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In Arizona, GOP debates end on low point — MESA, Ariz. — Rick Santorum suspects something is up between Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. Santorum had a tough night at the 20th, and likely last, Republican debate, held here at the Mesa Arts Center. He took a lot of attacks from Romney and a few from Paul …
Discussion:
The Hill, Campaign 2012, americanthinker.com, Taegan Goddard's … and Hot Air
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Will GOP perp walk lead to White House? — I am sick to death of the media's scare tactics. — Which is why I nearly jumped out of my skin when CNN's John King said during Wednesday night's Republican debate, “One of these men could be president 11 months from now.” — It was enough to give one chills.
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, CNN, Connecting.the.Dots and The Other McCain


Santorum stumbles in Arizona debate — None of the candidates really shined in tonight's Republican debate, but Rick Santorum, in his first debate as a co-frontrunner, badly stumbled. So by default, that helps Mitt Romney. — From the get go and throughout the debate …
Discussion:
Human Events, Townhall.com, National Review, Riehl World View, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Pundit & Pundette and Betsy's Page

Romney, Santorum rip into one another at pivotal GOP debate — MESA, Ariz. — Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum ripped into one another at Wednesday night's GOP presidential debate in their last joint appearance before a chain of make-or-break contests. — Romney was helped out in his attacks …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, The Moderate Voice, CNN, Shakesville, msnbc.com, Politico, ABCNEWS and The Huffington Post


Romney, Seeking Traction, Duels With Santorum — MESA, Ariz. — Mitt Romney challenged Rick Santorum's credentials as a fiscal conservative in a fiercely combative debate on Wednesday, trying to redefine Mr. Santorum as part of the problem in Washington and regain his footing in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination.


Five things we learned from Wednesday's debate
Discussion:
ABCNEWS and Taegan Goddard's …

Live-Blogging The Mesa Debate
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Taegan Goddard's …, Political Mojo and Balloon Juice

Romney and Paul successfully call Santorum's conservatism into question
Discussion:
Campaign Stops, Mail Online, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Weasel Zippers, Daily Kos and Israel Matzav

TPM2012 — Five Ways Rick Santorum Blew It in Arizona
Discussion:
The Raw Story, Balloon Juice and Hot Air

EXCLUSIVE POLL: Santorum leads Romney in close Michigan Republican Presidential Primary race
Discussion:
Washington Post

Santorum “homophobic,” former senator says
Discussion:
Firedoglake, On Top Magazine Headlines, The Page and The Huffington Post

The Influence Industry: Romney's record with small donors shows enthusiasm gap
Discussion:
Online NewsHour, Age of Engagement and The Atlantic Wire

Obama ties Romney with Arizona
Discussion:
Mail Online, Balloon Juice, CNN, Guardian, HotAirPundit, Taegan Goddard's …, Hot Air, Ballot Box, Washington Wire and detroitnews.com

Recap: The Arizona Republican Debate
Discussion:
Reuters, Don Surber, Campaign 2012, The Daily Beast, PJ Media and No More Mister Nice Blog


GOP fears rise over 2012 tone, message — MESA, Ariz. — In 2008, after Republicans were routed in the presidential and congressional elections, there was widespread consensus within elite GOP circles about the party's structural problems: The Republican voter base was too old, too white …
Discussion:
Booman Tribune
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Haley Barbour Tells ABC News, 'Somebody Else Might Get In"
Discussion:
Hot Air, Politico, Weekly Standard and HotAirPundit

Poll: Optimism on the economy doesn't lift views of politics
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, Weasel Zippers and Taegan Goddard's …


Newt: Media never asked Obama about ‘infanticide’ - except it did (UPDATE: Or did it?) — Surprise! Newt Gingrich is attacking the press. — Coming out of the debate's first break, CNN moderator John King read off a question: What are the candidates' views on contraception?
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Jill Stanek, his vorpal sword and NewsBusters.org


No shovel for Obama — It was a rather odd sight: as an array of museum officials, including former first lady Laura Bush, took up shovels at the groundbreaking for the first national museum dedicated exclusively to African-American history and culture, the nation's first black president sat watching, no shovel in hand.
Discussion:
UrbanGrounds, Scared Monkeys, Weasel Zippers, The Huffington Post and The Hill


‘Super PAC’ leaders profit from lack of oversight — Leaders of some of the new groups are taking advantage of the mammoth donations and the lack of oversight to write themselves big paychecks or hire their own companies. — Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his family have given millions …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Politico
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Chris Christie: Obama Is Showing ‘Cowardice’ For Trying To Have It ‘Both Ways’ On Marriage Equality — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) accused President Obama of “cowardice” and trying to have it “both ways” on marriage equality during a contentious appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Thursday.
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay and Joe. My. God.

