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Bobby Jindal speaking truth to GOP power — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will deliver a forceful denunciation of his party's Washington-centric focus in a speech to the Republican National Committee on Thursday evening, arguing that the GOP is fighting the wrong fight as it seeks to rebuild from losses at the ballot box last November.
Discussion:
American Prospect, NationalJournal.com, Washington Monthly, First Read, The Caucus and New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Hillary Pitches a Benghazi Shutout — ‘What difference, at this point, does it make?’ — In five hours of Congressional testimony Wednesday, Hillary Clinton took “responsibility” for the mishandling of the terrorist attacks on U.S. diplomats in Benghazi without ever saying she was responsible for much of anything.
Discussion:
Right Turn


GOP Senator Pushes Gun-Running Conspiracy Theory During Benghazi Hearing

Ron Johnson: Hillary Clinton Planned To Get Emotional To Evade Questions
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Wire, Slate, The Hill, The Mahablog, Patterico's Pontifications, The Week, The National Memo, Talking Points Memo, The Hill, Mediaite, Sky Dancing, Joe. My. God., National Review, CANNONFIRE, Hot Air, Connecting.the.Dots, JSOnline, CNN, Daily Kos, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Fox News Insider, Truthdig, msnbc.com, Washington Free Beacon, Crooks and Liars, Little Green Footballs, The Huffington Post and NationalJournal.com

Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell Reach Filibuster Reform Deal — FOLLOW: — Video, Filibuster, Filibuster Reform, Filibuster Reform 2013, Harry Reid Filibuster, Harry Reid Mitch Mcconnell, Harry Reid Mitch Mcconnell Filibuster, Harry Reid Mitch Mcconnell Filibuster Reform, Jeff Merkley Filibuster Reform …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Weekly Standard, Firedoglake, The Maddow Blog and Hullabaloo
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Bipartisan Filibuster Deal Is Taking Shape in the Senate — WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic and Republican leaders are nearing an agreement on new limits to the filibuster, an effort to speed action in the often-clogged chamber by prohibiting senators from using a common tactic to slow the legislative process.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Daily Kos, Hullabaloo and Booman Tribune

Reid, McConnell Close To Filibuster Reform Deal
Discussion:
National Review and ACS Blog


Facebook CEO to Host Christie Fundraiser … Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has gained an ally in the blue-leaning Silicon Valley in his bid for a second term: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. — The California tech mogul—who has been measured in his public embrace of politicians …
Discussion:
Business Insider, Mediaite, Post Politics, The Fix and Wall Street Journal
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Mark Zuckerberg Will Hold Fundraiser For Chris Christie — The tech mogul and his wife “admire [Christie's] leadership on education reform and other issues and look forward to continuing their important work together on behalf of Newark's schoolchildren,” a spokesperson tells BuzzFeed.


Feinstein revives assault-weapons ban — Bill faces tough going in the Republican-controlled House. … WASHINGTON — California Democrat Dianne Feinstein will begin her fourth full term as a U.S. senator much as she started her Senate career: fighting for a ban on assault weapons.
Discussion:
The Hill, The Raw Story, CNN, Right Wing News, msnbc.com and The Hinterland Gazette
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National ‘assault weapon’ ban coming Thursday
Discussion:
The PJ Tatler and The Gateway Pundit


Democrats launch plan to turn Texas blue — National Democrats are taking steps to create a large-scale independent group aimed at turning traditionally conservative Texas into a prime electoral battleground, crafting a new initiative to identify and mobilize progressive voters in the rapidly-changing state …
Discussion:
TheBlaze.com, The PJ Tatler, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and msnbc.com


UPDATED: Virginia Republican State Senator Declines To Back GOP Electoral College Rigging Scheme … In a subcommittee vote Wednesday, Virginia State Sen. and former Republican National Committee Chief Counsel Jill Holtzman Vogel (R) abstained on a key vote on a bill to rig the state's electoral college vote.
Discussion:
American Prospect
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Bill to change allocation of Virginia's electoral votes advances
Discussion:
Ballot Box, Daily Kos, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Maddow Blog

Virginia State Senate Moves Ahead on Electoral College-Rigging Bill
Discussion:
Sabato's Crystal Ball, Washington Monthly, Crooks and Liars, Main Street, Wonkblog, Mother Jones, msnbc.com, The Maddow Blog, No More Mister Nice Blog, Unqualified Offerings, The Atlantic Online, The Political Carnival, Prairie Weather, Business Insider, Associated Press and American Prospect


In malpractice case, Catholic hospital argues fetuses aren't people — Lori Stodghill was 31-years old, seven-months pregnant with twin boys and feeling sick when she arrived at St. Thomas More hospital in Cañon City on New Year's Day 2006. She was vomiting and short of breath …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, The Raw Story, Addicting Info, Gawker, Daily Kos, Wonkette, Balloon Juice and Joe. My. God.

Boehner, Ryan gamble on pledge to balance the budget in 10 years — Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) pledge to back a Republican budget that balances within 10 years raises the political stakes for his party and sets up another major test of his leadership. — Democrats eyeing a takeover …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Booman Tribune and New York Magazine
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House Passes ‘No Budget No Pay,’ Extends Debt Limit
Discussion:
CNN, Slate, Mediaite, Business Insider, Washington Free Beacon, msnbc.com, PERRspectives and Quartz

New Mexico Bill Would Criminalize Abortions After Rape As ‘Tampering With Evidence’ — FOLLOW: — Video, Abortion Tampering With Evidence, Cathrynn Brown Abortion Bill, New Mexico Abortion Bill, New Mexico Abortion Evidence, New Mexico Abortion Law, New Mexico Rape Abortion, Politics News
Discussion:
Business Insider, Taegan Goddard's …, Joe. My. God. and Shakesville


Democratic Senators Face Gun Owners Roused by Talk of New Laws — BECKLEY, W.Va. — Talk of stricter gun control has stirred up a lot of unease here, a place where hunters vie for top prize (a 26-inch LED television) in the Big Buck Photo Contest, and ads for a gun-simulator game ask, “Feel like shooting something today?”
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Althouse, The Plum Line, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Chicago Boyz and Hot Air


Final election count: Right bloc 61, Center-Left 59 seats — After the last vote is counted, officials say Ahmad Tibi's party Raam-Taal drops from five seats to four, while Naftali Bennett's party gains one, Kadima party makes it over the threshold with two mandates.
Discussion:
Israel Matzav and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
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MSM Bungles Israel's Election
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Haaretz, Israel Matzav, World News, Politico, +972 Magazine and Telegraph


Lego accused of racism with Star Wars set — Lego has been accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars model that supposedly resembles one of Istanbul's most revered mosques. — Austria's Turkish community said the model was based on Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul …
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, Jihad Watch, Pirate's Cove and Atlas Shrugs

The “acting alone” fallacy — President Obama said this in his 2nd inaugural address: … I object to this move, which seems to have become popular with Democrats in the past couple years, of equating “doing things together” with government. To suggest that anyone who'd like to see less …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute and ProfessorBainbridge.com


Deficit Reduction Rises on Public's Agenda for Obama's Second Term — Public's Policy Priorities: 1994-2013 — OVERVIEW — When Barack Obama took office four years ago, reducing the budget deficit was a middle-tier item on the public's agenda. Only about half of Americans (53%) …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Washington Examiner