Top Items:
Mike Dorning / Bloomberg:
Obama Rated at 3-Year High in Poll, Republicans at Bottom — President Barack Obama enters the latest budget showdown with Congress with his highest job- approval rating in three years and public support for his economic message, while his Republican opponents' popularity stands at a record low.
Discussion:
The National Memo, The Maddow Blog, Taegan Goddard's …, Shakesville, The Reaction, Politico, The Hill, Prairie Weather, The Moderate Voice, Daily Kos and alan.com
RELATED:
USA Today:
On issues, public is more aligned with Obama than GOP — SETTING A NATIONAL AGENDA: WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE THIS YEAR? — In a USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll, Americans were asked how urgent it was for President Obama and Congress to pass major legislation on some top issues this year.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh and Balloon Juice
Numbers / Pew Research Center for the People …:
If No Deal is Struck, Four-in-Ten Say Let the Sequester Happen — Deficit Reduction: Focus Mostly on Spending But Keep Taxes in Mix — OVERVIEW — After a series of fiscal crises over the past few years, the public is not expressing a particular sense of urgency over the pending March 1 sequester deadline.
Discussion:
The Plum Line, Washington Post, The Hill and Prairie Weather
Erick Erickson / RedState:
I Am Very Disappointed in Governor Rick Scott — I was one of the few conservatives to support Governor Scott in 2010. He is a fundamentally great person. I really like him. He has been a friend to this site. — But I am terribly disappointed in his decision to expand Medicaid in Florida.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, The Raw Story, Hot Air and Washington Monthly
RELATED:
Tia Mitchell / Tampa Bay Times:
Gov. Rick Scott, feds reach Medicaid deal
Gov. Rick Scott, feds reach Medicaid deal
Discussion:
The Maddow Blog, Politico, msnbc.com, Naked Politics, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, Mother Jones and Joe. My. God.
South Florida / Orlando Sentinel:
Florida Gov. Rick Scott proposes expansion of Medicaid to add 1 million uninsured
Florida Gov. Rick Scott proposes expansion of Medicaid to add 1 million uninsured
Discussion:
Mother Jones
Sam Baker / The Hill:
Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’
Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Politico, Sun-Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, New York Times and CNN
Jason Millman / Politico:
Scott to expand Florida Medicaid
Scott to expand Florida Medicaid
Discussion:
Bloomberg and American Spectator
Talking Points Memo:
McCain Jeered At Town Hall After Opposing Mass Deportation — Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) got an earful from his constituents in his home state while defending his bipartisan immigration plan at a town hall. — According to the Associated Press, an “angry crowd” reacted negatively as McCain described …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and Post Politics
RELATED:
Rachelle Younglai / Reuters:
Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported — (Reuters) - More than half of U.S. citizens believe that most or all of the country's 11 million illegal immigrants should be deported, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday that highlights …
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Weasel Zippers, Right Wing News and American Power
Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:
Sen. Cruz: Obama trying to ‘scuttle’ immigration reform — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) on Wednesday charged that President Obama was seeking to “scuttle” efforts at immigration reform by pushing for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country.
Discussion:
Politico and Trail Blazers Blog
Quinnipiac News + Events:
Release Detail — February 21, 2013 - Donor Controversy Takes Toll On NJ Senator, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Booker Tops Rivera 2-1 In 2014 Senate Race — New Jersey voters disapprove 41 - 36 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez is doing, a 15-point drop in less than a month …
Discussion:
CNN, Politico, The Gateway Pundit, Hot Air, The Rightnewz, The Hill, NBC Latino, First Read and Capital New York
Glenn Thrush / Politico:
John Kerry: The un-Hillary Clinton — John Kerry is no Hillary Clinton — and he's OK with that. — In the three weeks since Kerry succeeded Clinton as secretary of state, he's already sent unmistakable signals of his independence with a more assertive, proactive and risk-taking stewardship …
John Stanton / BuzzFeed:
Ed Markey Compares Campaign Finance Ruling To Decision Upholding Slavery — “The Dred Scott decision had to be repealed, we have to repeal Citizens United,” Massachusetts Democrat says days after meeting with black clergy. — Image by Josh Reynolds / AP — WASHINGTON — Rep. Ed Markey …
Discussion:
Berkshire Eagle Online, Union-News, Post Politics and Washington Free Beacon
RELATED:
T.W. Farnam / Washington Post:
McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court
McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court
Discussion:
The Fix, PostPartisan and Twitchy
USA Today:
Preschool debate obscures core problem: Our view … ‘Fragile families’ harm children's development. — In the eyes of many parents and most educators, starting a child's schooling before kindergarten is an indisputable virtue. Your kid acquires learning and social skills that give him or her an advantage.
Discussion:
National Review
Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Rand Paul returns more money to Treasury — (CNN) - Sen. Rand Paul cut another six-figure check to the United States Treasury Wednesday, taking the money he said he didn't need from his office's budget to make a tiny dent in the nation's massive federal debt.
Jonathan Weisman / New York Times:
G.O.P. Resisting Obama on Tax Increase — WASHINGTON — House Republicans, shrugging off rising pressure from President Obama, are resolutely opposing new tax increases to head off $85 billion in across-the-board spending reductions, all but ensuring the cuts will go into force March 1 …
Greg Campbell / The Daily Caller:
Rick Perry wants Colorado gun magazine maker to move to Texas — Texas governor and former GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry is rolling out a Texas-sized red carpet for Magpul Industries, the Colorado gun-parts manufacturer that has vowed to find greener pastures if a bill banning high …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers and Trail Blazers Blog
RELATED:
Tom Beardsworth / Cherwell.org:
George Galloway in anti-Israel storm — Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player. — To view the video directly, please click here — Video: Eylon Aslan-Levy — George Galloway, the Respect MP for Bradford West, has been accused by Oxford students of anti-semitism.
Discussion:
Guardian, Telegraph and Michael J. Totten's blog
Alex Eliseev / ewn.co.za:
First on EWN: Pistorius cop facing ‘drunken’ shooting charges — JOHANNESBURG - Eyewitness News has learnt that the investigating officer in Oscar Pistorius' criminal case is in fact facing seven counts of attempted murder. — The charges are related to a shooting incident which occurred …
Kevin Cirilli / Politico:
Jimmy Carter: No relationship with Obama — Former President Jimmy Carter says he has no relationship with President Barack Obama and wishes that he did. — “We don't have any relationship much. I met with him early in his administration. We don't really have any relationship,” …
Discussion:
CNN
Billy Hallowell / TheBlaze.com:
COLUMBINE SURVIVOR PENS BOLD OPEN LETTER TO OBAMA REJECTING GUN CONTROL: ‘WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?’ — Columbine survivor Evan Todd released an open letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday in which he offers a point-by-point analysis of proposed firearms control initiatives …
Discussion:
Shot in the Dark and The Other McCain
Byron Tau / Politico:
NRA raises $1.1M in January — The National Rifle Association's political action committee raised $1.1 million in January, according to the committee's latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. — It's the NRA's best fundraising month since August 2012 — and reflects growing concern …
Maggie Haberman / Politico:
Sensing weakness, Karl Rove's critics pounce — For the first time in a dozen years, Karl Rove's critics smell blood. — After his electoral wipeout in November — and motivated by years of resentment that's spilling over — Rove's credibility within his own party is at an all-time low.
Discussion:
msnbc.com and Firedoglake
Ben Geman / The Hill:
AAA reports largest increase in gasoline prices in three years — The 44-cent jump in gasoline prices over the past four weeks was the largest in well over three years, according to AAA. — “The 44-cent month-over-month increase is the most dramatic since June 2009.
Kevin Bohn / CNN:
NRA ramps up campaign against proposed gun control measures — (CNN) - As Vice President Joe Biden heads to Connecticut on Thursday in a bid to generate support for sweeping gun control proposals, the National Rifle Association is trying to flex its political muscle by ramping up its campaign to oppose those initiatives.
Fred Lucas / CNSNews:
Susan Rice Misspeaks: Focus on Benghazi Talking Points ‘Bigger Tragedy’ Than Actual Terrorism Attack — (CNSNews.com) - United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice apparently misspoke during a Comedy Central interview when she said that the investigation into the talking points surrounding …
Tom Benning / Trail Blazers Blog:
Former first lady Laura Bush asks to be removed from newly launched pro-gay marriage ad campaign — Former first lady Laura Bush is asking a pro-gay marriage group to remove her from a national television, newspaper and online advertising campaign that launched this week.
Discussion:
Politico, Towleroad News #gay, Taylor Marsh, msnbc.com, Respect for Marriage News and Daily Kos