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• Caterpillar Won't Build Plant in Illinois

  Drudge Retort

  glasshouse

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:23 pm

  The Peoria-based Caterpillar won't be building its new North American plant in Illinois, company officials said Tuesday, in part over concerns about the business climate in the state. Instead, Caterpiller is looking for a location closer to its division headquarters in Cary, N.C. "Caterpillar's previously documented concerns about the business climate and overall fiscal health of the state of Illinois still would have made it unpractical for us to select your community for this project," the company said in a letter explaining its decision.

• The Wages of Pandering

  NRO Articles

  The Editors

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Mitt Romney has done himself no favors in developing a reputation for political inconstancy, but a flip-flop on his recently reaffirmed support for automatic increases in the minimum wage would be welcome. Indexing the minimum wage to inflation is bad economics, bad public policy, and bad politics: the full trifecta of political incompetence. The law says that the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Reality says the minimum wage is $0.00 an hour, and millions of unemployed Americans are collecting that — especially the young, among whom unemployment persists at catastrophically high levels.

• L.A. Board of Supervisors Impose $1,000 Fine for Having Fun on the Beach

  Michelle Malkin

  Doug Powers

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:42 pm

  **Written by Doug Powers If you outlaw throwing footballs on the beach, only outlaws will throw footballs on the beach: The Board of Supervisors this week agreed to raise fines to up to $1,000 for anyone who throws a football or a Frisbee on any beach in Los Angeles County. In passing the 37-page ordinance (PDF) on Tuesday, officials sought to outline responsibilities for law enforcement and other public agencies while also providing clarification on beach-goer activities that could potentially disrupt or even injure the public. The updated rules now prohibit “any person to cast, toss,…

• Bachmann pokes fun at her own campaign flubs

  On Politics - USATODAY.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:03 pm

  Rep. Michele Bachmann poked fun at some of her own presidential campaign gaffes before conservative activists.

• G.O.P. Race Has Hallmarks of Prolonged Battle

  FiveThirtyEight

  By NATE SILVER

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:03 am

  Whatever your perspective on how likely Mitt Romney was to lose the Republican nomination race prior to Tuesday evening, it should be acknowledged that he had about the worst results conceivable.

• 

  Drudge Retort

• Caterpillar Won't Build Plant in Illinois

  glasshouse

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:23 pm

  The Peoria-based Caterpillar won't be building its new North American plant in Illinois, company officials said Tuesday, in part over concerns about the business climate in the state. Instead, Caterpiller is looking for a location closer to its division headquarters in Cary, N.C. "Caterpillar's previously documented concerns about the business climate and overall fiscal health of the state of Illinois still would have made it unpractical for us to select your community for this project," the company said in a letter explaining its decision.

• Did Paul Secretly Win Caucuses?

  rcade

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:01 pm

  Dave Weigel: They all laughed at Ron Paul. They all laughed when he took a stage in Minnesota, having come in a solid second place, and reminded the faithful of a "little thing called delegates!" They were serious about it. Paul's people believe that they understand the delegate process, and that the media does not. There is truth here: The delegate process is confusing, and I assume that Paul supporters have used their four years of organizing and studying in a fruitful manner.

• Library Patron Watches Porn Around Kids

  MURPHY

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:55 am

  A Seattle librarian refused to force a man watching hardcore porn on one of its computer to move to a more discreet location, even after a woman with two children complained, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The Lake City librarian said the library "doesn't censor content" and could not "be in the business of monitoring what their patrons are doing at any given computer."

• Senators Favor War Over Containment

  monstman

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:29 am

  A bipartisan group of senators including Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) are circulating a draft resolution to pressure the Obama administration to limit diplomatic efforts to resolve concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The resolution rules out "a strategy of containment for a nuclear-armed Iran in the strongest and clearest terms," the senators said -- a move that would make war more likely.

• Hannity Can't Accept Obama Got Bin Laden

  reinheitsgebot

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:25 am

  Fox News host Sean Hannity, arguing that President Barack Obama shouldn't be credited with the U.S. finding and killing Osama bin Laden, said, "The public does give him credit for that. But it wouldn't have happened if he had his way, and I think that can be proved as well on tape." Hannity never explained what the tape is, or why he's never broadcast such evidence.

• 

  NRO Articles

• The Wages of Pandering

  The Editors

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Mitt Romney has done himself no favors in developing a reputation for political inconstancy, but a flip-flop on his recently reaffirmed support for automatic increases in the minimum wage would be welcome. Indexing the minimum wage to inflation is bad economics, bad public policy, and bad politics: the full trifecta of political incompetence. The law says that the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Reality says the minimum wage is $0.00 an hour, and millions of unemployed Americans are collecting that — especially the young, among whom unemployment persists at catastrophically high levels.

• Global Persecution of Christians

  Conrad Black

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 am

  Perhaps the gravest under-publicized atrocity in the world is the persecution of Christians. A comprehensive Pew Forum study last year found that Christians are persecuted in 131 countries containing 70 percent of the world’s population, out of 197 countries in the world (if Palestine, Taiwan, South Sudan, and the Vatican are included). Best estimates are that about 200 million Christians are in communities where they are persecuted. There is not the slightest question of the scale and barbarity of this persecution, and a little of it is adequately publicized. But this highlights the…

• Unconscionable

  The Editors

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 am

  The Obama administration is now telling liberals that it is not backing down on its new health-care mandate, even as it coos of compromise to religious groups appalled by it. These messages may seem to be contradictory, but actually the administration has been quite consistent: Nothing it has ever said on this issue has been trustworthy. Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, has been the leading misleader. The administration, recall, has decided that almost all employers must cover contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients in their employees’ insurance…

• Wooing the Millennials

  Michael Barone

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  The Republican presidential candidates, except for Ron Paul, haven’t been paying much attention to young voters in the primaries and caucuses so far. But any Republican nominee — which is to say probably Mitt Romney, or maybe Newt Gingrich, or Rick Santorum — had better be paying attention to them in the summer and fall. The reason three of the four Republicans haven’t paid much attention to young voters is that the under-30 folks have been turning out in the Republican contests in minuscule numbers.Keep reading this post . . .

• Iran 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0

  Victor Davis Hanson

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  On the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama once called for a “reset” policy with Iran. Supposedly, the unpopularity of the Texan provocateur George W. Bush and his administration’s inability to finesse “soft power” had needlessly alienated the Iranian theocracy. After all, the widely quoted but highly politicized 2007 National Intelligence Estimate claimed that Iran had ceased work on a bomb in 2003 and would not have a weapon for the foreseeable future. That flawed analysis fueled another popular talking point: that the Bush- Cheney warmongers…

• 

  Michelle Malkin

• L.A. Board of Supervisors Impose $1,000 Fine for Having Fun on the Beach

  Doug Powers

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:42 pm

  **Written by Doug Powers If you outlaw throwing footballs on the beach, only outlaws will throw footballs on the beach: The Board of Supervisors this week agreed to raise fines to up to $1,000 for anyone who throws a football or a Frisbee on any beach in Los Angeles County. In passing the 37-page ordinance (PDF) on Tuesday, officials sought to outline responsibilities for law enforcement and other public agencies while also providing clarification on beach-goer activities that could potentially disrupt or even injure the public. The updated rules now prohibit “any person to cast, toss,…

• CPAC vs. the Occupiers: Keep calm and carry silly string

  Michelle Malkin

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:15 am

  Photoshop credit: VVM The Right twittersphere has been buzzing for the past week about planned ambushes of CPAC 2012, the annual gathering of conservatives in D.C., by the Occupier mob. The conference kicks off today and every major Republican speaker has a giant target on his/her back — because every fame-seeker, troll, Michael Moore wannabe, and glitter-bomber will be looking to claim their 15 minutes of infamy. Lachlan Markay at Heritage reported on the saboteurs’ schemes earlier this week: During a Thursday meeting at McPherson Square, until Saturday the epicenter of the…

• Report: Solyndra Sold Assets Cheap to Entity with Close Ties to Investors

  Doug Powers

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:08 am

  **Written by Doug Powers What’s a week without more suspicious Solyndra news? This should be enough to get us by until the inevitable almost weekly document dump that could come tomorrow. From the Washington Times: Fast running out of money, solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC last summer sold off nearly $60 million worth of inventory for less than $20 million in cash to a newly formed corporate entity closely tied to the company’s biggest investors, records show. Backed by $535 million in federal loan guarantees but burning through the little cash it had left, Solyndra made its first sale…

• PETA Heartache: Judge Tosses Out Lawsuit Seeking Slavery Protection for SeaWorld Whales

  Doug Powers

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:36 pm

  **Written by Doug Powers I’m reserving any sense of closure on this craziness until convinced the 9th Circuit isn’t going to jump in at some point and not only reverse this decision, but make SeaWorld pay the orcas reparations. From Fox News: An effort to free whales from SeaWorld by claiming they were enslaved made a splash in the news but flopped in court Wednesday. A federal judge in San Diego dismissed an unprecedented lawsuit seeking to grant constitutional protection against slavery to a group of orcas that perform at SeaWorld parks, saying the 13th amendment applies only to…

• Steny Hoyer: The Fact is You Don’t Need a Budget

  Doug Powers

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:27 pm

  **Written by Doug Powers I’ll give him this much: with or without a budget, they manage to find ways to spend almost equally irresponsibly, so maybe he’s onto something: At a briefing with journalists on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Hoyer was asked, “Mr. Hoyer, around the same time of the State of the Union [on Jan. 24], I think it was the same day, Republicans were trying to hit Senate Democrats for 1,000 days without passing a budget, and then you talk about this milestone today, 400 days without a jobs bill in the Republican House. But then on Friday [Democratic Senator Harry]…

• 

  On Politics - USATODAY.com

• Bachmann pokes fun at her own campaign flubs

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:03 pm

  Rep. Michele Bachmann poked fun at some of her own presidential campaign gaffes before conservative activists.

• Santorum surges, Gingrich fades

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:55 pm

  Mitt Romney still leads in Gallup's daily tracking poll, but Rick Santorum has moved into a tie for second with Newt Gingrich.

• Perry plays off 'halftime' ad to jab Obama

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:32 am

  Texas Gov. Rick Perry gets in his digs on President Obama as he exhorts GOP activists to return power to the states.

• Romney's losses turn spotlight on Maine

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:17 am

  After three losses, Mitt Romney looks to Maine for a boost. Ron Paul has already been campaigning there and his crowds have been huge.

• Santorum rakes in over $1M since sweep

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:47 am

  Rick Santorum's campaign says the GOP presidential hopeful has raised more than $1 million since winning contests in Minnesota, Missouri and ...

• 

  FiveThirtyEight

• G.O.P. Race Has Hallmarks of Prolonged Battle

  By NATE SILVER

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:03 am

  Whatever your perspective on how likely Mitt Romney was to lose the Republican nomination race prior to Tuesday evening, it should be acknowledged that he had about the worst results conceivable.

• Live Coverage: Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri

  By NATE SILVER

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:05 pm

  Republicans today are holding caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and a primary in Missouri. We'll be bringing you data-driven analysis, historical perspective and results as they become available.

• The High Stakes in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri

  By NATE SILVER

  7 Feb 2012 | 1:13 pm

  The results will provide an important test of how robust Mitt Romney's coalition is on less than favorable terrain and could bolster the campaign of Rick Santorum.

• Political Geography: Minnesota

  By MICAH COHEN

  7 Feb 2012 | 12:52 pm

  Minnesota's reputation as a liberal bastion obscures the fact that the state's Republican Party is deeply conservative, and has grown more so over the last decade.

• Political Geography: Colorado

  By MICAH COHEN

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:18 am

  A look at the constituencies that make up the state's Republican electorate and where they live.

