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Audacious Hack Exposes Bush Family Pix, E-Mail — Hacker breached AOL account of ex-president's sister, other victims — The apparent hack of several e-mail accounts has exposed personal photos and correspondence from members of the Bush family, including both former U.S. presidents, The Smoking Gun has learned.
Discussion:
Politico, CNN, The Hill, The Raw Story, Mashable!, The Week, Gawker, BuzzFeed, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, Business Insider and Maggie's Notebook
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Probe launched after Bushes' email hacked — A hacker apparently gained access to a score of confidential emails and other electronic correspondence between members of the Bush family and friends, prompting a criminal investigation. — A spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush confirmed …
Discussion:
NPR

Kick That Can — John Boehner, the speaker of the House, claims to be exasperated. “At some point, Washington has to deal with its spending problem,” he said Wednesday. “I've watched them kick this can down the road for 22 years since I've been here. I've had enough of it. It's time to act.”
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Prairie Weather, msnbc.com, Talking Points Memo, The Plum Line and The Maddow Blog
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Sequester cuts a time bomb for GOP? — Republicans open to letting billions in sequester cuts go through figure they can blame the president if the economy goes south. — But Democrats are betting they can shift that blame right back to the GOP. — They're so confident, in fact …
Discussion:
New York Times

Senate Democrats struggle to craft plan for sequester replacement
Discussion:
The Plum Line and Speaker.gov

Some in GOP want sequester deal
Discussion:
Reuters, Firedoglake, The Hill and The Reaction


The Blame Righty mob falls silent — I've documented Blame Righty Syndrome countless times over the years (see here here here here). This week, the Blame Righty mob fell silent. The silence and the selectivity speak volumes. — The Blame Righty mob falls silent — by Michelle Malkin
Discussion:
NewsBusters blogs, BizzyBlog, The Truth About Guns, Twitchy and Hit & Run
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Search for Christopher Dorner, suspect in 3 killings, leads to Big Bear
Discussion:
Guardian


Here's an UNCENSORED copy of the rogue LAPD officers manifesto — Christopher Dorner w/ Chief William Bratton
Discussion:
Fire Andrea Mitchell!
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Read Murder Suspect Chris Dorner's Online Manifesto About Slayings
Discussion:
boywithgrenade.org, NewsHounds blog, Politico, Gawker and Mediaite


Chris Christie struggles with politics of his weight … After years of questions about his girth, Chris Christie seemed to settle on a strategy - leave them laughing. — The overweight New Jersey governor took to Dave Letterman's couch, donut in hand, on Monday night …


Is a Franken-Bachmann Showdown on the Horizon? — Politically, 2012 was not exactly a banner year for Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann. — In January, the Tea Party-backed Republican finished a distant sixth in the Iowa presidential caucuses, garnering just 1,223 more votes than she did in winning …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Mock, Paper, Scissors


Eight Reasons Why Marco Rubio Is Not ‘The Republican Savior’ — Since Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) abandoned his opposition to providing undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship and embraced a bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration, political pundits and Republican leaders …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Mock, Paper, Scissors, BuzzFeed and Truthdig


Eight Programs That Have Already Faced Devastating Budget Cuts (And Could Be In For More) — Even without the spending cuts included in the so-called “sequester,” America's domestic spending levels are scheduled to hit historic lows in the coming years. That's because the Budget Control Act …
Discussion:
The PJ Tatler, jobsanger and Hullabaloo


You Don't Need a Weatherman to Know Which Way Journalists Blow — When it comes presidential kill lists, too many in the media dig power absolute power absolutely. — Remember back in what was it - 2006 or thereabouts - when left-leaning critics of President Bush couldn't stop talking …

In immigration debate, evangelicals tie issue to Bible to push Republicans — Faith leaders and their congregations have become an unlikely but powerful ally to reform advocates, framing the question over what to do with 11 million unauthorized residents as one of moral compassion, and tapping into influence among Republicans to so


Aaron Swartz wanted to save the world. Why couldn't he save himself? — Aaron Swartz at a Boston Wiki Meetup on Aug. 19, 2009 — On Jan. 4, 2013, Aaron Swartz woke up in an excellent mood. “He turned to me,” recalls his girlfriend Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman, “and said, apropos of nothing, ‘This is going to be a great year.’ ”
Discussion:
The Volokh Conspiracy


Obama Group Runs Afoul of IRS Rules, Its Own Promise — Obama for America continued its metamorphosis this week into Organizing for Action (OFA), an independent organization that will advocate for various “progressive” causes, including immigration reform and gun control.
Discussion:
Politico and Washington Free Beacon

California's state Senate Democrats roll out big gun control package — All semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines would be banned, all guns would be registered and no ammunition could be bought without a special permit in California under a sweeping list of bills rolled out Thursday by state Senate Democrats.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Jammie Wearing Fools


SECRET HAGEL DONOR?: WHITE HOUSE SPOX DUCKS QUESTION ON ‘FRIENDS OF HAMAS’ — On Thursday, Senate sources told Breitbart News exclusively that they have been informed that one of the reasons that President Barack Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, has not turned …

Panetta can't explain why Obama never called back during Benghazi attack [VIDEO] — Under questioning from South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta could not explain why President Barack Obama spoke with him only once on September 11 …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Da Tech Guy's Blog, Hot Air, Right Wing News, Pundit & Pundette, Weekly Standard and Power Line


Harry, Henry & Hagel — 'Give the guy a break. " That was Sen. Harry Reid's answer to ABC this week when asked about Chuck Hagel's incoherent performance at his confirmation hearing for defense secretary. — Now an Armed Services Committee vote on Hagel has been delayed after 25 Republicans sent …
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, Betsy's Page and Wall Street Journal

So God Made a Fawner — Paul Harvey's ad was terrific. Steve Kroft's interview was shameful. — So many people this week mentioned Jeep's great Super Bowl spot, “So God Made a Farmer,” from a 1978 speech by the late Paul Harvey. — Here are some reasons it was great:
Discussion:
Politico, The PJ Tatler and TheBlaze.com

Bishops Reject Birth Control Compromise — WASHINGTON — The nation's Roman Catholic bishops on Thursday rejected the latest White House proposal on health insurance coverage of contraceptives, saying it did not offer enough safeguards for religious hospitals, colleges and charities that objected …
Discussion:
The Maddow Blog, The Fix, Daily Kos and CNN
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