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Republicans are losing the spending argument — For the past several years, congressional Republicans have focused relentlessly on a single message: Washington — led by President Obama — is spending too much money, and it needs to stop. — But according to new Washington Post-ABC News polling …
Discussion:
Washington Times, NBCNews.com, Post Politics and Taegan Goddard's …
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Rand Paul Explains His Surprise Vote For Chuck Hagel — “The president gets to choose political appointees,” Paul says. — Image by Gary Cameron / Reuters — WASHINGTON — Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said his support for a filibuster against Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel never meant that he would vote against Hagel's confirmation.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Slate, FiveThirtyEight, Hit & Run, Right Turn, The Week, The American Conservative and Politico

No CPAC Invite for Christie Because of ‘Limited Future’ in Republican Party — New Jersey governor Chris Christie was not invited to address the Conservative Political Action Conference because of his position on gun control, according to a source familiar with CPAC's internal deliberations who requested anonymity to speak freely.
Discussion:
americanthinker.com, New York Times, NationalJournal.com, Hot Air, Red Alert Politics, Mediaite, BuzzFeed, Daily Kos, New Jersey Online and Balloon Juice


A matter of principle — What the Hagel fight did — Now that President Obama will finally have the defense secretary he wanted in Chuck Hagel, the question arises: Was the anti-Hagel fight worth it? Why did Republicans decide to fight it if they weren't going to win?


Senate Confirms Chuck Hagel As Defense Secretary
Discussion:
Connecting.the.Dots

Senate approves Hagel to lead Defense Department
Discussion:
The Maddow Blog, The Fix, The Gateway Pundit, Advocate, No More Mister Nice Blog, Joe. My. God. and Senator Ted Cruz

Senate approves Hagel for Defense secretary after historic nomination fight
Discussion:
Atlas Shrugs and National Review

Hagel Is Confirmed as Defense Secretary
Discussion:
Algemeiner.com and Lawfare


Charles Krauthammer: Chris Christie CPAC snub a mistake — Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer says it was a “vast overreaction” and “mistake” that CPAC officials didn't invite GOP New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to its upcoming conference. — “I think this is a vast overreaction and it's a mistake.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Joe. My. God., Mediaite and CNN
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The Real Reason Why Chris Christie Wasn't Invited to CPAC — ACU Chairman Al Cardenas criticizes New Jersey's Republican governor for supporting Sandy aid bill, Medicaid expansion. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was not invited to speak at the annual CPAC conference this year …
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's … and Hot Air

Chris Christie Medicaid Plan To Offer Coverage To Poor New Jersey Residents
Discussion:
The Reaction, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, American Prospect and ABCNEWS


Reason for mass release of illegal immigrants “hard to believe,” Boehner says — House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, Tuesday in an interview with CBS News blasted the “outrageous” move by federal immigration officials to OK the release of hundreds of illegal immigrants as a way to save money ahead …
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Post and Booman Tribune
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NBC/WSJ poll: Public wary about sequester cuts, but Obama in stronger political position than GOP — With automatic, across-the-board spending cuts set to begin Friday, majorities of Americans believe they aren't a good idea and say the contentious budget negotiations make them less confident …

Obama: Cuts are a ‘self-inflicted wound’
Discussion:
The Democratic Daily, Politico, Taylor Marsh and The Hill


As Budgets Face Cuts, Austerity Kills Government Jobs — WASHINGTON — The federal government, the nation's largest consumer and investor, is cutting back at a pace exceeded in the last half-century only by the military demobilizations after the Vietnam War and the cold war.
Discussion:
AEIdeas, Right Wing News, The Week, Marginal Revolution and Brad DeLong


Bloomberg's cash paves way to Jackson's seat — A multimillion-dollar ad blitz by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to stop an NRA-backed House candidate in Illinois paid off Tuesday night, as local official Robin Kelly crushed more than a dozen Democratic candidates vying to replace disgraced former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
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U.P. State Senator Tom Casperson Is Some Kind Of Birther — State Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, was on Michael Patrick Shiels' Lansing radio program today and had some fun and interesting things to say about where President Obama was born. — Casperson, whose name might sound familiar …
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's … and Balloon Juice


Liberal Super PAC Goes After Mitch McConnell's ‘Chinese’ Wife — A Democratic group is under sharp criticism for controversial online messages about Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's wife. — For months, the liberal super PAC Progress Kentucky has attacked McConnell and held demonstrations at his offices and home.
Discussion:
Slate, Ballot Box, Politico, Talking Points Memo, BuzzFeed, Roll Call, The Other McCain, Taking Note, Wonkette, The Hill, Mediaite, TheBlaze.com, Weasel Zippers, The Daily Caller, The PJ Tatler and National Review
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Liberal Super PAC Sends Racist Tweet About Mitch McConnell's Chinese Wife
Discussion:
WFPL, Post Politics and The Daily Caller


This Charming Man: An Interview With Morrissey — I don't think I really need to introduce you guys to Morrissey, but just in case: He's been an icon for, oh, more than three decades now. He began his career in the early '80s as the frontman (and heart) of the Smiths before going solo in 1987 …
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay, Telegraph and PinkNews.co.uk


The Sequester Revelation — Obama has the legal power to avoid spending-cut damage. — And when the Republicans opened the seventh seal of the sequester, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black and the stars fell unto the Earth; and our nation's ability to forecast severe weather …
Discussion:
National Review, Betsy's Page and Politico
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Why Everything Republicans Are Saying About The Sequester Is Wrong
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars

Sequester: A secret plan — President Obama's massive and voluble campaign against the sequester has a deep political motivation that is not apparent on the surface. He is engaging in a battle he knows he'll lose. Republicans are not going to budge on agreeing to tax hikes to avoid …

Republicans: CIA nominee involved in Benghazi talking points — President Obama's pick to head the CIA was involved in crafting controversial talking points about last year's attack in Benghazi, Republicans said Tuesday after viewing intelligence documents.
Discussion:
Townhall.com and Hot Air

Dov Hikind apologizes for blackface costume — ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York assemblyman who at first vigorously defended wearing blackface, an Afro wig and a basketball jersey to a costume party apologized Monday, saying he didn't mean to hurt anyone. — Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind wore …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo