memeorandum: Obama to visit Asheville, Atlanta, and Chicago after State of the Union (Justin Sink/The Hill)

5:01 PM ET, February 10, 2013

Top Items:

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:

Lindsey Graham To Place Hold On National Security Nominees Over Benghazi Attacks — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is threatening to place a hold on key administration national security nominations unless President Obama explains how the White House reacted to the Benghazi attacks and who …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Israel Matzav, NewsHounds blog and Crooks and Liars

Associated Press:

Cheney blasts “second-rate” Obama nominees — Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Saturday night that President Barack Obama has jeopardized U.S. national security by nominating substandard candidates for key cabinet posts and by degrading the U.S. military.

Discussion: The Hill, The Moderate Voice, National Confidential, “The Lid”, Hot Air, Weasel Zippers and The Gateway Pundit

CNN:

Graham vows to block nominations unless White House more forthcoming — Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama's nominees for secretary of defense and CIA director could be held up by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham unless the White House provides more information about its response …

Discussion: Politico, The PJ Tatler and The Hill

Reid J. Epstein / Politico:
Lindsey Graham: ‘No confirmation without information’

Discussion: Outside the Beltway

Carlo Muñoz / The Hill:
Sens. Feinstein, Leahy push for court oversight of armed drone strikes

Discussion: Prairie Weather

Byron York / Washington Examiner:

After ignoring unemployment, Obama seeks to convince Americans it's his top priority … White House spinners are working furiously in the final 72 hours before President Obama's State of the Union speech. Their job: convince the recession-scarred American public that economic recovery …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Lonely Conservative, Power Line and New York Times

Jake Tapper / CNN:

Medal of Honor recipient Romesha to be guest of first lady at State of the Union — (CNN) - Former Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha, who will be awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony Monday afternoon, will also be honored by the Obamas as a guest …

Discussion: The Hill

Justin Sink / The Hill:

Obama to visit Asheville, Atlanta, and Chicago after State of the Union — Obama will hold stop in North Carolina on Wednesday, Georgia on Thursday, and his adopted hometown on Friday, the White House announced on Sunday. Administration officials did not provide details about the time and location …

Discussion: CNN

Scott Wilson / Washington Post:
In State of the Union, Obama to return to jobs and the economy

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, The Hill and The Reaction

Talking Points Memo:

Nicolle Wallace: GOP Needs Rubio Because ‘He Knows Who Tupac Is’ — Republican strategist Nicolle Wallace said Sunday that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is good for the Republican Party because, as one of many attributes, Rubio “knows who Tupac is.” — “He's everything we need and more,” …

Discussion: The Raw Story

George Stephanopoulos / ABCNEWS:
Rep. Keith Ellison on GOP's Softer Rhetoric: ‘Lipstick on a Pig’

Discussion: Balloon Juice and The National Memo

Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Tea party address won't divide Republicans, Rand Paul says

Discussion: Politico

Cameron Joseph / The Hill:

Pelosi: ‘Almost a false argument’ to say US has spending problem — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the looming sequestration is “a bad idea all around” and called for a balance of spending cuts and closing tax loopholes in order to avoid it.

Discussion: Politico, The Lonely Conservative, CNN, Michelle Malkin, The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers, alan.com, americanthinker.com, The Reaction and Jammie Wearing Fools

Noah Rothman / Mediaite:

CNN Panel: Was Doctor's Conservative Speech In Front Of Obama ‘Offensive,’ ‘Inappropriate’? — Dr. Benjamin Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, raised a number of political eyebrows in Washington this week when he took to a stage he shared with President Barack Obama …

Discussion: Doug Ross, Scared Monkeys, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Sense of Events

Nick Bilton / New York Times:

Bits Blog: Disruptions: Apple Is Said to Be Developing a Curved-Glass Smart Watch — Dick Tracy and James Bond had watches that served as computers. Tim Cook of Apple wears a Nike FuelBand, which tracks his physical activity. — Dick Tracy had one. As did Inspector Gadget and James Bond.

Discussion: Mashable! and Business Insider

Chris Wallace / Fox News:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. John McCain on avoiding automatic spending cuts — Special Guests: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. John McCain — The following is a rush transcript of the February 10, 2013, edition of “Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace.” This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

Discussion: Althouse and Washington Examiner

Mike Parker / Daily Express:

Man hunt for ex-soldier who shot police chief's daughter and killed policeman — POLICE plan to use spy drones in the hunt for a Rambo-style ex-soldier and policeman who has murdered three people and vowed to kill again. — Christopher Dorner is thought to be hiding in California's snow-capped San Bernardino mountain

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and The Informer

Christopher Dorner / TMZ.com:

CALL ME!!! — Charlie Sheen wants to do his part to bring ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner into custody safely ... so he's recorded a video plea asking the wanted man to call him to talk things out. — Dorner — who is accused of killing three people including a cop …

Discussion: Boing Boing, L.A. NOW, The Informer and Mediaite