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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.
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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.


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:
AMERICAblog, nbcbayarea.com, NBC Latino, Daily Kos 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


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

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

Marco Rubio's “water bottle-gate” moment
Discussion:
ComPost, Food & Water Watch, The Daily Caller, CNN, Twitchy, The Atlantic Online and NewsHounds blog

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


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, Slate, USA Today, Guardian, Taylor Marsh and Taegan Goddard's …
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Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address
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The White House, The Atlantic Online, Politico, Business Insider, Firedoglake, Guardian, New York Post, Telegraph, Washington Post, White House.gov Blog, Wonkblog, National Review, ABCNEWS, The Daily Caller, Shakesville, Colorlines, Macleans.ca, Fox News Insider, Daniel W. Drezner, Quartz, The Fix, The Huffington Post, Power Line, Sunlight Foundation Blog, epic.org and Althouse

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
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Rep. Jackson Lee warns against more spending cuts: 'We're at the bone almost'
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and The PJ Tatler

Republicans predict sequester will happen
Discussion:
The Hill, The Week, Hot Air and The Maddow Blog


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

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, Israel Matzav and Right Turn
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John McCain might delay Chuck Hagel vote
Discussion:
Right Turn, Advocate, Daily Kos, National Review and Israel Matzav

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, Washington Monthly, The Hill, alan.com, The Raw Story and Taegan Goddard's …

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:
Washington Monthly and Riehl World News


Time Warner in talks to part ways with Time Inc. — Exclusive: Meredith is in talks with media giant Time Warner to buy most of its Time Inc. publishing business. — Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes — FORTUNE — Media giant Time Warner has begun discussions to separate itself from Time Inc. …
Discussion:
New York Times, Mashable!, AllThingsD, Quartz, Poynter and JIMROMENESKO.COM, more at Mediagazer »


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

Sen. Paul threatens hold on Brennan over armed drone strikes — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday threatened to hold John Brennan's nomination for CIA director unless he receives more answers on the administration's drone program. — “I have asked Mr. Brennan if he believed that the President …


Pentagon to Start Awarding Medals for Drone Strikes and Cyberattacks — The Defense Department is reportedly inventing a new medal designed to reward soliders who fight battles from the safety of their computer consoles. The Associated Press says the Pentagon is creating a new ribbon …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Outside the Beltway


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

Landrieu leads potential foes for reelection — When PPP last polled Louisiana in 2010, Bobby Jindal was one of the most popular Governors in the country. 58% of voters approved of the job he was doing to just 34% who disapproved. Over the last two and a half years though there's …
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Monthly, msnbc.com and Daily Kos


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