Good-bye, Public Life  —  Alec Baldwin, photographed by Steve Schofield.  —  As told to Joe Hagan.  —  I flew to Hawaii recently to shoot a film, fresh on the heels of being labeled a homophobic bigot by Andrew Sullivan, Anderson Cooper, and others in the Gay Department of Justice.

Harold Ramis, Chicago actor, writer and director, dead at 69  —  Best-known as an actor for ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘Stripes’, writer/director for ‘Caddyshack’, ‘Groundhog Day’  —  Chicago Tribune reporter Mark Caro reflects on the career of Harold Ramis, who passed away at the age of 69.

Virginia Republican Says A Pregnant Woman Is Just A ‘Host,’ Though ‘Some Refer To Them As Mothers’  —  Steve Martin Virginia State Senate Steve Martin Virginia Steve Martin Host Steve Martin Pregnant Woman Host Pregnant Women Hosts Pregnant Woman Host Steve Martin Pregnant Women Virginia Abortion Rights Virginia GOP Politics News

Morgan Squanders the Brit Bonus  —  Dave Weigel has a fascinating take today on the cultural politics of the Piers Morgan fiasco at CNN: … Now as someone who definitely speaks with a Southern accent, I admit that on occasion I have used the prejudice of which Dave speaks to pick the pockets …

Michigan's John Dingell to retire from Congress after 58 years  —  Rep. John Dingell is leaving the Congress he's served for longer than anyone else in United States history.  —  At a luncheon Monday in his beloved Downriver, the Dearborn representative says he will announce he won't seek re-election …

‘What the hell is wrong with you?’  Was this Samantha Power baffling Daniel Pearl tweet evil or stupid?  —  Arguably the former.  You see, this happened: … No, really. … Speechless.  Twitter users were not speechless, however, and gave Ambassador Power the business over the baffling tweet …

Jeb on Bush family name: 'It's an issue'  —  (CNN) - Jeb Bush understands that as the son and brother of former presidents, his family name may hurt him as much as help him if he decides to run for the White House in 2016.  —  And the former two-term Florida governor reiterated that he'll …

Pierce wants Brewer to veto denial of service bill  —  Arizona Sen. Steve Pierce of Prescott is joining several gubernatorial candidates in calling for Gov. Jan Brewer to veto a controversial piece of legislation that would allow business owners to refuse to serve gays by citing their religious beliefs.

G.O.P. Leaders Draw Rare Re-election Challenge From the Ranks  —  DALLAS — There is the Tea Party Patriots “Fire the Speaker” petition, which is not to be confused with the FreedomWorks “Fire the Speaker” petition, or the websites variously urging people to “Fire John Boehner” and “Pledge to Fire Boehner.”

Pentagon Plans to Shrink Army to Pre-World War II Level  —  WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel plans to shrink the United States Army to its smallest force since before the World War II buildup and eliminate an entire class of Air Force attack jets in a new spending proposal …

Spy Chief James Clapper: We Can't Stop Another Snowden  —  President Obama's Director of National Intelligence spent his life protecting secrets.  Then came the biggest leak of all.  —  Every morning at around 4:30 a.m., James Clapper wakes up and prepares for the worst job in Washington.

UT/TT Poll: Abbott Holds 11-Point Lead Over Davis … UT/TT Poll, February 2014: Summary UT/TT Poll, February 2014: Methodology  —  After what are shaping up to be easy primary wins in March for the leading gubernatorial candidates, Republican Greg Abbott starts the general election race …

Another Test of Precedent (No, Not Thomas's Silence)  —  WASHINGTON — Here is a good way to get a belly laugh from Justice Clarence Thomas: Suggest to him that the Supreme Court's decisions should seldom be overruled.  —  “You are the justice who is most willing to re-examine the court's precedents …

Enactment of Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill  —  Press Statement Secretary of State Washington, DC  —  This is a tragic day for Uganda and for all who care about the cause of human rights.  Ultimately, the only answer is repeal of this law.  —  The United States is deeply disappointed …

Fewer Americans Think Obama Respected on World Stage  —  Slim majority still think world views U.S. favorably  —  PRINCETON, NJ — For the first time, more Americans think President Barack Obama is not respected by other world leaders than believe he is.  Americans' opinions have shifted dramatically …

Obama to make Keystone decision in next couple months  —  (CNN) - President Barack Obama will decide whether to go forward with the Keystone XL pipeline in the next couple months, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said on Monday.  —  “I did ask the President when we could anticipate a decision on the Keystone pipeline.

Lobbyist drafts bill to ban gays from NFL  —  Washington lobbyist Jack Burkman on Monday said he is preparing legislation that would ban gay athletes from joining the National Football League.  —  Burkman in a statement said he has garnered political support for the bill …

Health Care Horror Hooey  —  Remember the “death tax”?  The estate tax is quite literally a millionaire's tax — a tax that affects only a tiny minority of the population, and is mostly paid by a handful of very wealthy heirs.  Nonetheless, right-wingers have successfully convinced many voters …

4 Ways A Majority Leader McConnell Could Make Obama's Life Miserable  —  Republicans have a leg up in the Senate races in 2014, and election forecasters say they have a real chance of winning the six seats necessary to take the majority.  —  In that scenario, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will probably be the next majority leader.