If Israel strikes Iran, it'll be because Obama didn't stop it — While our prime minister won't say so out loud, he is deeply scornful of his predecessors for spending so much time on the Palestinian issue while neglecting the Iranian issue. — Get Haaretz on iPhone — Get Haaretz on Android
Discussion:
Israel Matzav and Outside the Beltway

President Obama as an alien — They say that President Obama is a Muslim, but if he isn't, he's a secularist who is waging war on religion. On some days he's a Nazi, but on most others he's merely a socialist. His especially creative opponents see him as having a “Kenyan anti-colonial worldview …


SACHA BARON COHEN BANNED FROM OSCARS: EXCLUSIVE — BREAKING... EXCLUSIVE: The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has pulled actor Sacha Baron Cohen's tickets from the 84th Academy Awards. This means he is banned from attending the Oscars even though he is an Academy member …
Discussion:
Sky Dancing, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, ThinkProgress and Atlas Shrugs

BREAKING: Bush Appointee Finds DOMA Unconstitutional — Moments ago, Judge Jeffery White of the District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the Constitution's equal protection clause in a case brought by Karen Golinski.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Advocate, San Diego Gay and Lesbian and Human Rights Campaign
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Recalling Her Determined Daughter, a Journalist Killed in Syria — Marie Colvin got into Yale University the way she would later get into foreign countries, with grit and determination. — After spending a year in Brazil on a student exchange program, from January of her junior year …
Discussion:
JIMROMENESKO.COM, Politico, Sky Dancing, News Desk and CNN, more at Mediagazer »


Unplanned Parenthood — Illegitimacy and the liberal elite. — (Best of the tube tonight: We'll appear on Fox Business's “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” The program starts at 7 p.m. ET, with our panel around 7:40.) — Social issues are so fascinating for the same reason debates over them are so often dull …
Discussion:
Don Surber, Prairie Weather and New York Times


Warren Buffett: I'm ‘delighted’ about Buffett rule — Billionnaire investor Warren Buffet said in a letter Wednesday that he was “delighted” to support legislation to implement the “Buffett Rule,” which would ensure that those making over $1 million annually pay at least a 30 percent effective tax rate.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Wake up America and Wonkette

Huntsman calls for third party, says GOP '12 field lacks big ideas — Jon Huntsman called for the rise of a third party on Thursday as he argued the remaining GOP presidential candidates lack big ideas. — The comments from the former Utah governor, who dropped out of the race in January …
Discussion:
Politico


CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT: #NOH8OnTheHill — Last week, we announced NOH8 Co-Founders Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley would be hosting a special photo shoot in Washington, D.C. for any and all Members of Congress in the US Senate and House of Representatives who were willing to show their support …
Discussion:
On Top Magazine Headlines, ABCNEWS and Advocate


Price Shock: Watch Cost of Gas Jump 10 Cents During ABC's ‘World News’ Broadcast — The headlines of major newspapers and TV networks this week have been dominated by rising gas prices. — Drivers across the country have shared their stories on the cost - with many already paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump.
Discussion:
Campaign 2012 and Mediaite

GM's Profits Don't Mean Taxpayers Will Be Off the Hook — The company's cash cushion might go to unions, not investors. — Three years after being rescued by a taxpayer bailout, General Motors recently announced some rather ambitious profit targets for 2012.
Discussion:
americanthinker.com


White House, Consumers in Mind, Offers Online Privacy Guidelines — WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday outlined a set of online privacy principles that officials said would help consumers control the use of their personal data gleaned from Internet searches.
Discussion:
The TechBlock, Bits and The Page, more at Techmeme »