memeorandum: Baby Veronica's loved ones wait for the Supreme Court to weigh in (Robert Barnes/Washington Post)

11:30 AM ET, April 15, 2013

Top Items:

Exclusive: As his presidential library debuts, George W. Bush prepares to return to public stage on his own terms … To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network.

Discussion: CNN, Trail Blazers Blog, Post Politics, Telegraph, Washington Free Beacon and The Daily Caller

Dallas Morning News:

Exclusive: See President George W. Bush's paintings: ‘People are surprised’ — This painting, “Miss Beazley,” is a work that former President George W. Bush did of his Scottish terrier. — of — President. Governor. Artist? — More than four years after George W. Bush left the White House …

Discussion: The Hill, Politico and First Read

Caitlin McDevitt / Associated Press:
It's a girl for Jenna Bush Hager

Discussion: CNN and Scared Monkeys

New York Times:

Gitmo Is Killing Me — ONE man here weighs just 77 pounds. Another, 98. Last thing I knew, I weighed 132, but that was a month ago. — I've been on a hunger strike since Feb. 10 and have lost well over 30 pounds. I will not eat until they restore my dignity.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Guardian, Weasel Zippers, emptywheel, No More Mister Nice Blog, Taylor Marsh, Shakesville, Booman Tribune and TalkLeft

New York Times:

Party Rifts Complicate Chances for Gun Bill Passage — WASHINGTON — Deep divisions within both parties over a bipartisan measure to extend background checks for gun buyers are threatening its chances as the Senate this week begins debating the first broad gun control legislation in nearly 20 years.

Discussion: Hit & Run, The Plum Line and The Caucus

Bob Cusack / The Hill:

Manchin-Toomey bill inching closer to 60 votes in the Senate — A bipartisan bill on background checks is inching closer to the necessary 60 votes for passage, but it still has a long way to go. — The upcoming vote on a new proposal crafted by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is expected to go down to the wire.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh

Washington Free Beacon:
Murphy: ‘It Took Me a While to Figure Out’ Opposition to Gun Control Is Based on Philosophy

Discussion: Weekly Standard

Washington Post:
Gun rights group endorses Manchin-Toomey background-check bill

Discussion: CNN, The Fix, Restoring Liberty, Right Wing News, The National Memo, Prairie Weather, Taegan Goddard's … and Post Politics

Peter Beinart / The Daily Beast: Not so long ago, plenty of Republicans favored gun control.

Kevin Bohn / CNN:
Gun rights group endorses background check deal

Discussion: The Reaction, Wall Street Journal, No More Mister Nice Blog and The Hill

James Livingston / New York Times:

If Companies Are People... HERE'S an idea: why not tax corporations as if they were natural persons, in accordance with their newly discovered rights of free speech? That move would solve any impending fiscal crisis. — Indeed, we used to do just that. For most of the 1950s …

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Campaign for America's Future

Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:

Fewer Americans Now View Their Income Taxes as Fair — The 55% who say their taxes are fair is lowest since 2001 — PRINCETON, NJ — This Tax Day, 55% of Americans regard the income taxes they have to pay as fair, the lowest percentage Gallup has measured since 2001.

Discussion: Wonkblog, Hit & Run, Politico and National Review

Joseph E. Stiglitz / Opinionator:
A Tax System Stacked Against the 99 Percent

Discussion: naked capitalism and CNN

Liz Sidoti / Associated Press:

Column: Compromise key to legacy Obama desires — FILE - In this April 11, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama is seen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama wants to slash money for the Democratic sacred cows of Social Security and Medicare.

Reuters:
President Obama, Republicans fight the class war

Discussion: Politico, Heritage Action for America, Mediaite and Betsy's Page

Politico:
Mitch McConnell in no mood for bipartisanship

Discussion: American Prospect and msnbc.com

Reuters:

Tight win for Chavez's heir spells uncertainty for Venezuela — (Reuters) - Late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's chosen successor Nicolas Maduro won Venezuela's presidential election by a whisker but now faces opposition protests plus a host of economic and political challenges in the OPEC nation.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh and The Gateway Pundit

William Neuman / New York Times:
Venezuelans Elect Maduro to Succeed Chávez

Discussion: Washington Post, New Republic, The Week, IHT Rendezvous and Crooked Timber

Mary Anastasia O'Grady / Wall Street Journal:
Venezuela's Cuban Election

Discussion: BBC, Hot Air, National Review and The Week

Paul Farhi / Washington Post:

Is media bias to blame for lack of Gosnell coverage? Or something far more banal? — The trial of Philadelphia doctor Kermit Gosnell would seem to have all the elements of a spectacular news story: shocking allegations, horrifying visuals, sympathetic victims.

Discussion: She The People, National Review, Power Line, NewsBusters, Hot Air, Mother Jones, UrbanGrounds, Washington Monthly and The Raw Story

Scott Lemieux / American Prospect:
Five Lessons from the Gosnell Abortion-Clinic Controversy

Discussion: Mediaite, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Wizbang

Joe Miller / Restoring Liberty:

Why I Am Considering a 2014 US Senate Run — Serious times call for bold measures. With the re-election of Barack Obama, our very way of self-government is in peril. The Constitution is under attack, the value of human life degraded, religious liberties are threatened …

Discussion: Politico, Yahoo! News, Ballot Box, Post Politics and Roll Call

John Kerry / CNN:

Kerry: Foreign students ‘scared’ of guns in U.S. — (CNN) - Students in other countries assessing where to study abroad are increasingly scared of coming to the United States because of gun violence, the nation's top diplomat said Monday. — Speaking with CNN foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty …

Discussion: Reuters, Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, Weekly Standard, The Raw Story, Taegan Goddard's … and National Review

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

Weiner, Exploring Possible Mayoral Bid, Issues Policy Booklet With Familiar Ring — As he seeks to extend the discussion about a possible candidacy for mayor — and shift attention away from the online sex-messaging scandal that cost him his Congressional seat — Anthony D. Weiner released …

Discussion: CNN, Taegan Goddard's …, Business Insider, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and City Room

Latino Decisions:

Poll of undocumented immigrants reveals strong family and social connections in America — Groundbreaking poll of Latino undocumented immigrants shows 85% have U.S. citizen family members; and 87% would plan to apply for citizenship if immigration reform passes

Discussion: The Hill, ImmigrationProf Blog and NBC Latino