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.
RELATED:
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, Firedoglake, Washington Post, The Maddow Blog, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Hill and Prairie Weather
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:
msnbc.com, ABCNEWS, Daily Kos, Taylor Marsh and Balloon Juice
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
Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Shakesville, Weasel Zippers, Right Wing News and American Power
Jason Horowitz / Washington Post:
Republican senator John McCain is still raising questions and hackles
Republican senator John McCain is still raising questions and hackles
Discussion:
Althouse, The Fix and Booman Tribune
Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:
Sen. Cruz: Obama trying to ‘scuttle’ immigration reform
Sen. Cruz: Obama trying to ‘scuttle’ immigration reform
Discussion:
Politico and Trail Blazers Blog
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, Mediaite, Post Politics, TheBlaze.com, Towleroad News #gay, Taylor Marsh, Respect for Marriage News, msnbc.com, Daily Kos and Right Turn
RELATED:
CNN:
Laura Bush: Take me out of pro-gay marriage ad — (CNN) - Former first lady Laura Bush, who is one of three prominent Republicans featured in a new ad supporting same-sex marriage, has asked the spot's creator to remove a clip of her espousing support for equal marriage rights.
Discussion:
The Hill
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:
Politico, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, The Hill, NBC Latino, First Read and Capital New York
RELATED:
Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Poll: Menendez allegations take toll; Geraldo unpopular
Poll: Menendez allegations take toll; Geraldo unpopular
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, The Rightnewz and Politico
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:
Bloomberg, Taylor Marsh, Tampa Bay Times, The Raw Story, Hot Air and Washington Monthly
RELATED:
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
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.
Sam Baker / The Hill:
Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’
Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Politico, Sun-Sentinel, Associated Press, New York Times and CNN
T.W. Farnam / Washington Post:
McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court — McCutcheon could be the new Citizens United. — The Supreme Court's decision Tuesday to hear a campaign finance case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, in its next term gives the justices a chance …
Discussion:
The Fix, PostPartisan and Twitchy
RELATED:
John Stanton / BuzzFeed:
Ed Markey Compares Campaign Finance Ruling To Decision Upholding Slavery
Ed Markey Compares Campaign Finance Ruling To Decision Upholding Slavery
Discussion:
Berkshire Eagle Online, Union-News, Post Politics and Washington Free Beacon
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 …
RELATED:
Ed Payne / CNN:
Police: Investigator faces charges himself
Police: Investigator faces charges himself
Discussion:
The Week, New York Times, This Just In and Scared Monkeys
New York Times:
Strategy Seeks to Ensure Bid of Brennan for C.I.A. — WASHINGTON — The White House is refusing to share fully with Congress the legal opinions that justify targeted killings, while maneuvering to make sure its stance does not do anything to endanger the confirmation of John O. Brennan as C.I.A. director.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Washington Monthly, Associated Press, The Raw Story and emptywheel
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
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 …
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
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
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.
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
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:
Telegraph, Guardian and Michael J. Totten's blog
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 …
Zack Colman / The Hill:
Renewables constitute all new US electricity capacity added in January — Renewable energy accounted for all new electric capacity added in the United States last month, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. — In all, 1,231 megawatts of new generating capacity were installed in January.