• 

  Hot Air » Top Picks

• Perry: Sure, I’ll run for President again

  Ed Morrissey

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:05 pm

  Plus, a message for the current President. Earlier today, Governor Rick Perry visited Blogger Row at CPAC to chat with the group just before giving his speech to the general assembly — a well-received speech that shows that Perry has not lost the affection of conservative activists after a hard-fought but unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination.  In between his visit [...] Read this post »

• Oh my: Santorum now tied with Gingrich nationally for second place

  Allahpundit

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:30 pm

  Tipping point? On January 23, two days after South Carolina, it was Mitt 29, Newt 28, with Santorum dead last behind Ron Paul at 11 percent. Seventeen days later: Mitt 36, Santorum 20, Gingrich 20, with Senator Sweater Vest having gained another three points overnight. Two Not Romneys enter, one Not Romney leaves. Or maybe two Not [...] Read this post »

• Arizona legislature moves toward curbing union abuses

  Jazz Shaw

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:55 pm

  Right to work, not to coast Last year we brought you up to date with the efforts of the Goldwater Institute to fight union corruption and abuse of taxpayer dollars in Arizona. In what should serve as an inspiration to activists everywhere, their voices have been heard and the state government has opened up a series of legislative actions to remedy [...] Read this post »

• Abandon ship: At least five Senate Democrats now oppose Obama’s new contraception rule

  Allahpundit

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:20 pm

  Conscience. ABC says Lieberman, Manchin, Casey, and both Nelsons (Bill and Ben) have headed for the lifeboats, but I think that count’s already outdated. According to Fox News’s Chad Pergram, John Kerry also thinks the new rule “needs to be compromised, adjusted.” If all six vote with the GOP caucus to either repeal the rule or [...] Read this post »

• CNN’s suspension of Roland Martin is a teachable moment

  Howard Portnoy

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:40 pm

  But will he apologize to Soccer? Roland Martin, tweeted on Sunday, walked it back Monday, chastened on Tuesday, suspended on Wednesday… That’s the short version of recent events in the life of the CNN commentator and author of Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America. The tale begins on Super Bowl Sunday, when Martin tweeted: If a dude at your Super [...] Read this post »

• 

  The Economist: The world this week

• Politics this week

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:02 am

• Business this week

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:02 am

• KAL's cartoon

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:02 am

• 

  WSJ.com: Politics And Policy

• Swing Nation

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:22 pm

  The Wall Street Journal is visiting three swing counties in swing states—Florida, Ohio and Colorado—periodically this year to gauge how the election campaign is unfolding.

• Chamber Starting Early Ad Blitz

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:34 am

  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is launching a $10 million campaign to support the re-election of 20 mostly Republican congressional candidates, a sign that it's not only the presidential race that could see record spending this year.

• Romney Country Seems Like No Sure Thing

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:53 am

  With Mitt Romney losing three GOP nominating races Tuesday, doubts have arisen about how he'll do Feb. 28 in the contests in Michigan and Arizona, where he polled strongly four years ago.

• Ground Shifts Again for Republicans

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:51 am

  Bruising defeats in three battleground states Tuesday have exposed lingering weaknesses in Mitt Romney's standing with conservatives.

• Rove: Newt's Southern Strategy Won't Work

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:28 am

  Santorum's Tuesday wins make him, for now at least, Romney's main conservative challenger.

• 

  Townhall's Featured Blog

• Matthews Scolds Heilemann For Regurgitating Incorrect WH Talking Pts On Catholic Contraception Issue

  Greg Hengler

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:37 pm

  It looks like Matthew's leg thrill has been overridden by his Catholicism or something. The look of shame on John Heilemann's face...

• Video: Rubio Hammers Obama's Re-Election Strategy at CPAC

  Guy Benson

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:56 am

  Regular readers are likely aware that I am a card-carrying member of the Marco Rubio fan club. Earlier today, I was privileged to be among a...

• Obama Administration: Shamefully Anti-Choice

  Michael Medved

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:53 am

  The Obama administration’s insistence that Catholic hospitals and clinics must provide contraceptive services, including sterilization and...

• Crumble: Democrats Abandoning Obama on Unconstitutional Birth Control Mandate

  Guy Benson

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:02 am

  Pressure is mounting on the White House to reverse its appalling decision to force religious institutions to violate core doctrinein order to...

• MSNBC Panel Mocks Catholics: Contraception "Like Water" To Them

  Greg Hengler

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:43 am

  Democrats.

• 

  TPM Election Central

• Dems Slam Romney For Inconsistencies On Birth Control

  Sahil Kapur

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:17 pm

  In his 2006 Massachusetts health care law, Mitt Romney embraced a virtually identical contraception coverage mandate as President Obama recently has, experts say, and as a result expanded access to birth control for hundreds of thousands of women. And Democrats really want you to know that. "They are practically mirror images or each other," John McDonough, a professor of public health at Harvard, said on a conference call organized by the Democratic National Committee. "They completely reflect each other." Romney has embraced the shocked, shocked tone of leading Republicans on this issue in…

• Rubio Bill Lets ANY Employer Deny Birth Control Coverage

  Sahil Kapur

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:25 pm

  Legislation introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to reverse the Obama administration's birth control rule would effectively permit any employer to deny contraception coverage in their employee health plans, critics note. "Any employer could deny birth control coverage under Rubio's bill and all the employer would have to do is say it's for a religious reason," said Jessica Arons, Director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at the liberal Center for American Progress. "There is no test to prove eligibility. It's a loophole you could drive a truck through." The Rubio bill, The Religious…

• Poll: Random People In A Phonebook Would Do Better Than Current Congress

  David Taintor

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:16 am

  What's a phone book, you ask? Before smart phones and high-speed internet access, people had to consult a massive book to look up phone numbers. And according to a recent Rasmussen poll, a plurality of voters think the random people inside it would do a better job than the current Congress. Forty-three percent of respondents said a group of random people selected from the phone book would do a better job addressing the nation's problems than their current representatives. Thirty-eight percent of respondents disagreed and 19 percent weren't sure. "We have a situation in which the American…

• Why Planned Parenthood Had To Fight Back So Hard

  Pema Levy

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:04 am

  The Komen Foundation seemed to be caught off guard by the strong response to its decision to defund Planned Parenthood. The former executive Karen Handel told Fox News upon her resignation that Planned Parenthood had made the matter "political." Meanwhile, an anonymous Komen source told the Huffington Post they'd been caught off-guard by Planned Parenthood's "incredibly sophisticated" operation. RELATED: Ex-Komen Official: We Aren't Political, But Planned Parenthood Is It should not have come as a shock. Planned Parenthood is no stranger to such controversies. TPM spoke with two former…

• GOP Ripe For Splits In Assault On Birth Control Rule

  Sahil Kapur

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:58 pm

  Congressional Republicans' pledge to mount a legislative push against the Obama administration's requirement that health insurance plans cover birth control comes with a risk: Alienating their members who have previously pushed or voted to mandate contraception coverage. Back in 2001, six Republican senators sponsored legislation decreeing that health insurance plans may not "exclude or restrict benefits for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration." In other words, they would be required to provide birth control. The bill never made it out of…

• 

  PJ Media

• Choosing Life and Beating the Odds: Accepting Down Syndrome

  Cassy Fiano

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:08 am

  Ninety percent of babies with the diagnosis end up aborted. But that wasn't an option for me.

• El efecto Obama en América Latina

  Jaime Daremblum

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  En su reciente Discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión, el presidente Obama no habló de la política de Estados Unidos en América Latina, excepto por una referencia al pasar a los tratados de libre comercio con Colombia y Panamá y por las siguientes siete palabras: Our ties to the Americas are deeper [Nuestros lazos [...]

• ‘It’s Your Fault’: U.S. Gets the Israel Treatment Over Iran

  Shoshana Bryen

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Iran makes threats, the U.S. gets blamed for "saber-rattling."

• Jews, Party Identification, and Political Realignment

  Abraham H. Miller

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  The 9% shift in party identification changes a pattern begun by Roosevelt.

• The Obama Effect in Latin America

  Jaime Daremblum

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Placating enemies instead of strengthening partnerships with friends. (Read this article in Spanish here.) 

• 

  RedState

• House Brings Conservative Reform to Broken Highway System

  ()

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:54 am

  This morning we awoke to find that the New York Times Editorial Board and Redstate’s Erick Erickson had aligned themselves on an issue by both taking a shot at the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill the House will consider next week. Usually when a situation like that arises, something’s amiss. And that is certainly the case today. It’s not surprising the New York Times hates the bill – it’s the most conservative plan for America’s infrastructure in anyone’s lifetime. That’s why Erick’s post this morning was so surprising. But there’s an explanation.

• (With a Nod to Christopher Wren), if You Seek the Establishment, Look Around You…

  ()

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  From the diaries… We had a smallish political brush-fire here in Michigan in 1982. The grizzled old William Milliken had finally decided that 124 terms was enough as Governor, and he was hanging up the cleats. Jim Blanchard, a weirdo Democrat downriver Detroit Big Labor congressman decided he would run, as did a few other miscreants from the Democrat party. Even the benighted John Conyers toyed with the idea, until someone pointed it out to the congressman that if he were elected Governor, he’d actually have to LIVE in Michigan, and to heck with that. On the Republican side, all…

• Tim Murphy’s Love Affair with Big Labor

  ()

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:30 am

  From the Diaries by Leon… Keith Impink runs Westmoreland Electric, a small business in Tarrs, Pennsylvania which was founded in 1988 with two employees and a truck.  His company, now 65 employees strong, is the type of job creator we should empower to move our state and country out of these difficult economic times. The painful irony for local job creators like Keith is their very own Congressman, Tim Murphy, has consistently voted to make it harder for small businesses to grow, thrive and prosper. Small business can’t compete against Big Labor, and it’s tough to find a more…

• The Fiscal Conservative “Go It Alone” Strategy Failed

  ()

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  From the diaries by Leon… Let me begin with two brief qualifiers.  First, I believe in fiscal conservatism.  I am a 100% fiscally conservative believer in small government.  I also happen to be 100% in favor of social conservatism and a strong national defense.  So, in short, I am a Reagan conservative.  The following diary is not a critique of fiscal conservatism but rather those fiscal conservatives who continually bash social conservatives while at the same time asking for their vote.  Second, those aforementioned fiscal conservatives were not exactly loners.  They simply…

• The World America Made

  ()

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:00 am

  Download audio here Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Robert Kagan to discuss his new book, The World America Made, the importance of America’s military muscle, and how the world may change if America is no longer the world’s superpower. We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show. Related Links: Buy The World America Made on…

• 

  Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National

• Mitt Romney: President Obama told people "to skip coming here (Las Vegas) for conventions and meetings."

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:34 pm

  The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Mitt Romney says president told people to skip Vegas conventions Fired up from a victory in Nevada’s caucuses, Mitt Romney used his stump speech in Las Vegas to remind supporters that President Barack Obama has not fixed the state’s economic woes. "Four years ago, candidate Obama came to Nevada, promising to help. But after he was elected, his help was telling people to skip coming here for conventions and meetings," Romney told the crowd at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa on Feb. 4, 2012. Did we hear that right? Was the…

• Mitt Romney: "President Obama is shrinking our military."

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:21 pm

  The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Mitt Romney says Barack Obama is "shrinking our military" Is President Barack Obama weakening America’s military? As part of our analysis of a typical Mitt Romney presidential campaign speech, we’ll look at a line he has used about spending on the U.S. military. "President Obama is shrinking our military and hollowing out our national defense," Romney said in a speech after winning the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 4, 2012. First, the president’s official proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 is scheduled to be released later this…

• Mitt Romney: "Three years ago, a newly elected President Obama told America that if Congress approved his plan to borrow nearly a trillion dollars, he would hold unemployment below 8 percent."

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:33 pm

  The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Mitt Romney says president promised peak of 8 percent unemployment The night of his victory in the Nevada caucuses, Mitt Romney used his stump speech to stomp on President Barack Obama’s policies and record. Romney, who led the Republican field by a sizeable margin in a state hammered by unemployment and foreclosures, used those themes to make his case against Obama. He also repeated a claim we have heard -- and checked -- numerous times. "Three years ago, a newly elected President Obama told America that if Congress approved his plan to…

• Mitt Romney: "If you take into account all the people who are struggling for work, or have just stopped looking, the real unemployment rate is over 15 percent."

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:31 pm

  The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Mitt Romney says a broader measure of national unemployment exceeds 15 percent The last time we rated a Mitt Romney claim on unemployment, we dinged him with a Half True for using a big number without describing it accurately. This time, he got it right. In a speech after winning the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 4, 2012, Romney said, "If you take into account all the people who are struggling for work or have just stopped looking, the real unemployment rate is over 15 percent." That's much more accurate than his statement at the Tampa debate on Jan. 23,…

• Barack Obama: On fundraising for super PACs

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:03 pm

  The Truth-o-Meter says: Full Flop | Obama campaign says officials will now appear at super PAC fundraisers "Neither the president nor his campaign staff or aides will fundraise for super PACs." — President Barack Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt, July 9, 2011 "Senior campaign officials as well as some White House and Cabinet officials will attend and speak at (super PAC) Priorities USA fundraising events." — President Barack Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, Feb. 6, 2012 A fundraising decision by President Barack Obama’s campaign in February 2012…

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  Politifact.com stories from National

• On the Stump: Checking Romney's Nevada speech

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:45 pm

  First in an occasional series fact-checking the speeches of the presidential candidates. Ann Romney took care of the thank yous. She praised the Nevada volunteers, the leaders of the state campaign and offered "a special shout-out to Dema Guinn," the wife for former Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn. The pleasantries out of the way, she introduced her husband Mitt Romney ("the next president of the United States ...."), who rattled off a litany of complaints about the current president. He said President Barack Obama promised in 2008 to help Nevada's sagging economy, but four…

• Checking Obama's promises on flexible-fuel cars

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:50 am

  During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to boost flex-fuel vehicles in two ways -- through federal purchasing and by mandates on carmakers. Despite some progress more broadly on bolstering alternative vehicles, such as electric plug-ins, Obama has fallen short on both promises. Flexible fuel vehicles are designed to run either on gasoline or on a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol, a format known as E85. Beyond a few mechanical modifications, flex-fuel vehicles are identical to gasoline-only models.    One of Obama’s promises was to "work with…

• Did Newt Gingrich pay a $300,000 'fine'?

  7 Feb 2012 | 1:55 pm

  In politics, we’ve gotten used to seeing various euphemisms used to inflame debate. For example, there’s "illegal aliens" vs. "undocumented workers." "Pro-life" vs. "anti-abortion." And the deep divide over "torture" vs. "enhanced interrogation." We stumbled into another area controversy over definition in a recent fact-check of charges about Republican candidate for president Newt Gingrich. The super PAC Restore Our Future accused Gingrich of being "fined" $300,000 for an ethics violation in the 1990s. We…

• Does Obama 'demonize,' 'denigrate' almost every sector of our economy?

  6 Feb 2012 | 1:25 pm

  During the speech following his victory in the Florida Republican primary on Jan. 31, 2012, presidential candidate Mitt Romney criticized President Barack Obama for his stance toward American business. "President Obama's view of a free economy is to send your money to his friends. My vision for a free enterprise economy is to return entrepreneurship and genius and creativity to the American people. On one of the most personal matters of our lives, our health care, President Obama would turn decision making over to government bureaucrats. He forced through Obama-care, and I will…

• Men, monkeys and the origin of AIDS

  3 Feb 2012 | 8:10 am

  Tennessee state Sen. Stacey Campfield sparked an uproar with his comments about gay people and the origin of AIDS.  In one claim, Campfield said AIDS was transmitted to humans because "one guy" had sex with "a monkey" and then started "having sex with men." PolitiFact Tennessee put that claim to the Truth-O-Meter. >>More

• 

  RealClearPolitics - Homepage

• Murky GOP Rhetoric on Defense

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:18 pm

  George Will, New Hampshire Union LeaderThrough 11 presidential elections, beginning with the Democrats' nomination of George McGovern in 1972, Republicans have enjoyed a presumption of superiority regarding national security. This year, however, events and their rhetoric are dissipating their advantage.Hours "” not months, not weeks, hours "” after the last U.S. troops left Iraq, vicious political factionalism and sectarian violence intensified. Many Republicans say Barack Obama's withdrawal "” accompanied by his…

• It's Time to Arm the Syrian Opposition

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:18 pm

  Daniel Drezner, The New RepublicIt is a testimony to the relative powerlessness of American policymakers that much of what has already been accomplished to force the end of Bashar al-Assad’s autocratic rule in Syria—ongoing demonstrations; the growing defections within the ranks of a Syrian army that has already killed at least 5,000 protesters; the punishing international sanctions against Damascus; the Arab League’s expelling of Syria from its ranks, and its subsequent call for international intervention; powerful economic sanctions implemented by European…

• Perry to CPAC: "You Don't Have to Settle"

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:17 pm

  Bridget Johnson, PJ MediaTexas Gov. Rick Perry offered a bold vision for America with oratorical fireworks and a crowd of conservatives that grew more excited with his every sentence.You’d never know he wasn’t running for president anymore.Perry was something of a rock star at CPAC this afternoon, praising the “foot soldiers in the revolution” and reaping hearty ovations from the same. He quipped that he had been running for the White House, but “the people of New Hampshire had a different idea.”Texas A&M Aggies, he said,…

• Odds Still in Romney's Favor

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:16 pm

  Peter Wehner, CommentaryIt seems like every time I declare Mitt Romney to be in the catbird seat, he does everything in his power to disprove me. But last night, the former Massachusetts governor outdid himself, having been swept by Rick Santorum in contests in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado. And it isn’t simply the fact that Romney lost; it’s the magnitude of his losses. Governor Romney finished third in Minnesota with 17 percent of the vote total, behind both Ron Paul (27 percent) and Santorum (45 percent). In Missouri, Romney lost to Santorum by a staggering 30…

• On Birth Control, Romney Mirrored Obama

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:15 pm

  Patrick Tracey, SalonCracking down on contraception was never the way for Mitt Romney to ingratiate himself with voters in Massachusetts, even the Roman Catholics who mostly see it as a moral neutral. Now that that position is coming back to haunt Romney like the ghost of Christmas past, he’s taking cover with the religious right. And after last night’s surprising three-state sweep by social conservative Rick Santorum he’ll need all the cover he can get. 

• 

  The Weekly Standard Blog

• Iran Threatens Two More Naval Chokepoints

  Lenny Ben-David

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:32 pm

  Considerable attention is being given to Iranian threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large proportion of the world’s petroleum sails. The U.S Energy Information Administration estimates that “almost 17 million barrels in 2011, up from between 15.5-16.0 million bbl/d in 2009-2010,” sails past Iranian gun and missile emplacements along the coast, mine-laying ships, and Revolutionary Guard fast boats. In 2011, that amounted to “roughly 35 percent of all seaborne traded oil, or almost 20 percent of oil traded worldwide.” Yet the recent visit of two Iranian naval…

• Chrysler’s Wisconsin Moment

  Ben Schachter

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:19 pm

  By now the Chrysler Super Bowl advertisement has become well known. And not surprisingly it’s gotten political. “Powerful spot,” said David Axelrod. “Extremely well-done,” said Karl Rove, adding: It is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the President of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising and the best wished of the management which is benefited by getting a bunch of our money that they’ll never pay back. Indeed, the political aspect runs deeper. As the Hollywood Reporter…

• On the Path to a Brokered Convention?

  Michael Warren

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:30 pm

  Sean Trende of RealClearPolitics, who in the past has been skeptical of the likelihood of a brokered Republican convention, now sees the opening for one: My assumption -- and the assumption of many -- was that the GOP fight would eventually degenerate into an ideological battle between the very conservative and somewhat conservative/moderate wings of the party, with Romney on one side and a single alternative on the other. Unless there was a late entrant or Ron Paul caught fire in the caucus states, someone was virtually assured of claiming the requisite number of delegates in that scenario.

• Inflecting?

  William Kristol

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:30 am

  Yesterday I pointed out that "February 7 could prove to have been Super Tuesday if it turns out to be a key inflection point in the campaign."  Two indications, I wrote, of such an inflection point would be "if Santorum now passes Newt Gingrich in national Republican surveys" and if he "continues to do better than Gingrich (and than Romney?) in poll match-ups against President Obama." Today, the Gallup national tracking poll of Republican voters has Santorum catching Gingrich at 20 percent apiece. This is a five-day rolling average. Some back-of-the-envelope…

• Canned Response

  Victorino Matus

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:05 am

  All throughout Top Chef: Texas, Ed Lee has never been rattled. He may have made a few mistakes along the way, but his focus remained unbroken. (He also had little patience for incompetence and was never soft on his fellow chefs. When Sarah Grueneberg needed 9-1-1, Ed was actually annoyed by the inconvenience.) But on last night's semifinal, Ed's focus on a dish with oysters got the better of him. "Every time I went to that Whole Foods, they always had fresh oysters," recalled the chef. So it figures the one time he actually needed fresh oysters, there were none on sale.

• 

  Right Wing News

• Dependence On Government Spikes 23% Under Obama

  William Teach

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:16 am

  And that’s just the way Government wants it (IBD) The American public’s dependence on the federal government shot up 23% in just two years under President Obama, with 67 million now relying on some federal program, according to a newly released study by the Heritage Foundation. The conservative think tank’s annual Index of Dependence on Government tracks money spent on housing, health, welfare, education subsidies and other federal programs that were “traditionally provided to needy people by local organizations and families.” The two-year increase under Obama is…

• Obama Reinforces Stance On Unconstitutional Contraceptive Mandate

  William Teach

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:47 am

  It boggles the mind why Obama would want to pick this fight with Catholics, which also means Conservatives, Tea Party members, Republicans, and the 60+% of Americans who oppose ObamaCare get riled up again, in an election year. Democrats, including Obama, avoided mentioning ObamaCare during the 2010 mid-term elections in the same manner people avoid discussions of their grandparents having sex. They avoided mentioning it during 2011. Obama avoided it during the 2011 and 2012 State of the Union campaign speeches. Why bring it up now? But, Obama is not giving ...

• Professional Warmists Shocked No Ice Melt In Himalayas, Still Say We’re Doomed

  William Teach

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:11 am

  We’ve already had confirmation on massive errors in the UN IPCC’s “science”, and know that the errors were used intentionally to scaremonger. We know that the data came from an unfounded report which had no scientific data, written by a grad student who did no field research, like so much of the 2007 IPCC assessment. And now we find (UK Guardian) The world’s greatest snow-capped peaks, which run in a chain from the Himalayas to Tian Shan on the border of China and Kyrgyzstan, have lost no ice over ...

• Iran 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0

  Victor Davis Hanson

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:04 pm

  On the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama once called for a “reset” policy with Iran. Supposedly, the unpopularity of the Texan provocateur George W. Bush and his administration’s inability to finesse “soft power” had needlessly alienated the Iranian theocracy. After all, the widely quoted but highly politicized 2007 National Intelligence Estimate claimed that Iran had ceased work on a bomb in 2003 and would not have a weapon for the foreseeable future. That flawed analysis fueled another popular talking point: that the Bush-Cheney warmongers…

• The Anti-Romney Vote

  Thomas Sowell

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:03 pm

  A funny thing happened to Mitt Romney on the way to his coronation as the inevitable Republican candidate for President of the United States. Minnesota, Michigan and Colorado happened. Rick Santorum beat him in all three states on the same day — and beat him by huge margins in two of those states, as well as upsetting him in Colorado, where the Mormon vote was expected to give Romney a victory. The Republican establishment, which has lined up heavily behind Romney, has tried to depict him as the “electable,” if not ...

• 

  NYT > Politics

• The Caucus: Moderate Republicans Spotted in the House?

  By JONATHAN WEISMAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:57 pm

  Six lawmakers have let Republican House leaders know that they oppose oil drilling in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, possibly signaling that a moderate wing may be emerging.

• Mortgage Plan Gives Homeowners Bulk of the Benefits

  By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ and SHAILA DEWAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:52 pm

  Under the settlement, about $5 billion would go to states and federal authorities, $17 billion would be earmarked for homeowner relief and $3 billion would go for refinancing.

• Obama Economic Advisers Raise Job Creation Forecast

  By JACKIE CALMES

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:30 pm

  A drop in unemployment in January, the fifth straight monthly decline, suggested an 8.9 percent forecast was too high.

• State Dept. Cleared of Impropriety in Pipeline Case

  By JOHN M. BRODER and DAN FROSCH

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:07 pm

  The department’s inspector general found no improper political influence by officials but faulted the department’s oversight of contractors who prepared an environmental impact analysis.

• House Republicans Cut an Ethics Bill Provision

  By ROBERT PEAR

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  Republican lawmakers have deleted a provision that would regulate the collection of “political intelligence” from political insiders for the use of hedge funds, mutual funds and other investors.

