memeorandum: Code Pink protests bring Brennan hearing to halt (Felicia Sonmez/Post Politics)

5:45 PM ET, February 7, 2013

Top Items:

Panetta: Obama Absent Night of Benghazi — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified this morning on Capitol Hill that President Barack Obama was absent the night four Americans were murdered in Benghazi on September 11, 2012: — Panetta said, though he did meet with Obama …

Discussion: The Mental Recession, Rush Limbaugh, Right Turn, The Gateway Pundit, Booman Tribune, nation.foxnews.com and his vorpal sword

William Kristol / Weekly Standard:

On Their Own — The White House left Ambassador Chris Stevens, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, and Sean Smith on their own on September 11 in Benghazi. That is the upshot of today's Capitol Hill hearing featuring Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey.

Discussion: Power Line

Associated Press:
Panetta defends military response in Libya attack

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Hit & Run, Hot Air, Pat Dollard and Flopping Aces

Tim Mak / Politico:
Leon Panetta defends Pentagon response after Benghazi attack

Discussion: ABCNEWS

SOOPERMEXICAN:

News Media Scrub Cop Murderer's Manifesto of Pro-Obama, Hillary, MSNBC, CNN, Gay, and Anti-Gun Comments — I've been following closely the news story about Chris Dorner, who is now suspected of murdering three people, including one police officer, and shooting another two police officers.

Discussion: BREITBART.COM, Weasel Zippers, Hot Air, Twitchy, Council of Conservative … and The Jawa Report

Andrew Kaczynski / BuzzFeed:

LAPD Spree Killer's Supposed Full Manifesto Shows Support For Gun Control And President Obama — Police asked a Los Angeles Fox affiliate to remove the manifesto, originally reported to be that of alleged gunman Christopher Dorner, shortly after publishing.

Discussion: nation.foxnews.com and SOOPERMEXICAN

Crimefile / CRIME, GUNS, AND VIDEOTAPE:
Fired LAPD Officer, Obama Lover and Committed Gun Control Advocate is Being Sought In Revenge Killings!

Discussion: Associated Press, Bob Owens, The Daily Caller and The PJ Tatler

CNN:
L.A. police look for ex-cop suspected in shootings

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, CBS Los Angeles, L.A. NOW and Represent!

Bryan Preston / The PJ Tatler:
Suspected L.A. Cop Killer Posted Pro-Obama, Pro-Gun Control, Leftist Rant on the Web (Update: KTLA Whitewash)

Discussion: protein wisdom, Fire Andrea Mitchell! and Five Feet of Fury

Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic Online:

As Neocons Defend Obama, Allies Doubt Him on Drones as Never Before — The John Brennan confirmation hearings are the biggest showdown yet on extrajudicial killing and executive branch secrecy. — For once, the Obama Administration's drone policy is much in the news.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Flopping Aces, Taking Note, Washington Monthly, Taylor Marsh, Lawfare, The Week and CANNONFIRE, more at Mediagazer »

Felicia Sonmez / Post Politics:

Code Pink protests bring Brennan hearing to halt — Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called Thursday's hearing to recess barely a few minutes after it had started, as protesters one-by-one interrupted CIA Director-nominee John Brennan during his opening statement.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Lonely Conservative and Suburban Guerrilla

Ashley Killough / CNN:
Poll: Americans back drone attacks, but not on U.S. citizens abroad

Discussion: AEIdeas and Weasel Zippers

Politico:

The GOP, Fox political purge — Republicans and Fox News are moving to purge the controversial political creatures they created. — Both were damaged badly in 2012 by loud, partisan voices that stoked the base — but that scared the hell out of many voters.

Discussion: Esquire, CNN, The Boston Globe, Washington Monthly, Hullabaloo, The Raw Story, Goblinbooks, The Maddow Blog, The Week, No More Mister Nice Blog, Mock, Paper, Scissors, Daily Kos, First Read and American Prospect

Jennifer Jacobs / Des Moines Register:
Congressman Steve King: Help fight Karl Rove's crusade against me

Discussion: Ballot Box, The Fix and Post Politics

Jennifer Jacobs / Des Moines Register:
Bruce Braley will run for Harkin's Senate seat

Discussion: Daily Kos

Quinnipiac News + Events:

Release Detail — February 7, 2013 - Americans Back Women In Combat 3-1, But Less For Draft, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Universal Gun Background Checks Is 92% — American voters support allowing women in combat by an overwhelming 75 - 22 percent, including 77 …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Politico, The Plum Line, Gawker, Daily Kos, Hot Air, Firedoglake, Outside the Beltway, NPR and msnbc.com

Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Dems will offer GOP spending cuts to avert doom

Discussion: New York Times, Hullabaloo, Daily Kos and The Maddow Blog

Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
The Morning Plum: GOP resolve on sequester begins to crack

