on Thursday when she made a statement that could be construed as a solicitation for campaign contributions.
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon
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Did Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line?
Discussion:
Hot Air, nation.foxnews.com, Politico and The Hill


Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say — WASHINGTON — Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults. But a body of recently published scholarship suggests …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Rod Dreher


Gingrich Seeks to Ease Fundraising Woes as Las Vegas Checks Slowing Down — Newt Gingrich was just days away from the Jan. 31 Florida Republican presidential primary when he told reporters that his campaign was down to its last $600,000. — Five losing contests later, Gingrich and Winning Our Future …


8,000 instances of abuse alleged in Archdiocese bankruptcy hearing — By Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel — Sealed documents filed in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee bankruptcy identify at least 8,000 instances of child sexual abuse and 100 alleged offenders - 75 of them priests …
Discussion:
The Raw Story and Joe. My. God.

Poll: Joe Kennedy III has huge lead in U.S. Rep race — Joseph P. Kennedy III's famous family ties have handed him a huge early lead in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, a new UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll reveals. — Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers


Israeli fans beg PM to hold off Iran attack over Madonna show — New Facebook group asks Prime Minister to postpone any plans to a strike of Iran's nuclear facilities until after the Queen of Pop's planned May 29 visit. — Get Haaretz on iPhone — Get Haaretz on Android
Discussion:
Associated Press and Israel Matzav