• 

  Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More - The Washington Post

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce begins multi-million dollar ad campaign in congressional races

  T.W. Farnam

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:59 pm

  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a multi-million dollar ad blitz in House and Senate races across the country on Thursday. The launch marks the earliest start ever to the Chamber’s biennial ad campaigns in congressional races. The ads back Republicans in 11 House races and eight Senate contests. The group is supporting one Democrat: Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah. Read full article >>

• Landmark settlement announced on foreclosure, mortgage fraud

  Brady Dennis, Sari Horwitz

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:10 pm

  State and federal officials on Thursday announced a settlement of $26 billion with five of the nation’s banks over flawed and fraudulent foreclosure practices that affected several million homeowners and became commonplace after the housing boom turned to bust in recent years. It is the largest government-industry settlement in more than a decade. Read full article >>

• John Sanchez drops out of New Mexico Senate race

  Rachel Weiner

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:55 am

  New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez (R) has dropped his Senate bid — welcome news to former Rep. Heather Wilson, his chief primary opponent. Sanchez was competing for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D). Read full article >>

• Featured Advertiser

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:55 am

• Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry speak to CPAC, as conservatives call for unity

  David A. Fahrenthold

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:53 am

  On the first day of the annual convention of conservative activists, the losers had their moment. “Running for president of the United States,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who dropped out of the race earlier this year, “is really one series of humiliations after another.” Read full article >>

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  Swampland

• Mitt Romney’s Sweet Spot: Just Conservative Enough

  Michael Crowley

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:27 pm

  Why is Mitt Romney having trouble winning over the conservative Republican base? One reason is his lack of political finesse, an air of dorky rich-guy aloofness that reminds some people of John Kerry. More important, however, is his ideological profile. In almost every important way, Romney’s policy platform is more moderate than those of Newt [...]

• Outline of the $25 Billion Mortgage Settlement

  Christopher Matthews

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:48 am

  It’s been a long slog, but government officials and representatives from major U.S. banks have reportedly come to terms on a settlement that would put an end to federal and state investigations into alleged foreclosure abuses by financial institutions. The White House will announce the official details early this afternoon, but several reports paint a picture of [...]

• Conflict Over Obama’s Contraception Rule Intensifies

  Adam Sorensen

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:31 am

  The Administration’s decision to require Catholic charities and universities to provide free birth control through employee health coverage is several weeks old, but the maelstrom of dissent it’s created is widening. Republicans, who charge that the measure violates such organizations’ religious freedoms, have allied with Catholic groups in opposition, and in recent days a handful [...]

• Morning Must Reads: Energy

  Adam Sorensen

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:47 am

  $26 billion mortgage fraud deal nears finalization with New York and California reportedly on board. Obama looks to the states for ways to salve contraception controversy. Top Hill Republicans impugn Romney’s performance–on the record. Enthusiasm begins to look like a problem. Conservatives think Romney needs to start being more conservative. Obama bundler explains he’s only [...]

• Four Ways the U.S. Could End Up at War with Iran Before the Election*

  Jay Newton-Small

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am

  Most political analysts in Washington believe that war with Iran is unlikely, especially before the November U.S. elections. Politically it would be hard for President Obama to engage in another Middle Eastern war given the war weariness of the U.S. electorate, let alone the question of being able to afford it at a time when [...]

• 

  CNN.com - Politics

• Dangerous path to citizenship for some

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:22 am

  Tania Nava has one piece of advice for anyone seeking to come out of the shadows and pursue a path to U.S. citizenship: don't do it.

• 10 states get 'No Child Left Behind' waiver

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:21 am

  Ten states are being granted waivers to free them from parts of the No Child Left Behind law, a White House official told CNN Thursday.

• Gingrich looks to Super Tuesday lift

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:54 am

  Coming off a drubbing by Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich plans to head to home turf as part of his strategy to revitalize his presidential bid in next month's Super Tuesday primaries.

• Billionaire backer on money behind Santorum

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:21 am

  Foster Friess, longtime supporter of Rick Santorum, talks to Erin Burnett about the campaign and the money behind it.

• Sracic: Catholic vote could pick the 2012 winner

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:51 am

  Paul Sracic says the Catholic vote could be crucial in the election, and the federal mandate on birth control coverage may be a key factor.

• 

  Top news for Digg Politics Newsroom

• Legally resell used MP3s? Yes. Judge hands round 1 to ReDigi, not Capitol Records

  Digg

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:13 am

  When you buy a MP3 from iTunes, do you own it? What if you could resell some of the ton of digital music you don't listen to, but that is taking up hard drive space? You can buy and legally resell "used" MP3s on eMarketplace ReDigi, the brainchild of former MIT programmers. Like the RIAA which refuses to change a broken business model, Capitol Records had a copyright infringement.....

• Free cellphones cost taxpayers $1.6 billion

  Digg

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:12 am

  Last year, a federal program paid out $1.6 billion to cover free cell phones and the monthly bills of 12.5 million wireless accounts. The program, overseen by the FCC and intended to help low-income Americans, is popular for obvious reasons. But observers complain that the program suffers from poor oversight.

• Fox News host: Contraception rule a ‘conspiracy’ to ‘derail’ Romney

  Digg

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:47 am

  One Fox News host believes that the Obama administration’s decision to require private health insurance plans to cover contraception for women may actually be a conspiracy to “derail” Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

• Caution, Loaded (PIC)

  Digg

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:37 pm

• Oh SNAP! Congressman Calls Newt Gingrich Out, Proves Who The Real Food Stamp President Is

  Digg

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:53 am

  Armed with facts, the Congressman has a little fun setting the record straight and despite the name calling, be concludes that "hunger knows no race or religion or age or political party. Hunger is colorblind."

• 

  Politics

• The GOP's 'Meh' Moment On Full Display At Conservative Confab

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:09 pm

  If the opening day of the American Conservative Union's annual star-studded CPAC convention is any indication, the Republican presidential hopefuls all have a lot of persuading to do.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• At CPAC, Hard Lines On Race And Immigration Could Be Awkward

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:05 pm

  Three of the GOP candidates will address the largest annual gathering of conservatives on Friday. Conference panelists included a white nationalist and immigration opponents.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Why Estimating Delegate Counts Could Backfire

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:03 pm

  Uber-primary watcher Josh Putnam warns of extrapolating delegate counts from states that do not explicitly tie election results to the actual allocation of delegates.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• The GOP Elixir: Candidates Campaign On Tax Cuts

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  All four of the remaining Republican presidential candidates have proposed cutting business and personal income taxes — the only difference is by how much.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Young Republicans Gather In Washington — And Eye An Opportunity In November

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:59 pm

  Young conservatives gathering in Washington say a bad economy may be good news in 2012 for the Republican Party — at least in helping it to dent the overwhelming support Barack Obama enjoyed four years ago among the youngest voters.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• 

  FamousDC

• Famous Weekend Picks by @BlairDC

  BlairDC

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:40 am

  Happy weekend folks! Here’s my lineup for all your weekend fun. Enjoy! Thursday Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe with Anders Osbourne – so sad I will not be making this show due to yet again back injury annoyances, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss it. Grab your tickets now and get to the State [...] Related posts:Famous Weekend Picks by @BlairDC Famous Weekend Picks by @BlairDC Famous Weekend Picks by @BlairDC

• Famous 5: Andrea Powell

  almostfamous

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  Famous 5: Andrea Powell Meet Andrea Powell, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the local anti-trafficking non-profit, FAIR Girls, and 2012 nominee for the Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) People’s Voice Award. Cast your vote NOW at www.dvfawards.com through February 15th to help FAIR Girls win $50,000 and continue to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of young [...] Related posts:Famous Girl Scout Cookies! Famous 5: Alison Napolitano & Thdstrct Famous 5: Eric Schulze | ThirstDC

• Valentine’s Day

  BlairDC

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:50 am

  Valentine’s – a day you either love or hate. Everything is pink and couples woo each other with roses and chocolates, while singles throw anti-Vday parties with black balloons and voodoo dolls. Don’t you just love it? Hopefully by now, if you do have a Valentine, you have secured a reservation at one of DC’s [...] Related posts:Famous 5: Easter Sunday Brunch Spots Famous Friday [Round Up] Hyper Hill: Just Another Tuesday

• McCarthy Press Office Takes to the YouTubes to Frame Upcoming Budget Battle

  Redneck Genius

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:59 am

  Ah, budget day. The joyous day when Congressional staff hunker down and plow through the budget. Just like taxes, it happens once a year and you can’t escape it. So grab some pizza and put your game face on. It’s freaking budget time. House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy’s office didn’t waste any time setting up [...] Related posts:Famous Birthday Wishes: Sarah Pompei and Rep. Kevin McCarthy House Democratic Budget Committee Room Catches Fire, Floods How to Protect Your Office from Summer Interns

• Hyper Hill: Drop Your Pants

  nolongerfamous

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:33 am

  CPAC make out break out session [what?] Kasich delivers interesting remarks [for 100 minutes] Drop your pants and run like hell [for a good cause] Boundary Road opens Monday [H St.] via Frozen Tropics Related posts:Metro Is More Fun When You’re Not Wearing Pants Job Posting of the Day: Pants Optional Rick Perry To Drop [...] Related posts:Metro Is More Fun When You’re Not Wearing Pants Job Posting of the Day: Pants Optional Rick Perry To Drop Presidential Bid Because He’s Out of Clean Undershirts

• 

  msnbc.com: Meet the Press

• February 5: Newt Gingrich, Deval Patrick, Michael Bloomberg, Mitch Daniels, Xavier Becerra, David Brooks, Alex Castellanos, Rachel Maddow

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:56 am

• January 29: John McCain, Fred Thompson, David Axelrod, Chuck Todd, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Joe Scarborough

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:56 am

  Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod handicaps the 2012 election, while Sen. John McCain, a Romney supporter, and former Sen. Fred Thompson, a Gingrich supporter, debate the GOP primary. Chuck Todd, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Joe Scarborough add their analysis.

• January 22: Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Mike Murphy, Joe Scarborough, Katty Kay and Chuck Todd

  22 Jan 2012 | 9:47 am

  Transcript of the Jan. 22 broadcast featuring GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Republican Strategist Mike Murphy, Co-host of 'Morning Joe' Joe Scarborough, BBC Correspondent Katty Kay and NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd.

• January 15: Newt Gingrich, Harry Reid, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott

  15 Jan 2012 | 9:38 am

  Transcript of the Jan. 15 broadcast featuring Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Tim Scott.

• January 8: Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman

  8 Jan 2012 | 11:13 am

  Transcript of the Jan. 8 broadcast featuring Republican presidential candidates; Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman.

• 

  -- Politics

• Farmers still fighting for immigrant guest-worker program

  McClatchy Newspapers (Michael Doyle)

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:54 pm

  California and Southern farmers renewed their case Thursday for some kind of an agricultural guest-worker program, but they're sailing against the wind. Make that a hurricane.Click to Continue »

• House passes ethics bill after deleting one key section

  McClatchy Newspapers (William Douglas)

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:06 am

  The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday to curb insider trading by members of Congress and the executive branch, but not without the usual political acrimony that’s become…Click to Continue »

• Former Kansas Rep. Dennis Moore reveals his Alzheimer's battle

  The Kansas City Star (Steve Kraske)

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:14 am

  There's a photo of Dennis Moore kneeling next to the hole in Iraq where Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003. There he is with Fidel Castro, Gen. David Petraeus, Warren…Click to Continue »

• White House: 'Absolutely firm,' but willing to talk, on birth control

  McClatchy Newspapers (Erika Bolstad and Lesley Clark)

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:40 pm

  The White House insisted Wednesday that the president's commitment to contraceptive access for women is "absolutely firm," even as Republicans from Capitol Hill to the presidential campaign trail assailed the…Click to Continue »

• California’s ‘Valleycrat’ a rare find

  McClatchy Newspapers (John Ellis and Michael Doyle)

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:15 pm

  The California Valleycrat could be an endangered species. Or maybe it was mostly mythical all along.Click to Continue »

• 

  The Caucus

• Moderate Republicans Spotted in the House?

  By JONATHAN WEISMAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:57 pm

  Six lawmakers have let Republican House leaders know that they oppose oil drilling in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, possibly signaling that a moderate wing may be emerging.

• The Obama Spotify Playlist

  By THE NEW YORK TIMES

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:30 pm

  Our colleagues over at the Media Decoder blog look at the Spotify playlist released by the Obama campaign team, which spans a wide array of musical genres, including country, "raw choral pop" and REO Speedwagon.

• Republican Vow of Revenge Falls Short

  By JONATHAN WEISMAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:29 pm

  In the first test of a Republican promise to reject all Obama appointments, only six G.O.P. senators voted against the confirmation of a nominee for federal judge.

• Rick Perry Jokes About Chrysler's Super Bowl Ad. The Punch Line: Obama.

  By ERIK ECKHOLM

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:13 pm

  During remarks in Washington, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas also made a populist appeal, blaming Wall Street for the financial meltdown.

• Giffords's Aide to Run for Seat in Special Election

  By JONATHAN WEISMAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:39 am

  Ron Barber, a top aide to retired Representative Gabrielle Giffords, announced on Thursday he would seek Ms. Giffords's vacated Arizona House seat in a special election June 12.