Discussion: Mother Jones, Businessweek, Angry Bear, Hot Air, Booman Tribune and msnbc.com

Amie Parnes / The Hill:

Obama ‘prepared, eager and anxious’ for GOP sequester fight — President Obama told House Democrats on Thursday that he is “prepared, eager and anxious” to produce a “big package” on the so-called sequester that would end “this governance in crisis.” — Speaking to lawmakers …

Discussion: CNN and Politico

Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Obama tells House Dems he wants ‘big deal’ on debt

Discussion: Politico

Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
Michelle Obama to Attend Chicago Girl's Funeral

Discussion: Politico and NPR

Washington Post:

Sen. Menendez contacted top officials in friend's Medicare dispute — Sen. Robert Menendez raised concerns with top federal health-care officials twice in recent years about their finding that a Florida eye doctor — a close friend and major campaign donor — had overbilled the government …

Discussion: CNN, ABCNEWS, NewsBusters blogs, The Hill, The Other McCain, OpenSecrets.org, Right Turn, Jammie Wearing Fools, Washington Free Beacon, Hot Air, Washington Examiner, Michelle Malkin and The Daily Caller

Dana Halferty / Medium:

Damsel, Arise: A Westboro Scion Leaves Her Church — Just after 11 last Sunday morning at Old First Reformed Church in Brooklyn, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Meeter is starting the Sunday service as he always does. He runs through the opening salutation and the collect for the day …

Discussion: AMERICAblog, Religion Dispatches, Good As You, Advocate, Mediaite and The Stranger …

Megan Phelps-Roper / Medium:
Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise

Discussion: Joe. My. God., Mashable!, Guardian, Wonkette, Towleroad News #gay and Gawker

Michael Sneed / Chicago Sun Times:

SNEED EXCLUSIVE: Pending Jesse Jackson Jr. plea deal includes ‘significant jail time,’ source says — Sneed has learned a plea deal is now on the table between former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and federal authorities probing allegations of campaign fund misuse.

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Weasel Zippers, Hot Air, Talking Points Memo, americanthinker.com, Outside the Beltway and The Hinterland Gazette

Miriam Valverde / Sun-Sentinel:

“Breastaurants” Tilted Kilt, Twin Peaks coming to area — Hooters Girls are getting more competition. At least two new “breastaurant” chains are working on plans to open in South Florida this year, also featuring scantily clad women. — Next month, the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery will open …

Discussion: Vodkapundit

Michael Grunwald / TIME:

Immigrant Son — Oriales García Rubio knows how it feels to want more. When she was a girl in central Cuba in the 1930s, her family of nine lived in a one-room house with a dirt floor. Her dolls were Coke bottles dressed in rags. She dreamed of becoming an actress.

Discussion: The Stranger …, FishbowlDC, Red Alert Politics, Washington Wire, ABCNEWS, TheBlaze.com, CNN and Wall Street Journal

National and Local Weather Forecast …:

Winter Storm Nemo: Potential Historic Blizzard Looms — Potentially Historic Storm: Snow Impact — Winter Storm Nemo is now poised to become the latest example of a powerful, potentially historic, February storm. — We lay out the forecast of heavy snow on this page …

Discussion: The Week and Suburban Guerrilla

usccb.org:

HHS Proposal Falls Short In Meeting Church Concerns; Bishops Look Forward To Addressing Issues With Administration — Bishops look forward to finding acceptable solutions to shortcomings — Concerned that first-rate charities still given second-class status — Seek clarification on confusing finance plan

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Wonkblog, Daily Kos, Hot Air and National Review

Mike Malloy / Ames Tribune:

Bill would define abortion as murder — State Rep. Rob Bacon believes abortion is murder and he wants the Iowa Code to reflect that. — Bacon, R-Slater, and eight other Republicans introduced such a bill in the Iowa House Wednesday. It would alter the definition of a person in murder cases to …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, alan.com and The Raw Story

Politico:

Karl Rove vs. tea party for GOP's future — The message from Karl Rove's allies to rich donors is pretty simple: We need your cash to avoid repeating the problems that tanked our $300 million 2012 effort, and we can promise you anonymity. — The Conservative Victory Project …

Discussion: New York Times, ABCNEWS, The Maddow Blog and Daily Kos

James Hohmann / Politico:
Steve King: Donate to me to stop Karl Rove

Discussion: The Huffington Post, CNN and The Caucus

Gatemouth / Room Eight:

Exclusive: Lena Dunham—Born Again Political Virgin — LENA DUNHAM (in a video supporting President Obama's re-election): Your first time shouldn't be with just anybody. … The actual story of the cherries jubilee celebrating the loss of Lena Dunham's virginity is somewhat less romantic.