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Robert Gibbs will continue to advise Barack Obama when he leaves his post as White House press secretary. Photograph: AP Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary and one of President Barack Obama's closest confidantes, is to quit his post but will continue to give advice as an outside consultant.
Obama's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, to quit | World news | guardian.co.uk
Mr. Prince Goes to Washington: Blackwater Founder Testifies Before Congress
AMY GOODMAN : Mr. Prince goes to Washington. That’s right, Erik Prince, founder and chair of Blackwater USA , testified before Congress Tuesday in his first extended public appearance. Prince was called before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform amidst a public firestorm over the role of private military firms operating in Iraq and a string of probes into Blackwater’s conduct. Blackwater has come under heavy scrutiny since an attack last month in Baghdad in which between eleven and twenty-eight Iraqis were killed.
Seeing the Forest
Deficit theater is coming to DC tomorrow, with a well-funded "fiscal summit." The plot summary is that we have Deficit Trouble - Right Here In River City! so to fix it we need to cut Social Security and Medicare and the things democracy does for We, the People -- while cutting taxes on the rich and their corporations to make us more " business-friendly ." (This musical is sometimes billed as "Simpson-Bowles" but it's the same old song.)
Political Job Hunt : Lots of new listings The Mitt Romney-aligned Super PAC Restore Our Future is in the process of buying broadcast airtime in Pennsylvania, Politico reports, "indicating that the group is escalating its TV presence ahead of the April 24 primary." Romney's own campaign has already placed a massive ad buy in the state. House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan told BuzzFeed that a dozen elected Democrats secretly support his plan to cut entitlement spending and privatize some benefits -- but he wouldn't name "because I don't want to get them in trouble."
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
President Barack Obama campaigned on energy issues on Wednesday , visiting a handful of oil wellheads on Federal land in New Mexico and a solar installation in Boulder City, Nevada. The subtext of this Obama campaign is public unhappiness with the price of gasoline and the hypocritical attacks on him over this issue by his Republican opponents. The fact is that there is only one thing Obama could have done to bring down oil prices, and that would have been to veto the National Defense Authorization Act until Congress took back out the provisions for crippling sanctions on Iran. Republicans back these sanctions to the hilt, which is why it is dishonest of them to attack Obama on high gas prices. US politicians won’t say it. But Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, has made it clear that the Israeli-US campaign against Iran, into which they have dragooned Europe, could put up petroleum prices by as much as 30% and endanger the world economic recovery.
Informed Comment: Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion
Anyone who doubts that President Obama has a solid lead, should simply watch This Week this morning. The media desperately wants a close election, don't you think? Well, if you had any doubts ... by RASalvatore 2 Recs Actress Kirstie Alley is hosting a Twitter job Fair on her account.
Daily Kos: State of the Nation
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Crossposted from Video Cafe Ann Coulter, a controversial backer of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, suggests that conservatives should begin attacking President Barack Obama's two young daughters. On Wednesday, Fox News host Sean Hannity told Coulter that liberals had been "feigning outrage" over radio host Rush Limbaugh calling Georgetown University law student a "slut" because she wanted contraception to be covered by her health insurance.
Crooks and Liars
With all of the Wall Street criminals taking Monday off, and apparently just sick and fucking tired of only being despised by gun nuts on the right, Attorney General Eric Holder sent his G-men in to bother a bunch of fucking hippies at Oaksterdam University. Joined by forces not ratified in the Constitution, and conveniently ignoring a little thing Southerners, Santorum, and racists (same thing) like to yammer on about (i.e. “states rights”), they set out with their $800 government hammers to crash their way through the doors of some of the world’s most dangerous pot growing teachers. Three local buildings were raided, with harshed witnesses watching agents load up their vans with sweet fucking bud and shit from the school. Oaksterdam president Richard Lee also found himself playing host to agents at his home the same morning. IRS spokeswoman Arlette Lee said a search warrant was being served and the probe was under seal in a Northern District Court.
Wonkette — The D.C. Gossip
Brave New Films - A REAL December Review: Afghanistan War Is a Failure
Two years ago billionaire David Koch threw himself a ‘Wizard of Oz’ themed birthday bash. This year for his birthday we are releasing our new documentary, Koch Brothers Exposed, which shows what a Tin Man he really is. This full-length investigation is the perfect birthday gift for a man who can buy everything….and everyone.After almost a year and half in the majority “ House Republicans are still struggling to show they are able to get something done ,” as the GOP has few if any real accomplishments under their belt, NBC News notes . From fights over the debt limit to funding the FAA, House Republicans have made a lot of noise but little legislative progress, and Congress will be mostly focused on the election from now on. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is releasing his much-anticipated budget today, but even fellow Republicans are slow to embrace the plan . Tea Party groups and hardline conservative representatives are balking at Ryan’s proposed spending ceiling.