• 

  Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines

• Silent State: Washington’s Campaign Against Whistle-Blowers

  editor@truthdig.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:01 pm

  By Peter Van Buren, TomDispatch There can be little doubt that government retaliation against whistle-blowers is not an isolated event, nor even an agency-by-agency practice. The number of cases in play suggests an organized strategy to deprive Americans of knowledge of the more disreputable things their government does. Related Entries January 31, 2012 Focus on Iran and China Could Hasten American Decline January 29, 2012 Note to Iran: U.S. Orders Up a Super Bunker-Buster

• Congressional Insider Trading Bill Clears House

  editor@truthdig.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:03 am

  Looks like that request President Obama made, in last month’s State of the Union address, to send him a bill to sign that would restrict members of Congress from taking financial liberties in their own investment activities wasn’t just a passing reference to score points with the public. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a modified version of a bill that would hold congresspeople accountable for information they might pick up on the job that could be used to inflate their financial portfolios. Next stop: the Senate, where the measure might run into some resistance…

• Steve Jobs, According to the FBI

  editor@truthdig.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:21 am

  Since his death last year, we’ve heard plenty of lionizing and denigrating takes on Steve Jobs and his challenging leadership style, but we can now add the FBI’s character sketch of the late Apple founder, circa the George H.W. Bush era, to that mix, thanks to the details of a background check the bureau was obliged to make available to the public this week.  —KA Computerworld: The documents, released by the FBI after the Wall Street Journal filed a Freedom of Information Act request, also detailed an 1985 investigation of a bomb and extortion threat against Apple.

• 10 States Get a Pass on ‘No Child Left Behind’

  editor@truthdig.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:54 am

  It’s one of the most maligned domestic relics of the George W. Bush era, and now President Obama has stepped in to let 10 states off the hook, at least for the time being, from the experiment in educational standardization known as “No Child Left Behind.” And the list is likely to keep growing.  —KA The Washington Post: President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind education law in exchange for promises to improve the way schools teach and evaluate students. The move is a tacit…

• Banks, Gov’t Strike $25B Deal in Foreclosure Fraud Settlement

  editor@truthdig.com

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:59 am

  On Thursday, state and federal government representatives announced that five major banks—Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Ally Financial, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase—had agreed to pay their part in a settlement of more than $25 billion stemming from the mortgage market meltdown that caused millions of Americans to lose their homes and sent the economy into a near-death spiral. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the settlement the largest of its kind. Here are some details of the big deal. Is it too little, too late?  —KA The Washington Post: Under the terms of the…

• 

  Power Line

• Obamacare’s Great Awakening

  Scott Johnson

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:54 pm

  (Scott Johnson) The Wall Street Journal has published a great editorial on the problem with the HHS regulation requiring the provision of free contraception, sterilizattion and abortifacients in health care insurance required to be provided to the employees of all but a narrowly circumscribed set of Church employers. The problem here is not the narrow ambit of the regulatory exception to the Obamacare requirement, but rather with Obamacare itself: The entire thrust of ObamaCare is to standardize benefits and how they must be paid for and provided, regardless of individual choices or ethical…

• The Woman Who (Partially) Silenced Chris Matthews

  Steven Hayward

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:36 am

  (Steven Hayward) Over on NRO’s Corner Charles Cooke notes with delight that Chris Matthews has abruptly stopped his nightly plugs for his new hagiography of John F. Kennedy, most likely because of the obvious embarrassment of Mimi Alford’s new memoir Once Upon A Secret.  There’s nothing in Alford’s story that we didn’t already know in general outline about JFK’s priapism, though the bit about how JFK pimped her out to Dave Powers ought to leave a mark. Alford’s book arrives too late to make it into my Politically Incorrect Guide to the Presidents, but for what it’s worth,…

• CRB: Measuring the slant

  Scott Johnson

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:29 am

  (Scott Johnson) This morning we continue our preview of the new (winter) issue of the Claremont Review of Books (subscribe here — please). One of the good things about the magazine is its occasional presentation of books that escape review in other publications aimed at a general audience of intelligent readers. One such book is Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind, by Tim Groseclose. Groseclose is a distinguished professor of political science. He is the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics at UCLA. He holds joint appointments in the political…

• And the House of Cards Starts to Come Down

  Steven Hayward

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:39 am

  (Steven Hayward) The Hopar Glacier is just fine. As John noted here Tuesday, and I have noted several times over the last few weeks, the climate campaign is suffering body blows on an almost daily basis.  The latest is the report, based on new and more comprehensive satellite data, that the ice melt in the Himalayas has been nil—zip, zilch, nada—over the last ten years.  Here’s how the left-wing Guardian newspaper in Britain reports it: The world’s greatest snow-capped peaks, which run in a chain from the Himalayas to Tian Shan on the border of China and Kyrgyzstan, have lost no…

• Obama, the Billion-Dollar Hypocrite

  John Hinderaker

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:03 pm

  (John Hinderaker) The breathtaking hypocrisy of Barack Obama is hard to get your arms around, but Michael Ramirez takes a good stab at it:

• 

  The Campaign Spot

• Mark Block's Smoking Ad, 2.0?

  Jim Geraghty

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:21 am

  Mark Block, Herman Cain’s former campaign manager and trusted aide, tells me there will be a sequel to his famous “smoking” ad. “If the last one was a four, this one will be a nine . . . point nine nine,” he laughs.

• Rubio: Expect 'All-Out Personal Evisceration' From Obama in 2012

  Jim Geraghty

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:40 am

  Quick notes from a morning meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican. What he expects from the general election: “You’re going to have an extremely negative [general election] campaign. Barack Obama in 2008 spent more money on negative attacks than anybody who had ever run for office in the United States. Period. And we can expect more of the same. Basically, an all-out assault on the character of whoever his opponent may be, because [Barack Obama] cannot win on his record, he cannot win on his ideas. So he’s going to have to win by eviscerating whoever his opponents…

• Vice President Whatshisname

  Jim Geraghty

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:02 am

  CPAC excitement, Wolf Blitzer’s “OMG!” and a strange polling result are featured in the Thursday edition of the Morning Jolt: The Vice Presidency, a Key Part of the Federal Witness Protection ProgramKeep reading this post . . .

• Governor Romney, Where's the Outrage?

  Jim Geraghty

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:03 pm

  At the precise moment when Rick Santorum is demonstrating how a fired-up, combative, but issues-centered conservative message can resonate with Republicans, the Romney campaign seems strangely . . . empty. Take a look at the Romney Twitter feed in the past 24 hours: Keep reading this post . . .

• Obamacare Backer Bob Casey Sees What He's Done

  Jim Geraghty

  8 Feb 2012 | 1:36 pm

  Pennsylvania Democratic senator Bob Casey, back on December 7, 2009: I want to get health-care legislation passed. No one in the Senate has worked harder than I have to get this done, and we will get it done.Keep reading this post . . .

• 

  ABC News: Politics

• Watch: Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:02 pm

  ABC's Jon Karl catches up with the Republican senator at CPAC.

• CPAC Takeaways: DeMint Thinks GOP Race Could Go to Convention; Perry May Run Again

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:59 pm

  What did we learn walking around CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual Woodstock for the right, held in Washington, D.C.? For starters, don’t expect the GOP presidential race to end any time soon. Sen. Jim DeMint, the South Carolina Republican and Tea Party...

• Advertisement:

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:56 pm

• The Obama Album

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:56 pm

  Every four years, the U.S. holds a presidential election, and every four years, musicians ask Republican candidates to stop playing their songs at rallies. This year, so far, Newt Gingrich has been asked by Survivor to stop playing “Eye of the Tiger” and Somali-born musician...

• Democrats Continue Pursuit of Millionaire Surtax

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:48 pm

  House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi today flatly rejected the Republican suggestion  that Democrats give up  their quest to raise taxes on millionaires as a way to recoup the cost of a payroll tax cut extension for the middle class. “If this Congress were a reflection...

• 

  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

• Santorum Leads in Pennsylvania

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:14 pm

  A new Tribune-Review/WPXI-TV poll in Pennsylvania finds Rick Santorum's support has more than doubled in his home state from 14% six weeks ago to 30% putting him just ahead of Mitt Romney. Santorum leads with 30%, followed by Romney at 29% and Newt Gingrich at 13%. The survey was taken before Santorum's big wins earlier this week.The Pennsylvania primary isn't until April 24.

• Santorum Unloads on Romney

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Rick Santorum "launched a full-throated attack on front-runner Mitt Romney" saying he "has been about serially tearing down opponents without offering any kind of vision for what he wants to do for this country," National Journal reports. He added: "This is the gotcha politics of Mitt Romney. He's not interested in talking about the issues."

• Bonus Quote of the Day

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:57 am

  "I love the fact that Sheldon put in about $10 million with Gingrich and I put in a lot less with Rick. I like to say I'm an investor and Sheldon is a casino guy." -- Santorum Super PAC financier Foster Freiss, in an interview on Bloomberg TV, poking fun at Gingrich Super PAC backer Sheldon Adelson.

• Could Romney Be Denied the Nomination?

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:21 am

  Philip Klein says that it's "conceivable to craft the following general scenario: Romney wins states in the west and northeast, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum combine to dominate the south, Midwest and Appalachia, and Ron Paul siphons off a chunk of delegates. If such a scenario plays out, it's possible to see how Romney could have problems getting over the top, even if analysts are broadly correct that his money and organization give him the edge." In fact, "if Romney were to win all of the delegates in all of the states that I identified above as solid or lean states, it would only get him…

• Shit Mitt Says

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:09 am

  A Democratic Super PAC releases a new video, causing BuzzFeed to ask, "Does this mean the meme is really dead?"

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  Latest Politics Headlines - CBS News

• Michelle Obama marks 2nd year of obesity campaign

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:08 pm

  Thousands join first lady Michelle Obama in Iowa to highlight her "Let's Move" program to combat childhood obesity

• Video: Rep. Walsh remarks on same-sex marriage bill

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:49 pm

  Rep. Maureen Walsh (R-Wa.) explains her support for a same-sex marriage bill at the Washington state House of Representatives referencing the emotions she shared with her husband and the relationship with her lesbian daughter.

• Video: Hot Ads 2012: Super Bowl ad sparks political firestorm

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:24 pm

  CBS News senior political producers Rob Hendin and Jill Jackson launched the series "Hot Ads 2012" with a look at Clint Eastwood's Chrysler Superbowl ad, a Club for Growth ad targeting Rep. Fred Upton and a controversial ad put out by former Rep. Hoekstra.

• Video: Flash Points: Syria in crisis

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:28 pm

  In the latest edition of "Flash Points," CBS News national security correspondent Bob Orr and analyst Juan Zarate discuss lines crossed in Iran, Russia and China's influence in Syria, Hungary's role in Europe and an increasing problem with cyber hackers.

• State of the campaign against whistleblowers

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:35 am

  State Department employee who wrote critical book about gov't spending in Iraq assesses retaliation against leakers

• 

  Roll Call: Politics

• Florida: Congressional Redistricting Map Moves Toward Court

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:49 pm

  The Republican-controlled Florida Senate passed a redistricting map today, sending Congressional lines that cement a strong Republican majority in the delegation to Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) desk.

• Arizona: Gabrielle Giffords Asked Aide to Run for Congress

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:25 pm

  Ron Barber’s campaign for Congress launched full throttle today. After weeks of speculation about whether he would run to succeed his boss, ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Barber made it official, telling reporters that the Arizona Democrat personally asked him to run for her seat.

• U.S. Chamber Goes Up on the Air

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:49 am

  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce began a multimillion-dollar ad buy push today that includes positive and negative issue-oriented ads in 20 battleground House and Senate races.

• Republican John Sanchez Drops New Mexico Senate Bid

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:30 am

  New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez is dropping out of the open-seat Senate race, leaving former Rep. Heather Wilson with just one opponent in the Republican primary.

• Marco Rubio Rouses CPAC Crowd

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:39 am

  Sen. Marco Rubio hammered President Barack Obama today in a speech that appeared to be equal parts pep talk to the conservative movement and an audition for the vice presidency.

