memeorandum: French Plan to Add to Already Lengthy School Days Angers Parents and Teachers (Nicola Clark/New York Times)

4:00 AM ET, February 13, 2013

Top Items:

President Barack Obama State of the Union 2013 speech (full text) — President Barack Obama's speech for the 2013 State of the Union address, as prepared for delivery and provided by the White House. — Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens:

Discussion: CNN, The Huffington Post and Guardian

ABCNEWS:

Energy Secretary to Skip State of Union Address — The White House says Energy Secretary Steven Chu will not attend President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. — Traditionally, one Cabinet member does not travel to the House chamber for the speech in order to preserve the government …

Discussion: CNN and Politico

CNN:

Medal of Honor recipient declines invitation to State of the Union — (CNN) - The former Army staff sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama Monday is declining the first lady's invitation to be her guest at Tuesday's State of the Union address.

Discussion: Politico, ABCNEWS, Anderson Cooper 360, The Daily Caller, Power Line, The Week and The Hill

Emily Goodin / The Hill:

Medal of Honor winner turns down invite to State of the Union — Former Army staff sergeant Clint Romesha, who was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House on Monday, has declined the first lady's invitation to sit in her box on Tuesday night during the State of the Union address.

Discussion: Rush Limbaugh and CNN

Nick Wing / The Huffington Post:
Ted Nugent Preps For State Of The Union ‘Media Orgy,’ Some Laugh, Gun Control Advocates Salivate

Discussion: Politico, The Reaction, CANNONFIRE, Sky Dancing, CNN, Weasel Zippers, The Week and The Hill

Tony Romm / Politico:
Obama issues cybersecurity executive order at SOTU

Discussion: The Atlantic Online and Quartz

CNN:
Excerpts: Obama's State of the Union remarks

Discussion: Politico, ABCNEWS, ABCNEWS and Truthdig

Sudip Bhattacharya / CNN:
White House State of the Union stream more like business presentation

Discussion: The Huffington Post and Politico

Dana Bash / CNN:
TRENDING: Boehner: the president lacks ‘guts’ and ‘courage’

Discussion: News Desk, Weasel Zippers and Hot Air

Talking Points Memo:
Obama To Call For Job Programs In State Of The Union (SPEECH EXCERPTS)

Discussion: Addicting Info

rubio.senate.gov:

Statement on my Vote Against the Violence Against Women Act — I believe we should have re-authorized the existing Violence Against Women Act that has helped reduce the annual incidence of domestic violence by more than 50 percent, among other successes. I also continue supporting the work …

Discussion: msnbc.com, his vorpal sword, Politico, Post on Politics and The Buzz Florida Politics Feed

ThinkProgress:

BREAKING: Senate Passes Violence Against Women Act, With No Help From 22 Republican Male Senators — The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization passed through the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, by a vote of 78 to 22. Of those opposing the legislation, all 22 were Republican men.

Discussion: Politico, The Atlantic Online, The Raw Story, Angry Black Lady Chronicles and Talking Points Memo

Talking Points Memo:

Rubio Explains Vote Against Violence Against Women Act — Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), a rising star in the Republican Party and considered a top presidential contender in 2016, voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act Tuesday. The bill passed by the Senate Tuesday expanded VAWA …

Discussion: ACS Blog, The National Memo and Daily Kos

Seung Min Kim / Politico:

Marco Rubio opposes Violence Against Women Act — Sen. Marco Rubio was among the 22 GOP senators who voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act - a law that the Florida Republican said he largely supports but couldn't ultimately vote to renew because of new provisions in the bill.

Discussion: Twitchy

Jennifer Bendery / The Huffington Post:
VAWA Vote: Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Violence Against Women Act

Discussion: Washington Blade, Guardian and Taylor Marsh

Sahil Kapur / Talking Points Memo:
Senate Passes Expanded Violence Against Women Act

Discussion: Addicting Info and The Maddow Blog

Lauren / CBS Los Angeles:

Officials: Christopher Dorner May Be Dead Following Deadly Standoff — SEVEN OAKS (CBSLA.com) — LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith says that despite earlier reports, Christopher Dorner's body has not been recovered from a burned out cabin where he was reportedly holed up during a deadly shootout with authorities earlier today.

Discussion: CNN, Associated Press, KTLA 5, This Just In, CBS News, L.A. NOW, Twitchy, The Moderate Voice, Taylor Marsh and Michelle Malkin

NBC Southern California:

Charred Human Remains Found in Rubble of Burned-Out Cabin — Charred human remains were found Tuesday night in the debris of a burned-out cabin in the Big Bear-area, where law enforcement officials were involved in a shootout with a man believed to be a fired LAPD officer wanted …

Discussion: L.A. NOW, CANNONFIRE, NBCNews.com, Crime and Consequences Blog and Infowars

Sam Schaefer / L.A. NOW:

Christopher Dorner in gun battle with authorities, source says — Christopher Dorner was engaged in a shootout with federal authorities in the Big Bear area Tuesday, a law enforcement source told The Times. — The shooting occurred after Dorner burglarized a home, tied up a couple and stole their car, the source said.

Discussion: Associated Press, The Other McCain, ABCNEWS, Crooks and Liars, The Raw Story, Gawker, The Moderate Voice, Los Angeles Times, National Updates, The Lonely Conservative, NPR and KTLA 5

Shelby Grad / L.A. NOW:

Christopher Dorner: Police demolish cabin, hear single gunshot — A single gunshot was heard as authorities moved into the cabin where Christopher Dorner was believed to be holed up. — According to a law enforcement source, police had broken down windows, pumped in tear gas and blasted a loud speaker urging Dorner to surrender.

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Los Angeles Times

Fox News:
Fugitive ex-cop reportedly exchanges fire with authorities

Discussion: Mercury News, Associated Press, L.A. NOW, The Right Scoop, LewRockwell.com Blog, alan.com, Bob Owens and Reuters

Lauren Lloyd / LAist:
Authorities Cannot Confirm Body In Burned Cabin, Dorner's Fate Remains Unknown [UPDATED]

Discussion: L.A. NOW, Guardian and DCist

Jed Graham / Investor's Business Daily:

The Deficit Chart That Should Embarrass Budget Hawks — Here's a pretty important fact that virtually everyone in Washington seems oblivious to: The federal deficit has never fallen as fast as it's falling now without a coincident recession. — To be specific, CBO expects the deficit …

Discussion: Reuters, Washington Post, The Atlantic Online, Wonkblog, Calculated Risk, Business Insider and New York Times

Anon Relations:

Anonymous CALL TO IMMEDIATE ACTION! #opSOTU — Last year we faced our greatest threat from lawmakers. We faced down SOPA, PIPA, CISPA and ACTA. — And we won! — But that victory did not come easily. Nor did it come without a price. — Aaron Swartz was one of the leading voices …

Discussion: Post Politics, Runnin' Scared, NBCNews.com, Guardian, Mediaite, The Lonely Conservative, Mashable! and Truthdig

Paul Takahashi / Las Vegas Sun News:

Heart Attack Grill spokesman dies from heart attack — The second unofficial spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill in downtown Las Vegas has died from an apparent heart attack. — John Alleman suffered a heart attack last week as he waited at the bus stop in front of the restaurant …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, ABCNEWS, Techdirt, The Raw Story and NPR

Josh Rogin / Foreign Policy:

Hagel will need 60 votes to get confirmed as defense secretary — The Senate Armed Services Committee was set to approve the nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense Tuesday, but several Republican senators told The Cable they will insist he receive 60 votes on the Senate floor before he is confirmed.

Discussion: Israel Matzav, The Plum Line and National Review

Talking Points Memo:
Reid: I Won't Honor Holds On Hagel Nomination

Discussion: National Review and Washington Monthly

Andrew Kaczynski / BuzzFeed:

Everyone On Twitter Made The Exact Same Joke About Marco Rubio's Water Break — The fall of western civilization is complete.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars and Naked Politics

Kelly Whiteside / Associated Press:

IOC drops wrestling from 2020 Olympics — Wrestling, part of the first modern Olympics and a U.S. strength, was shockingly cut from the Summer Games on Tuesday, beginning in 2020. — The International Olympic Committee was expected to cut the sport of modern pentathlon but instead decided …

Discussion: BuzzFeed and protein wisdom

Pat Garofalo / ThinkProgress:

Obama Calls For Raising Minimum Wage To $9 Per Hour In State Of The Union — In his State of the Union address tonight, President Obama calls for raising the minimum wage to $9 per hour, up from its current $7.25. He also called for raising the tipped minimum wage — made by tipped employees …

CNN:

First on CNN: NRA charges Obama's efforts will lead to gun confiscation — Washington (CNN) - The National Rifle Association will assert that President Barack Obama's attempt to enact new gun control laws will result in the “confiscation” of people's firearms in a new web video scheduled …

Discussion: Reuters

Mike Lillis / The Hill:

Obama on gun control: ‘This time is different’ — Two years ago, in the wake of the assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords, President Obama dismayed gun-reform advocates when he made no mention of gun control in his State of the Union speech. — Those advocates have little to grumble about this time around.

Discussion: Politico

Politico:

Tea party State of the Union 2013 rebuttal: Rand Paul response (full text, video) — Sen. Rand Paul's tea party response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as prepared for delivery and provided by his office. — I speak to you tonight from Washington …

Discussion: Balloon Juice, Slate, Campaign for America's Future and DCist

Benjy Sarlin / Talking Points Memo:

Watching The State Of The Union With Undocumented Immigrants — “We know what needs to be done,” President Obama said in his State of the Union as he demanded “real reform” from Congress on immigration. — No one knew what needed to be done with greater confidence than the crowd assembled …