Top Items:


GOP report calls for sweeping reforms to compete in 2016 — The Republican National Committee released an audacious set of recommendations on Monday aimed at revitalizing the party following the drubbing suffered by GOP candidates last November, calling for sweeping changes to the party's infrastructure …
RELATED:

RNC: Voters see GOP as ‘scary’ and ‘out of touch’ — The Republican National Committee concedes in a sprawling report Monday that the GOP is seen as the party of “stuffy old men” and needs to change its ways. — Among the RNC's proposed fixes: enacting comprehensive immigration reform …

GOP Chair: “We've Done a Really Lousy Job of Branding and Marketing Who We Are”
Discussion:
PolicyMic and Booman Tribune


Candy Crowley Oozes Sympathy for Steubenville Rapists — Shortly after the guilty verdict in the Steubenville rape case was announced, Candy Crowley took to the airwaves to report it and connect with their reporter on the ground for more details. Her lead-in to the remote shot was shameful.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, The Hinterland Gazette, Mommyish, PoliticusUSA and CNN
RELATED:


CNN grieves that guilty verdict ruined ‘promising’ lives of Steubenville rapists — CNN broke the news on Sunday of a guilty verdict in a rape case in Steubenville, Ohio by lamenting that the “promising” lives of the rapists had been ruined, but spent very little time focusing …
Discussion:
BREITBART.COM, The Atlantic Wire, susiemadrak.com, Balloon Juice and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES


2 Teenagers Found Guilty in Steubenville, Ohio, Rape
Discussion:
Shakesville, Feministing, Gawker, The Week and Washington Monthly

On 10th Anniversary, 53% in U.S. See Iraq War as Mistake — Republicans most likely to say conflict was not a mistake — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ten years have passed since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq, and it appears the majority of Americans consider this a regrettable anniversary.
Discussion:
First Read, Reuters, americanthinker.com and The Hill
RELATED:

10 years later, many see Iraq War as costly mistake
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars

Hill Poll: Voters prefer Republican budget ideas, but dislike GOP — More voters trust the Democratic Party than the Republican Party on budgetary issues, according to the results of a new poll for The Hill — even though a strong majority actually prefer Republican fiscal policies.
Discussion:
Wonkblog and Prairie Weather
RELATED:

Shutdown, budget bills on floor this week
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, Campaign for America's Future, Reuters and The Hill

Obama to announce Perez as labor secretary nominee — Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama on Monday will announce Thomas E. Perez, U.S. assistant attorney general heading the Justice Department's civil rights division, as his nominee for the next secretary of the Department of Labor, according to a White House official.
Discussion:
Politico and Campaign for America's Future
RELATED:

Obama to tap Thomas Perez for labor secretary
Discussion:
The Week and Lynn Sweet


For Obama, trip is a chance to repair relations with disappointed Israelis — Among the landmarks the Israeli government asked President Obama to visit during his trip to Jerusalem this week is the hilltop tomb of Theodor Herzl, the chief theoretician of Zionism, who died decades before his fears …
Discussion:
msnbc.com and Taegan Goddard's …
RELATED:


Ruled a Threat to Family, but Allowed to Keep Guns — Early last year, after a series of frightening encounters with her former husband, Stephanie Holten went to court in Spokane, Wash., to obtain a temporary order for protection. — Her former husband, Corey Holten …
Discussion:
American Power


David Plouffe: Hillary Clinton ‘strongest’ for 2016 — President Barack Obama's former top adviser David Plouffe says Hillary Clinton is “probably the strongest” candidate in either party among potential 2016 presidential contenders. — “She is in both parties right now by far …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed


Top Republican Governor Admits Conservatives Have Lost The Battle Against Marriage Equality — Responding to Sen. Rob Portman's (R-OH) embrace of equal marriage rights during an appearance on Meet The Press, Walker said that the issue of marriage equality did not animate his governor's race …
Discussion:
Firedoglake and Towleroad News #gay

America the retirement home — The Post, referring to President Obama's meetings with congressional Republicans — We don't need a charm offensive; we need a candor offensive. The budget debate's central reality is that federal retirement programs, led by Social Security and Medicare …
Discussion:
Firedoglake and Betsy's Page


After Cyprus Bank Bailout, Depositors Race to Withdraw Their Cash. Is the Rest of Europe Next? — As Cyprus reneges on their deposit insurance guarantees, the rest of Europe is in the crosshairs. … As you probably already know by now, the banking system of Cyprus has imploded …
Discussion:
MarketShadows, The Gateway Pundit, Mother Jones, Open Europe blog and Marginal Revolution, more at Mediagazer »


‘This Week’ Transcript: Speaker of the House John Boehner — ABC News' George Will, ABC News Political Analyst and Special Correspondent Matthew Dowd, Good360 chair Carly Fiorina, House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Xavier Becerra (D) California, and host of NPR's All Things Considered Audie Cornish on ‘This Week’ (ABC News)
Discussion:
American Spectator
RELATED:

John Boehner: The ‘Talk About Raising Revenue Is Over’
Discussion:
The Maddow Blog, Joe. My. God. and The Impolitic