• 

  Patrick Ruffini

• Truly “Innovative” Design for Politics

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:39 am

  Many digital agencies promise “innovative design” for their clients’ websites, but few actually deliver. What’s more common in these agencies is developing cookie-cutter templates that can be re-used client after client. While that approach may be sufficient for some, we thrive working with clients who appreciate original, and truly innovative design of their online homes that will stand out to voters. Our latest site launch for Florida United States Senate candidate Connie Mack is a great example of a campaign who values great visual and user experience design. With a…

• The 1%

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:25 pm

  The 1%

• http://instagr.am/p/oD8oj/

  4 Feb 2012 | 4:09 pm

  http://instagr.am/p/oD8oj/

• http://instagr.am/p/nkhUT/

  3 Feb 2012 | 12:26 pm

  http://instagr.am/p/nkhUT/

• $FB

  1 Feb 2012 | 9:53 pm

  Facebook is a reminder that the simplest ideas are always the most valuable.  Or, as I tweeted earlier tonight:  Dumb ideas can be monetized better because the world is full of dumb people. A whole lot about Facebook, looking at it even semi-objectively, is just plain dumb. Putting up a Facebook page instead of a website comprised of HTML, JavaScript, good design, database hooks, and rich media is dumb. That kitteh photo on your profile is dumb. FarmVille is dumb. A low-res photo service that badly degrades image quality is dumb. Advertising just so you can get more Likes, without a…

• 

  Ace of Spades HQ

• Noted Moron Who Isn't Smart Enough To Be President Somehow Delivers Coherent Speech about Liberty and Government

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:59 pm

  Perry, at CPAC. There are teleprompters beside the podium, but he seems to be delivering the speech off his written notes. More: Once Ed takes the video out of the "private" category, you can watch him interview Perry. Perry says...

• "Wisconsin on Steroids:" Arizona Moves To Regulate Unions

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:40 pm

  I like that word "regulate." Aren't we forever told that the government needs to be regulatin' everything? We need to regulate these unions. Sounds good, except for one thing. Three of the four bills restrict the way unions collect dues...

• President Waffles When Asked About the Contraception Mandate: "Come on, guys."

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:15 pm

  About an hour ago, CBS News reporter Norah O'Donnell tweeted: In the Oval Office, President Obama refuses to answer if he stands by contraception rule. Says to reporter: "Come on guys." Uh, "come on" what? It's a legitimate question. He's...

• Obama Gives Ten State Waivers for NCLB On His Own Authority; The Law Does Not Include a Waiver Provision

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:36 pm

  Unconstitutional. This depressive egomaniac arriviste is doing tremendous amounts of damage to a constitutional system which has kept us united for 240 years (apart from the Civil War period). Even worse, nothing in federal law grants Obama the power to...

• Sen. Rubio at CPAC: "Is America Still An Exceptional Nation?"

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:18 pm

  Truly outstanding. Sen. Rubio killed it with his CPAC speech this morning. I can't find an embeddable one, so click here. It's long, but worth every minute. Ed Morrissey has video of and some thoughts about Rubio's meeting with bloggers...

• 

  Wizbang

• Romney campaign has “Oops!” in Oklahoma.

  David Robertson

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:38 pm

  Romney’s campaign in Oklahoma was taught a lesson while Santorum campaigned there. Make certain that your attack dogs are pit bulls, not beagles. Bloomberg is reporting the following story: Two Oklahoma state officials supporting Mitt Romney’s Republican presidential bid held their fire today on a conference call arranged by their candidate’s campaign and billed as [...]

• Obama’s Energy Policy In Action

  Rodney Graves

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:31 am

  Or is that inaction?

• Truing the Voter Rolls, Voter Integrity Project: Many States have More Voters Registered Than Voting-Age Population

  Warner Todd Huston

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:52 am

  Judicial Watch on an election integrity project to pressure the states to clean up voter registration rolls to satisfy Section 8 of the National Voting Rights Act (NVRA), a law that all too many states have been violating for years. Judicial Watch and True The Vote have sent letters to California, Ohio, Indiana, and Florida [...]

• CPAC 2012 Begins

  Warner Todd Huston

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:33 am

  I am here at the beautiful Wardman Marriott in Washington DC this week for the Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC. We will be seeing a whole host of conservative icons coming to speak… and the presidential candidates will be here too (Sarcasm? What sarcasm?). I’ll be covering as much as I can but there [...]

• Himalayas not melting. Panic anyway.

  David Robertson

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:25 pm

  Al Gore probably won’t be please by the following story that was published by The Guardian: The world’s greatest snow-capped peaks, which run in a chain from the Himalayas to Tian Shan on the border of China and Kyrgyzstan, have lost no ice over the last decade, new research shows. The discovery has stunned scientists, who had [...]

• 

  The Gateway Pundit

• Governor Rick Perry Says He’ll Run Again “I’ll Remind People Ronald Reagan Wasn’t Successful the First Time He Ran” (Video)

  Jim Hoft

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:01 pm

  At the CPAC 2012 conference today Governor Rick Perry told me that he learned a lot from his run for president this past year. He also said he would run again and reminded me, “I’ll remind people that Ronald Reagan wasn’t successful the first time he ran.”

• Round Table with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell

  Jim Hoft

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:23 am

  I met this morning with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell during a breakout session at CPAC. Tina Korbe from HotAir, Alana Goodman from Commentary Magazine, blogger Brandon Kiser and Phil Klein were also at the meeting. I asked the Republican leader how hard it is to work with an the Democrat leader when he claims Republicans want arsenic and Mercury in the water? What he (Harry Reid) doesn’t wnt you to realize is that 12 democrat members agreed to the same mesasure. It’s a tactic. Obama held a signing ceremony in the middle of the night recently. Obama wants to continue…

• Caterpillar Says It Will Not Build New North American Plant in Illinois

  Jim Hoft

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:09 am

  The Fruits of Liberal Policy– (Illinois Policy Institute) A stunning new report by the Illinois Policy Institute revealed how Illinois lost one resident every 10 minutes during the past fifteen years. As Illinois lost residents to migration the state also lost out on a net of $26 billion in taxable income to out-migration from 1995 to 2010. Now this… Caterpillar Inc. announced that it would not be building its new North American plant in Illinois. Finance reported: Caterpillar Inc. will not be building its new North American plant anywhere in the state of Illinois, officials with…

• Freshman Rep. Ellmers Schools Henry Waxman in Committee (Video)

  Jim Hoft

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:41 am

  Freshman Representative and rising star Renee Ellmers (R-NC) schooled far left darling Henry Waxman in committee. This was great– From the video: Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), took on Henry Waxman (D-CA) in spectacular fashion today in a joint House-Senate hearing on the payroll tax cut extension.

• New Gitmo Report Reveals 27% of Released Detainees Return to Terrorist Activities

  Jim Hoft

  9 Feb 2012 | 4:41 am

  Last September NATO troops killed Al-Qaeda leader and former Gitmo detainee in an overnight raid in eastern Afghanistan. Sabar Lal Melma, who was released from Guantanamo in 2007 after five years of detention, had been organizing attacks in eastern Kunar province and funding insurgent operations. A new report released by the House Armed Servicess subcommittee revealed that 27% of Gitmo detainees return to a life of terror after their release. Now Obama wants to release Taliban leaders from Gitmo. The AP reported: Facing domestic political pressures, the Bush and Obama administrations released…

• 

  The Fix

• Santorum ties Romney in Pennsylvania poll

  Rachel Weiner

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:46 pm

  Rick Santorum is up in Pennslvania, Huntsman has a spot at Ford, Obama has some music he’d like you to listen to and Joe Miller might run again in 2014. Make sure to sign up to get “Afternoon Fix” in your e-mail inbox every day by 5 (ish) p.m! Read full article >>

• CPAC 2012: Updates, photos and video from day one

  Aaron Blake, Rachel Weiner, Felicia Sonmez

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:07 pm

  The Fix team spent Thursday live-blogging the Conservative Political Action Convention. We’ll be back at it Friday morning. KEY LINKS: Read full article >>

• John Sanchez drops out of New Mexico Senate race

  Rachel Weiner

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:55 am

  New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez (R) has dropped his Senate bid — welcome news to former Rep. Heather Wilson, his chief primary opponent. Sanchez was competing for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D). Read full article >>

• Ron Barber, wounded in Tucson shooting, to run for Gabrielle Giffords’s House seat

  Rachel Weiner

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:39 am

  Ron Barber, an aide to former representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), will run for the House seat she just left. Read full article >>

• Pete Hoekstra primary rival calls TV ad ‘demeaning’

  Rachel Weiner

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:58 am

  One of Pete Hoekstra’s (R) primary rivals is attacking the former House member for an ad that used crude Asian stereotypes. Clark Durant, a Christian charter school founder challenging Hoekstra in the race to take on Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), put out his own ad calling Hoekstra’s controversial spot “demeaning.” Read full article >>

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  44

• Obama to sign final legislative bill sponsored by Gabrielle Giffords

  David Nakamura

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:16 am

  Gabrielle Giffords has resigned from Congress, but her impact goes on. The former Democratic lawmaker from Arizona, who is recovering from wounds suffered in the Tucson shooting spree last year, will join President Obama on Friday when he signs into law the last bill she sponsored in Congress. Read full article >>

• Obama on Super Bowl Sunday: ‘I deserve a second term’

  David Nakamura

  5 Feb 2012 | 2:12 pm

  President Obama said Sunday that he deserves to be reelected because his administration has made progress on the economy, but he acknowledged there is much more work to do. “I deserve a second term, but we’re not done,” Obama said during a pre-Super Bowl interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer. Read full article >>

• Riding high on jobs report, Obama seizes offensive against Congress, Republicans

  David Nakamura

  3 Feb 2012 | 1:17 pm

  The sluggish state of the economic recovery has been at the heart of Republican attacks on President Obama, as he begins to make his case for reelection. Over the past several months, though unemployment began to decline, the White House has maintained a cautious optimism, noting each time that although economic signs were improving, much more work remained to be done. Read full article >>

• Obama to appear in Falls Church to announce mortgage refinancing plan

  David Nakamura

  1 Feb 2012 | 5:59 am

  President Obama will appear at a Falls Church community center Wednesday to unveil a plan to ease the sluggish housing market by making it easier for homeowners to refinance their mortgages. Obama’s proposal would allow borrowers to refinance at federally insured lower rates even if they owe more than their homes are worth and could produce an average annual savings of $3,000 per homeowner, an administration official said. Read full article >>

• Obama offers plan to help small businesses, start-ups

  David Nakamura

  31 Jan 2012 | 8:53 am

  A week after his State of the Union pledge to create a stronger economy, President Obama on Tuesday sent Congress a legislative package aimed at accelerating small business growth and removing roadblocks for start-ups. Read full article >>

• 

  Reuters: Politics

• Ex-Giffords aide to run for her House seat

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:00 pm

  PHOENIX (Reuters) - Ron Barber, a former aide to Gabrielle Giffords who was wounded along with her in a deadly shooting last year, said on Thursday he would run in a special election to fill her seat representing southern Arizona in the House of Representatives.

• Obama grants 10 states leeway on education law

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:49 pm

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was granting 10 states exemptions from parts of the "No Child Left Behind" education law, a move that could prove popular in an election year with parents and teachers who have criticized the law - but raises concern among some advocates for low-income and minority students.

• Catholic TV network sues to block U.S. contraception rule

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:44 pm

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Roman Catholic television network said on Thursday it has filed suit in federal court to block President Barack Obama's new rule on contraceptives, while a Catholic Church leader and top Republicans stepped up their criticism of Obama.

• Republicans push to wrap up payroll tax talks

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:43 pm

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans expressed frustration on Thursday at the slow pace of negotiations over extending a tax break for workers that expires at the end of the month, accusing President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats of blocking agreement.

• House passes curbs on lawmaker insider trading

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:27 pm

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill to curb insider trading by lawmakers and other government officials on Thursday, despite objections from Democrats and some Republicans that it lacked some tough measures to fight corruption.

• 

  Lehigh Valley Conservative

• Another Socialist Threat On Our Freedoms

  The Outsider

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:57 am

  This time it is the internet. Obama’s infringment on our freedoms no longer astounds me. I expect it from the man that has never had to EARN a living and follows the rules of  Saul Alinski!

• Socialists?

  The Outsider

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:14 am

  A “life long Republican” who constantly bashes Republicans, has implied that George W. Bush is a Socialist worse than our Socialist wannabe dictator, president Obama. Case in point: Bush’s drug program that is actually part D of Medicare, compared to Obamacare. Let’s review the 2 policies! G.W. Bush’s drug plan is Part D of Medicare and is NOT mandated and forced upon us and affects only those on Medicare.  It is a “stand alone” plan! These are people over 65 and most of these people PAID for Medicare during their working years. If one does not participate in part…

• Divided We Fall

  The Outsider

  5 Feb 2012 | 10:55 am

               No society will function well when we are divided along political lines that are used for procuring votes. No where in the Constitution does it say that some ethnic groups must be treated differently than others in an effort to “make” us equal. Equal to what and who makes that decision?             We have “Affirmative Action” that discriminates against groups that are not African American. There is the “Black Caucus” that is really a political arm of the Democrat party that helps only African Americans. Why is that legal? It should not be! Who…

• Is This True?

