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Marco Rubio's drinking problem — Twitter exploded during Sen. Marco Rubio's Republican response to the State of the Union, as the Florida senator appeared a little sweaty and dry-mouthed at mid-speech, taking an awkward swig from a bottle of water that had been placed off-camera.
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Marco Rubio Has Learned Nothing — Because his party has learned nothing. — OK, back up: this morning the papers and the web are full of nuance-sniffing, as people try to find omens in the SOTU and the GOP response. I don't think I can add anything useful to all that.


Marco Rubio, Who Bragged About Living In “Working Class” West Miami, Is Selling His $675,000 House — Marco Rubio — the Tea Party's wunderkind, GOP's great not-too-white hope, and water's most awkward chugger — had his moment in the national spotlight last night, delivering a rebuttal …
Discussion:
ComPost, AMERICAblog, nbcbayarea.com, NBC Latino and TheBlaze.com


Everyone On Twitter Made The Exact Same Joke About Marco Rubio's Water Break — The fall of western civilization is complete.
Discussion:
Red Alert Politics, The Fix and Crooks and Liars

The Rap on Rubio — Not long ago, scrolling for a movie, I saw that “Notorious” was on. — How can you resist Cary Grant as an American spy in Rio recruiting Ingrid Bergman to seduce and betray a Nazi played by Claude Rains? — But it turned out to be a very different “Notorious,” …
Discussion:
msnbc.com

Rubio's Home for Sale
Discussion:
A plain blog about politics and alan.com


Thirsty Sen. Marco Rubio makes waves with awkward grab for water
Discussion:
The Daily Currant

Marco Rubio: ‘I needed water’
Discussion:
msnbc.com, Althouse, The Week and NewsHounds blog

Rubio's sip of water lights up Twitter
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, CBS News, First Read, msnbc.com, Twitchy, Hot Air and Politico

Roy Blunt says Republicans have votes to delay Chuck Hagel nomination — Sen. Roy Blunt signaled Wednesday that there may be enough votes in the Senate to delay debate on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon. — Blunt (R-Mo.) said he believed there were 40 votes in the Senate that indicated …
Discussion:
CNN, Power Line, Hot Air, Right Turn and Israel Matzav
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John McCain might delay Chuck Hagel vote — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is backing away from his no-filibuster stance on the nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary. — After saying just days ago that Senate Republicans shouldn't filibuster Hagel's nod, McCain now says he hasn't made up his mind …
Discussion:
Right Turn, Advocate, Daily Kos and National Review

John Boehner's Senate-first strategy — The same House Republican majority that spent the entire past two years haranguing Senate Democrats for ignoring piles of legislation has a new strategy. — Let the Senate act first — on nearly everything. — Boehner is trying to shift …
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Monthly and Daily Kos


Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address — The following is the text as prepared for delivery of President Obama's State of the Union Address, as provided by the White House: — PRESIDENT OBAMA: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens:
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The White House, Politico, The Atlantic Online, Firedoglake, Guardian, New York Post, Telegraph, Washington Post, White House.gov Blog, Business Insider, National Review, ABCNEWS, Wonkblog, Sunlight Foundation Blog, The Daily Caller, Shakesville, Colorlines, Macleans.ca, Power Line, Daniel W. Drezner, Quartz, The Huffington Post, epic.org and Althouse
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CNN Poll: 53% who watched speech give president thumbs up — Washington (CNN) - A majority of Americans who watched President Barack Obama's State of the Union address said they had a very positive reaction to his speech, according to a survey of people across the country who viewed Tuesday night's address.
Discussion:
The Hill, Guardian, USA Today, Slate, Taylor Marsh and Taegan Goddard's …


Top Republicans Oppose Obama's Call To Raise The Minimum Wage … During his State of the Union address last night, President Obama called for raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour, up from its current $7.25, and indexing it to inflation so that it rises as the economy grows.
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs, Feministing, Mediaite and Daily Kos
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Boehner Shoots Down Obama's Minimum Wage Hike
Discussion:
The Plum Line, Addicting Info and Prairie Weather

Paul Broun: ‘I was the first to call Obama a socialist’ — Since he jumped into the U.S. Senate race last week, Paul Broun has insisted on presenting a calm, cool and constructive demeanor. — After the State of the Union address last night, the on-message Republican congressman …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Hill, alan.com, The Raw Story and Taegan Goddard's …

Rep. Jackson Lee warns against more spending cuts: 'We're at the bone almost' — Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) urged her colleagues to reach a compromise to prevent spending cuts through sequestration, arguing that government programs are already as lean as they can be.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and The PJ Tatler
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Republicans predict sequester will happen
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The Hill, The Week, Hot Air and The Maddow Blog


State of the Union 2013: Bill Shuster apologizes for saying Obama lied — House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster apologized Wednesday for calling President Barack Obama a liar after the State of the Union speech. — Shuster (R-Pa.), speaking to POLITICO from Statuary Hall minutes after the speech …
Discussion:
Post Politics


Ron Paul Makes National Radio Debut With Courtside — Courtside Entertainment Group announced today that former Congressman and Presidential Candidate Ron Paul will make his national radio and podcast debut March 18, 2013. Ron Paul 's America will feature one of America's …
Discussion:
Politico, The Daily Caller and alan.com


Iraq to hire D.C. lobbyist — The government of Iraq is in the final stages of inking a contract with the Podesta Group as its first Washington lobbying firm, POLITICO has learned. — A source says the Podesta Group significantly underbid D.C. rivals Patton Boggs and the Livingston Group.
Discussion:
Guardian and Washington Free Beacon


Challenged for His Seat at 89, a Senator Does Not Go Gentle — WASHINGTON — As he approached his 89th birthday this year, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey was finally considering retirement, an option he had tried a decade earlier and hated so much that he jumped at the chance to return to political life.
Discussion:
Althouse, Ballot Box, First Read and Roll Call

Buckley Rule — According to Bill, not Karl — The Buckley Rule has been much invoked in recent weeks, in this space and elsewhere, and on almost every occasion it has been both misquoted and misapplied. As one who was present at the formulation, I feel obliged to record the “originalist” intention.
Discussion:
Riehl World News


Obama's incredibly ambitious second-term agenda — That was an incredibly ambitious speech. — Imagine, for a moment, that President Obama managed to pass every policy he proposed Tuesday night. Within a couple of years, every 4-year-old would have access to preschool.
Discussion:
The Week