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Winners and losers of the debt-limit fight — The 2013 fiscal showdown was ugly, especially for Republicans. — Both parties have scoffed that there are winners and losers in the debate. — Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) recently said, “This isn't a damn game!”
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Advancing. Ever Advancing. — Much cynicism has been expressed over the past month about the effort, led by Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, to fight Obamacare. It was about money or defeating Republicans or something other than what it was about — undermining Obamacare with a united front.
Discussion:
firstread.nbcnews.com, Rothenblog and Balloon Juice


McConnell-Reid Deal Includes $3 Billion Earmark for Kentucky Project — A proposal to end the government shutdown and avoid default orchestrated by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Harry Reid includes a nearly $3 billion earmark for a Kentucky project.

American taxpayers betrayed by chicken-hearted RINOs — American taxpayers have once again been trampled by establishment Republicans - a thundering herd of chicken-hearted Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) galloping to the Left. — The debt ceiling deal struck between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid …
Discussion:
Reuters, The Right Scoop and Twitchy

McConnell Deal Includes Kentucky Kickback
Discussion:
Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, Independent Journal Review, Talking Points Memo, ThinkProgress, Liberaland and National Review


There's a little pork in that bill: The 5 most surprising provisions in the debt deal
Discussion:
BizPac Review

Senate Debt Deal Weakens Congress on Debt Ceiling
Discussion:
Power Line, Hot Air, Politico, Weasel Zippers, National Review, Daily Kos, VodkaPundit, The Lonely Conservative, The Atlantic Online and ThinkProgress

Shutdown Deal Includes Nearly $3 Billion For Kentucky Dam Project
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, The Week, Power Line and National Review

Cruz: It was a ‘remarkable victory’ until Senate Republicans caved on the shutdown
Discussion:
Firedoglake

Ryan breaks from Boehner, votes ‘no’ — Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) split with his party's leadership and voted against the Senate fiscal agreement on Wednesday night. — In a statement, Ryan called the legislation to reopen the government and lift the debt ceiling “a missed opportunity” to reduce the federal debt.
Discussion:
Politico, The Fix, NewsMax.com, Washington Post and The Reality-Based Community
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The Republican Surrender — President Obama signed the bill reopening the government and lifting the debt ceiling early Thursday morning. — The Republican Party slunk away on Wednesday from its failed, ruinous strategy to get its way through the use of havoc.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Hinterland Gazette, Daily Kos, Speaker.gov, Prairie Weather, National Review and Sky Dancing

The Last Conference — At the last GOP conference meeting of the two-week government shutdown, no lawmakers went to the microphones to give their take. — Instead, after Speaker John Boehner told Republicans they had “fought the good fight,” they all rose up to offer a standing ovation.


Obama signs bill ending partial shutdown, raising debt ceiling — President Obama early Thursday signed a short-term bill ending the partial government shutdown and raising the debt ceiling, capping one of the most bitter and brutal political fights in recent memory.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, The Right Scoop and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion


Hands Empty but Spirit Unbowed, House Republicans Take Stock
Discussion:
ABC News

Republicans Back Down, Ending Crisis Over Shutdown and Debt Limit
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Fox News, Taegan Goddard's …, Daily Kos, Mediaite, Business Insider, WFPL, The Verge, Washington Wire, Scared Monkeys, ataxingmatter, The Moderate Voice, Firedoglake, Washington Post, ACS Blog, Politicker, USA Today, The Week, The Hill, ABC News, Dealbreaker, The Hinterland Gazette, The Reaction, Taegan Goddard's Wonk Wire, Balloon Juice, Washington Free Beacon, Towleroad News #gay, Washington Times, The Raw Story, Corrente, Washington Monthly, Politico, Hot Air, Prairie Weather and CNN

Boehner Safe — Speaker John Boehner may be preparing to bring …
Discussion:
The Hill, Mediaite, Hot Air, The Plum Line, The Week, The Federalist, FreedomWorks and Politico


Tea Party's Image Turns More Negative — Ted Cruz's Popularity Soars among Tea Party Republicans — The Tea Party is less popular than ever, with even many Republicans now viewing the movement negatively. Overall, nearly half of the public (49%) has an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party, while 30% have a favorable opinion.
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Republicans grapple with stinging defeat — ObamaCare remained nearly unchanged as Congress voted to reopen the government and avert default Wednesday night and President Obama signed the legislation early Thursday. — The only provision touching the healthcare law that was included …
Discussion:
Politico

Republican congressman: It was worth the fight — Washington (CNN) - Rep. Mick Mulvaney, a tea party firebrand, said Thursday the fight that led to a government shutdown was worth it, but he acknowledged the GOP's messaging wasn't as effective. — “Anytime you fight for something …
Discussion:
The Lead with Jake Tapper

GOP Congressman Rips Tea Party Colleagues: 'I'm Not Sure They're Republicans' — Intra-party tensions are running high as end to shutdown nears. — Boustany (right): The tea party's allegiance is to outside interest groups, not conservative values. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Discussion:
Connecting.the.Dots, Hot Air, Washington Examiner, Yahoo! News and Guardian


Only Four African Americans Have Ever Been Elected To The U.S. Senate In All Of American History — New Jersey voters elected Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) on Wednesday to the seat once held by the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D). When he is seated, Senator-elect Booker will join Sen. Tim Scott …
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Booker wins Senate race in New Jersey
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theGrio, The Daily Caller, Mashable and Shakesville

Cory Booker wins New Jersey Senate seat
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Power Line, NewsBusters and Talking Points Memo

Booker wins New Jersey Senate race
Discussion:
E2-Wire, Politico and Yahoo! News


Documents reveal NSA's extensive involvement in targeted killing program — It was an innocuous e-mail, one of millions sent every day by spouses with updates on the situation at home. But this one was of particular interest to the National Security Agency and contained clues that put …
Discussion:
The Raw Story
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House stenographer hauled from floor — A House floor stenographer was abruptly hauled out of the chamber after charging the dais and screaming during Wednesday's late night vote on raising the debt ceiling and funding the federal government. — As the bill sailed toward final passage …

GOP's presidential hopefuls oppose deal — Nearly every potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate serving in Congress opposed a deal, passed late Wednesday night, to fund the government and raise the debt limit. — Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Rand Paul (Ky.), Ted Cruz (Texas) …
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Congress approves deal to end shutdown, raise debt ceiling
Discussion:
Weekly Standard and Infowars

Senate Votes To Re-Open Government, Raise Debt Limit
Discussion:
his vorpal sword, The Atlantic Wire and The Raw Story

Obama Wins! Big Whoop. Can He Lead? — With an eye to history, will the president leverage his victory to score a debt-busting deal with the GOP? Doubt it. — Barack Obama is a winning president. Will he be remembered as a great one? (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Discussion:
Washington Wire