  Randy Toman

  3 Feb 2012 | 8:32 am

  This is the most believable video I have seen on this subject. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3aCfR8rmrw If in fact this video is true and it certainly seems to be well documented, naming particulars and supposedly facts that were to have actually happen. Any of you that are detail type’s ——- please do take it apart and let me know if there is truth there——-if you can get to the bottom of any so call truth I would be very much interested in hearing from you. Why that isn’t a major news story or one of the heavies in talk radio didn’t pick it up leads me to none…

• Seniors In America

  The Outsider

  2 Feb 2012 | 3:51 pm

  Here is an article by an anonomous writer and given to me by my friend Clyde! He feels like many of us in our later years, including your’s truly!   ”They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are “Baby Boomers” getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time. We walk a little slower these days and our eyes and hearing are not what they once were. We have worked hard, raised our children, worshipped our God and grown old together. Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and…

• 

  Politics » Political Punch

• The Obama Album

  Jake Tapper

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:56 pm

  Every four years, the U.S. holds a presidential election, and every four years, musicians ask Republican candidates to stop playing their songs at rallies. This year, so far, Newt Gingrich has been asked by Survivor to stop playing “Eye of the Tiger” and Somali-born musician K’naan has asked Mitt Romney to stop playing “Wavin’ Flag.” In 2011, Tom Petty had Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., stop playing “American Girl.” In campaigns past, David Byrne had Gov. Charlie Crist stop using “Road to Nowhere” in his attacks on Marco Rubio,…

• President Obama on Contraception Rule — A Play in One Act

  Jake Tapper

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:41 pm

  THE PRESIDENT sits in the Oval Office with MARIO MONTI, the prime minister of Italy. The two chat in their distinct languages, and at the very end of this pool spray, some impudent reporters get a chance to say something before being ushered out of the Oval Office. A WIRE SERVICE REPORTER: Do you stand by your contraceptive decision? A RADIO REPORTER: Is there anything you want to share with us about your contraception rule? PRESIDENT OBAMA: Come on, guys. - scene-

• Policy and Politics of Contraception Rule Fiercely Debated Within White House

  Jake Tapper

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:50 am

  (Image Credit: Photodisc/Getty Images) “What are we doing here?” asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, stepping outside his wheelhouse to ask about a rising storm involving the Obama administration and the Catholic Church. “What’s the point?” It was the Fall of 2011 and Panetta had read about a proposed Obama administration rule that would require employers – excluding houses of worship but including religious organizations such as charities, hospitals, and schools – to offer health insurance that fully covered contraception. Panetta — a…

• Obama Says Mortgage Deal Turns Page On ‘Recklessness’

  Mary Bruce

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:46 am

  President Obama today said the “landmark” $26 billion settlement between the nation’s largest banks and states would speed relief to homeowners harmed by “plainly irresponsible” mortgage practices and begins “to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake.” “Under the terms of this settlement, America’s biggest banks, banks that were rescued by taxpayer dollars, will be required to right these wrongs,” the president said. “These banks will put billions of dollars towards relief for families…

• Campaigning on Contraception: Obama’s Calculus

  Devin Dwyer

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:10 am

  (Credit: Evan Vucci/AP Photo) While the Obama administration has bungled its case for a new contraception mandate and faces mounting pressure to backtrack, many Democrats believe the debate will yield a net positive for the president in his quest for a second term. “There are people on both sides of the debate who are single issue voters, but most people aren’t,” said Anna Greenberg a Democratic strategist who specializes in polling on women, religion and politics. By this line of reasoning, Catholics and other devout pro-life voters angered by the mandate already…

• 

  SCOTUSblog

• Health care challengers’ view on argument

  Lyle Denniston

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:19 pm

  The 26 states and others that are making a sweeping challenge to the constitutionality of all parts of the new federal health care law have argued that they should be given at least equal time to argue when the Supreme Court reviews the key provisions of the law at hearings in March.   Otherwise, they argued, the arguments on the Affordable Care Act will be unfairly weighted in favor of the federal government and of the ACA itself.  In a motion that has now become available, the 26 states, the National Federation of Independent Business, and four individuals differed with some of the…

• Petition of the day

  Kali Borkoski

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:18 pm

  The petition of the day is: Chaidez v. United StatesNote: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys work for or contribute to this blog in various capacities, serves as counsel to the petitioner in this case, which is listed without regard for the likelihood of its being granted. Docket: 11-820Issue(s): Whether the Court’s decision in Padilla v. Kentucky , holding that criminal defendants receive ineffective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment when their attorneys fail to advise them that pleading guilty to an offense will subject them to deportation, applies to persons whose…

• Argument preview: Does the federal costs statute authorize an award for document translation costs?

  Brian Wolfman

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:37 am

  Mr. Wolfman gratefully acknowledges the substantial assistance of Tom McSorley, a third-year student at Georgetown University Law Center. On February 21, the Court will hear oral argument in Taniguchi v. Kan Pacific.  At issue in the case is the interpretation of a federal statute that authorizes an award of costs for the services of interpreters to the prevailing party in a lawsuit – specifically, whether the statute extends to costs for translating documents as well as oral translation.  Background Kouichi Taniguchi, a Japanese baseball player, was visiting a resort in the Northern…

• Thursday round-up

  Kiran Bhat

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:45 am

  Much of yesterday’s coverage of the Court focused on whether the Court would review the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Perry v. Brown, striking down California’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, and in particular on what role Justice Kennedy might play if the Court does take up the issue. In his column for Bloomberg View, Noah Feldman characterizes the Ninth Circuit’s opinion as a “memo to Justice Kennedy,” while Karen Gullo and Andrew Harris of Bloomberg similarly observe that Kennedy is likely to be the “fulcrum” of the Court if it decides to review the case. …

• Petition of the day

  Kali Borkoski

  8 Feb 2012 | 2:06 pm

  The petition of the day is: Baca v. StarrDocket: 11-834Issue(s): (1) Whether, under Ashcroft v. Iqbal, a county sheriff or other high-level supervisory official may be held liable for an Eighth Amendment violation, stemming from an assault on a prisoner perpetrated by jail inmates and guards, if the plaintiff does not allege facts showing that the sheriff actually knew of, yet failed to respond to, the particular risk of assault the plaintiff faced, and that the sheriff ’s failure to act was the cause of the plaintiff ’s injury; and (2) whether a complaint seeking to hold a high-level…

• 

  The Moderate Voice

• Congress Sort Of Does The Right Thing

  SHAUN MULLEN, TMV Columnist

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:14 pm

  The House today overwhelmingly passed a bill to ban insider trading by members of Congress and to impose new ethics requirements on lawmakers and federal agency officials following a similar lopsided vote by the Senate less than three weeks after President Obama demanded such action in his State of the Union speech. The swift response and 417-to-2 and 96-to-3 votes reflected concerns over the low esteem in which voters hold lawmakers but the votes concealed deep differences and a reluctance by House Republican leaders to stop making nice to Wall Street and other monied interests. Democrats…

• The Rules Have To Change

  OWEN GRAY

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:25 am

  Tom Walkom writes that, as things stand, not much could have been done to keep the doomed Electro-Motive plant in London. He points out that Bombardier no longer manufactures locomotives in Canada. It buys them from a Catapillar plant in Mexico. The problem lies not so much with Caterpillar or Bombardier, but with the rules of the game. “The real villain,” he writes, “is unrestrained globalization. As long as goods and capital are free to move unimpeded across national borders, companies — even nice ones — will locate where wages are cheap. All of this could be changed.

• The Political Transformation of President Obama Sends Dual Messages to Voters

  JANET SHAN

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:13 am

  President Barack Obama sending dual messages to voters and has moved from the “hope and change” candidate we saw in the 2008 election, to the “doing what it takes to win” president fighting for reelection. President Barack Obama Sending Dual Messages to Voters in Quest for Reelection (Wikipedia) The political transformation of President Barack Obama is glaring. He has moved from the “hope and change” candidate we saw in the 2008 election, to the “doing what it takes to win” president fighting for reelection. Every politician makes promises, empty promises, they…

• Al Qaeda Was Underestimated Before The 9/11 Attacks & Overestimated Afterward

  SHAUN MULLEN, TMV Columnist

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:01 am

  Hindsight is always 20-20, of course, but it turns out that the widespread fear — bordering on panic — that there would be a second wave of attacks in the months after 9/11 was misplaced because it turns out that Al Qaeda was a one-hit wonder. This reality is revealed in an article in a leftist rag called the Air Force Times that says that the government underestimated the terrorist group before the attacks and overestimated it afterward. The Bush-Cheney cabal cannot be forgiven for the former while the latter is understandable considering the pitiful state of the U.S.’s…

• Bad News For Romney? The Culture Wars Return Full Force

  JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:40 am

  You might label the past few weeks “Return of the Culture Wars.” And, as ABC News notes, it’s bad news for the former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: The resurgence of social and cultural issues in voters’ minds poses new challenges for GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney as he reels from surprising losses Tuesday to conservative favorite Rick Santorum. The economy remains the No. 1 issue of concern for a majority of Americans. But the recent hoopla surrounding the Obama administration’s support of contraceptives, the court ruling against California’s…

• 

  Jeffrey Goldberg : The Atlantic

• Are Pro-Israel American Jews Warming to Obama?

  Jeffrey Goldberg

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:13 am

  Ben Smith (still writing in Politico, as if he's not busy enough with his new job), takes notice of a softening in opinion among hawkish Jews about President Obama:"Most of the pro-Israel community is now convinced that when President Obama says he will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability, he means it," said Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.). He cited a litany of muscular actions, including SEAL raids on Osama bin Laden and Somali kidnappers, drone strikes around the world, and a shift of American military assets toward Iran, which he said have "for the moment given pause to…

• Syria On Track to Kill More People Than Died in Both Intifadas

  Jeffrey Goldberg

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  It's estimated that roughly 6,000 people have been killed in the Syrian uprising since it began last March, and the Assad regime is upping the tempo of murder (thanks in part to cover provided by Russia). Hard numbers are difficult to come by these days, because Syria is too dangerous a place for human rights monitors to function safely. The United Nations estimate of 5,400 deaths as of January does not take into account the recent slaughters in the city of Homs.I was curious to see how long it would take for Bashar al-Assad to kill more people than died in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…

• When Journalists Write Like Flacks

  Jeffrey Goldberg

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:26 pm

  From a Marcus Brauchli memo to employees of the ever-shrinking Washington Post, which just announced a new round of buyouts:Today, we are announcing that we will offer a voluntary buyout to some Newsroom employees. Our objective is a limited staff reduction that won't affect the quality, ambition or authority of our journalism.Of course, right? Why would fewer employees in a labor-intensive business possibly mean a diminution in quality, ambition or authority? Washington Post journalists, like all other journalists, are trained to mock spin like this.

• Some Suggestions for New Assad E-Mail Passwords

  Jeffrey Goldberg

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:25 am

  Bashar al-Assad's office e-mail accounts were hacked by the Anonymous collective the other day, in part because... well, it's hard to believe:While Anonymous is infamous for its hacking know-how, it doesn't take a genius computer programmer to guess one of the passwords commonly used by Assad's office accounts: 12345. The string of consecutive numbers is the second-weakest password according to a 2011 study.As a public service to the Ba'ath regime in its dying days, I thought I would suggest a few alternative e-mail passwords he could use:1. MyWifeIsSoHot2. MyWifeIsSmokingHot3.

• Iranian Website Calls for Murder of All Jewish Israelis

  Jeffrey Goldberg

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:25 am

  This just in from the Department of Non-Ambiguous Iranian Threats to Wipe Out The Jews: A regime-linked website, Alef, has produced an article calling on Iran to use its missile arsenal to kill all of Israel's Jews, and describes just how this could be done. The author, Alireza Forghani, is linked to office of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and the article's release coincided with Khamenei's latest "Israel is a cancerous tumor" speech. Here's a bit of Forghani wrote (you can read the entire translation on MEMRI's website):"Israel is the only country in the world with a Jewish…

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  Cafferty File

• If there is military action against Syria, should the U.S. be involved?

