David Plouffe rips Darrell Issa ‘loose ethically’  —  Former White House senior adviser David Plouffe took to Twitter to question Rep. Darrell Issa's ethics after the California Republican trashed press secretary Jay Carney.  —  “Strong words from Mr Grand Theft Auto and suspected arsonist/insurance swindler.

The Geezers Are All Right  —  Last month the Congressional Budget Office released its much-anticipated projections for debt and deficits, and there were cries of lamentation from the deficit scolds who have had so much influence on our policy discourse.  The problem, you see …

Immigration reform deal hangs on border security  —  The Gang of Eight's hopes for a Senate supermajority is running into the GOP's push for a dramatic crackdown on border security — testing the limits of the bipartisan coalition that's propelling the bill through Congress.

China Is Reaping Biggest Benefits of Iraq Oil Boom  —  BAGHDAD — Since the American-led invasion of 2003, Iraq has become one of the world's top oil producers, and China is now its biggest customer.  —  China already buys nearly half the oil that Iraq produces, nearly 1.5 million barrels a day …

Microsoft Ponders Major Restructuring, Amid Renewed Wall Street Focus on Stock  —  According to sources close to the situation, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is working on what is likely to turn into a significant restructuring of the massive software company, which could also move several current execs to more prominent roles.

Time to Change Military Justice  —  In his commencement address at the United States Military Academy late last month, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged the newest graduates of the two-centuries-old academy to help stamp out the “scourge” of sexual assaults in the military.  His call had special resonance.

Report: How GOP lost young voters  —  A new postmortem on the November elections from the nation's leading voice for college Republicans offers a searing indictment of the GOP “brand” and the major challenges the party faces in wooing young voters, according to a copy given exclusively to POLITICO.

Sadly, I'm not surprised by these revelations.  Westminster is crying out for reform  —  Westminster remains a place where power is hoarded, decisions are opaque, and people are not properly held to account, writes Nick Clegg.  —  Once again this newspaper's pages have been filled with the murkier side of British politics.

Risk-Averse Culture Infects U.S. Workers, Entrepreneurs  —  Americans have long taken pride on their willingness to bet it all on a dream.  But that risk-taking spirit appears to be fading.  —  Three long-running trends suggest the U.S. economy has turned soft on risk: Companies add jobs more slowly, even in good times.

Women in the Senate Confront the Military on Sex Assaults  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Claire McCaskill wandered down the dais at the Senate Armed Services Committee's first hearing of the year and noticed a startling tableau: women to the left, women to the right.

Congresswoman Opposes Pay Equity Laws Because Women 'Don't Want The Decisions Made In Washington'  —  Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) offered an odd view on women's paycheck fairness and equity laws on Sunday, suggesting that federal legislation on workplace equity is condescending to women who are well-qualified for the workplace.