  Katie McLaughlin

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:47 pm

  FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: As Syria's brutal crackdown intensifies it seems increasingly likely that there could be some sort of military action. The United Nations is calling for the international community to protect the Syrian population. One opposition group reports that government forces killed more than 130 civilians in Syria today - most of them in the city of Homs. There are reports of bomb explosions every few minutes; of wounded people bleeding to death in the streets because they can't get help; and of snipers picking off civilians who are running for cover. Doctors…

• What advice would you give Mitt Romney?

  Katie McLaughlin

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:42 pm

  FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: Mitt Romney has been running for president for six years – and he still can't seal the deal. After losing the Republican nomination to John McCain in 2008, Romney became the presumptive nominee this time around. The problem is, no one told the rank-and-file Republicans. And instead of a coronation for Romney, Republican voters have spent the past year holding tryouts for candidates to fill the anyone-but-Romney slot. They’ve gone from Rick Perry to Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and now Rick Santorum. And if Santorum's sweep this…

• How does Rick Santorum's sweep change the race?

  Katie McLaughlin

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:54 pm

  FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: The Santorum sweep of Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado once again raises serious questions about why many conservatives can't stomach Mitt Romney. One, it wasn't even close. And two, Romney failed in places where he was successful four years ago. Santorum had more than double Romney's support in Missouri. Romney came in third in Minnesota, a state he won in 2008. And worst of all for Romney, he was losing Colorado, where he won 60% of the vote last time around. Writing for the Daily Beast, CNN political contributor Paul Begala points out Romney…

• What does it mean when half of Americans live in a household that gets government assistance?

  Katie McLaughlin

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:50 pm

  FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: Nearly half of Americans live in a household that receives government assistance. This stunning finding comes from a new report from a George Mason University-based research center. More than one-in-three Americans lived in a household getting Medicaid, food stamps or other means-based government assistance in 2010. When you add in those getting Social Security, Medicare and unemployment benefits, it represents almost half of the country. More than 148,000,000 Americans. The federal government sent a record total of $2 trillion to individuals in 2010. The…

• Is Newt Gingrich kidding himself at this point?

  Katie McLaughlin

  7 Feb 2012 | 12:49 pm

  FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: Another primary/caucus day - and with it, yet another day of bad news for Newt Gingrich. In this case, it looks like three more losses. For starters, Gingrich isn't even on the ballot in Missouri. Plus, recent polling shows him in third place in Colorado and Minnesota. That’s probably why Gingrich is in none of these states today, choosing instead to campaign in Ohio. Newt's future doesn't look too bright at this point. There are two more weeks to go before the next debate, where he tends to excel. At the end of the month come Arizona and…

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  Instapundit

• A PRO-OBAMACARE PRECEDENT: “We are all familiar with an individual mandate that was authorized by t…

  Glenn Reynolds

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:14 pm

  A PRO-OBAMACARE PRECEDENT: “We are all familiar with an individual mandate that was authorized by the U.S. Congress and notoriously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court: the affirmative duty of persons of Japanese descent to report to a Civil Control Station. Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1943). The distinction between mere prohibition and command played a large role in the internment cases. . . . Korematsu is a perfectly fine precedent: it has never been overruled. Moreover, it is the feds’ best and only precedent. So why don’t they cite it?”

• MEGAN MCARDLE: Battle Over California Medicaid Reimbursement is a Preview of Our Future. And it’s …

  Glenn Reynolds

  9 Feb 2012 | 3:13 pm

  MEGAN MCARDLE: Battle Over California Medicaid Reimbursement is a Preview of Our Future. And it’s not pretty. “It is, of course, absolutely true that you can save a great deal of money by forcing providers to sell things below their cost of goods. It is not necessarily true that this is a sustainable long-term strategy.”

• NANOTECHNOLOGY UPDATE: New coating promises to turn an atomic force microscope into an even more us…

  Glenn Reynolds

  9 Feb 2012 | 2:04 pm

  NANOTECHNOLOGY UPDATE: New coating promises to turn an atomic force microscope into an even more useful tool.

• ADULT STEM CELLS and “fracture putty.”…

  Glenn Reynolds

  9 Feb 2012 | 1:00 pm

  ADULT STEM CELLS and “fracture putty.”

• AT AMAZON, bestselling laptops. Plus, markdowns on HP laptops….

  Glenn Reynolds

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  AT AMAZON, bestselling laptops. Plus, markdowns on HP laptops.

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  The Spectacle Blog

• Exposing 'Truth and Lies' in Afghanistan

  Reid Smith

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:16 pm

  A veteran U.S. army officer has broken ranks, and written a scathing article about the war in Afghanistan. In so doing, he's publicly confessed what many American servicemen have been hinting at for years, in private: reports of progress from the Pentagon are little more than window-dressing on a faltering campaign. Davis, a 27 year vet with four combat deployments under his belt, spent the last year assigned to the Army's Rapid Equipping Forces, traveling over 9,000 miles to visit every important area where American soldiers engage the enemy. He now contends that there is a growing…

• Obama WH Doesn't Care if the Senate Passes a Budget

  Aaron Goldstein

  9 Feb 2012 | 11:44 am

  Mark Hemingway of The Weekly Standard draws our attention to this exchange yesterday between ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. Tapper asked Carney if he agreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that the Senate did not need to pass a budget or if he agreed with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the Senate not passing a budget has created uncertainty and affected growth: Tapper: So therefore, the Senate should pass a budget as well. Carney: I don't have a -- Tapper: I'm asking. Carney: Well, I don't have an opinion to express on…

• Sen. Paul Introduces Amendment to Halt Aid to Egypt

  Reid Smith

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:17 am

  Senator Rand Paul has introduced an amendment to the Highway Bill (S. 1813) calling for an immediate suspension of foreign aid to Egypt until detained American citizens are released by the Egyptian government. In the senator's words: We are subsidizing behavior through US taxpayer foreign aid to Egypt that is leading and allowing for the unjust detainment of American citizens in Egypt. Not everyone in this body agrees on foreign policy or on the role of US foreign assistance but the reckless actions of Egyptian authorities in the matter should bring us together to form one undeniable…

• The Origins of Romneycare and Coultercare

  W. James Antle, III

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:14 am

  Avik Roy has posted what may be the most comprehensive account of the individual mandate mania that once swept the right (or at least the subset of the right made up of health care policy wonks). Roy also points out that a lot of serious conservatives were actually anti-mandate way back in the 1990s, when Newt Gingrich felt they were necessary to combat Hillarycare. I do have two quibbles, however. Roy writes: "Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, who were both House backbenchers in 1993, were also in favor of an individual mandate in those days." Gingrich was minority whip, the second-ranking…

• No Waiver for Thee

  Ross Kaminsky

  9 Feb 2012 | 6:55 am

  There have been over 1200 waivers handed out for companies to avoid complying with parts of Obamacare, including waivers that cover over half a million labor union members -- and fewer than 70,000 non-union workers. Today it is being reported that 10 states are being granted waivers from certain provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act because they will not be able to have enough students proficient in math and reading by 2014. Did anyone think that a federal law would actually change student performance? Fox News quotes a government official who says that "28 other states, as well as the…

• 

  YouTube Videos

• 02/09/2012 POLITICS

  france24english

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:46 am

  02/09/2012 POLITICS A magazine programme on French political and social questions with prestigious guests from the French government, the political parties or the media. Thursdays at 04.10 PM. All shows: www.france24.com FRANCE 24 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 24/7 www.france24.com From: france24english Views: 15 1 ratings Time: 17:15 More in News & Politics

• How Obama Can Fight Money In Politics

  TheYoungTurks

  7 Feb 2012 | 6:08 pm

  How Obama Can Fight Money In Politics Senator Obama promised to fight the influence of lobbyists and money in politics when he was campaigning to be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president. Will President Obama deliver? The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down including how Obama can make it happen. politics.salon.com Fight money in politics: www.wolf-pac.com Help overturn Citizens United: www.youtube.com Subscribe to The Young Turks: bit.ly Find out how to watch The Young Turks on Current by clicking here: www.current.com The Largest Online New Show in the World.

• Embedded Journalists in War and Politics

  RTAmerica

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:08 pm

  Embedded Journalists in War and Politics Embedded journalists came to rise during the war in Iraq. The Department of Defense planted hundreds of reporters in the field, giving front row seats to approved media outlets. This enabled the military to control what journalists see on the battlefield and better tell their story. And from war to politics, journalist today embed with presidential candidates. So when journalists form such cozy ties with candidates, instead of covering and exposing them, are they catering to them? From: RTAmerica Views: 2577 118 ratings Time: 03:35 More in News &…

• Murang'a politics: Civic leaders differ over Uhuru bid

  NTVKenya

  7 Feb 2012 | 3:31 am

  Murang'a politics: Civic leaders differ over Uhuru bid www.ntv.co.ke Over 100 civic leaders allied to Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta have attacked the move by a section of their colleagues that endorse Assistant minister for planning Peter Kenneth for presidency. The leaders have termed the move as null and void, opening yet aging the rift between Uhuru and Kenneth. From: NTVKenya Views: 2909 0 ratings Time: 01:40 More in News & Politics

• Politics of Strait of Hormuz-Iran Today-02-01-2012

  PressTVGlobalNews

  1 Feb 2012 | 8:43 am

  Politics of Strait of Hormuz-Iran Today-02-01-2012 presstv.ir The Persian Gulf is surrounded by 8 countries. It's the third largest gulf in the world, and geopolitically is of paramount importance. 68 percent of the world's known resources of gas and oil come from this region. And it's through the Hormuz Strait, a chokepoint 21 miles wide, that all goods oil and gas going to and from the Gulf must pass through. It's the only exit point into the open ocean, and at least one ocean-liner passes through every ten minutes. Iran flanks the whole northern coast of the Persian Gulf.

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  VOICES for REASON

• Iran’s financial web

  Elan Journo

  2 Feb 2012 | 9:06 pm

  What’s often forgotten (or ignored?) about the Iranian nuclear program is that Tehran has advanced this far despite being subject to numerous sanctions for many years. There’s now a strong push in Congress to amp up economic sanctions on the regime. In Foreign Policy, Mark Dubowitz and Jonathan Schanzer discuss Iran’s use of an international financial-transactions system, and argue that severing Tehran’s link to that system could seriously disrupt its ability to engage in trade. Definitely worth reading. My take is that further sanctions, if really effectual, could…

• Happy Birthday, Ayn Rand

  Rituparna Basu

  2 Feb 2012 | 10:22 am

  Ayn Rand was born on February 2, 1905. To commemorate the 107th anniversary of her birth, ARC analyst Don Watkins has an op-ed on FoxNews.com today, in which he discusses the controversy over Rand’s influence on today’s politics. “Rand has clearly inspired millions,” he writes, ”But a debate has emerged over the question of Rand’s political influence, with many commentators claiming her ideas have played a key role in shaping the political landscape. . . . But to gauge Rand’s influence, we need to know more about her views than the sound bites we’re…

• “Large enough to be meaningful”—who decides?

  Tom Bowden

  30 Nov 2011 | 8:56 pm

  As expected (and dreaded, by some), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revoked its approval of Avastin for treatment of advanced breast cancer. The Wall Street Journal has reported and editorialized on the event, which came in the form of a 69-page decision by Food and Drug Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. If you wade through the legalese and medical technicalities all the way to page 38, you will encounter Dr. Hamburg’s crucial conclusion about Avastin’s effects on “PFS.” What’s PFS? It’s an acronym for “progression free survival,” a period of time during which a…

• An adventure in historical revisionism

  Tom Bowden

  23 Nov 2011 | 11:04 am

  The latest issue of George Mason Law Review, currently in the mail to subscribers (how quaint that sounds in this digital age), contains my review of an important new book on the landmark Supreme Court case of Lochner v. New York. The book is called Rehabilitating Lochner: Defending Individual Rights Against Progressive Reform, by David E. Bernstein, a professor at George Mason University School of Law. I welcomed the opportunity to review Bernstein’s book because the Lochner case stands as an enduring symbol of the most important debate in American legal history. Do individuals have…

• What to expect from the Obamacare litigation

  Tom Bowden

  17 Oct 2011 | 11:19 am

  Now that the Obama administration has asked the Supreme Court to decide the fate of Obamacare, conservatives are again waxing enthusiastic about the case’s significance. According to Human Events, for example, “The case before the Supreme Court is our last line of legal defense against a fundamental reconstitution of the relationship between American citizens and their government.” Last month, in a Daily Caller op-ed, I voiced my opinion that this ship has already sailed—in other words, there has already been a “fundamental reconstitution of the relationship between American…