Top Items:
Washington Wire:
Ron Paul: Barack Obama is Not a Socialist — NEW ORLEANS-Republicans and tea party activists are fond of accusing President Barack Obama of being a socialist, but today party gadfly Ron Paul said they had it wrong. — “In the technical sense, in the economic definition, he is not a socialist …
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Evan McMorris-Santoro / TPMDC:
Ron Paul: President Obama Is Not A Socialist — Near the end of the third day of this year's Southern Republican Leadership Conference, it was time for Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) to take the stage. Paul, fresh off his victory in the CPAC straw poll, gave a characteristically fired-up speech …
Brian Montopoli / CBS News:
Mitt Romney Wins GOP Presidential Straw Poll — NEW ORLEANS — Mitt Romney won the straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership conference here Saturday in a victory that will be taken as a sign of the former Massachusetts governor's strength as a 2012 presidential candidate.
David Weigel / Right Now:
The SRLC straw poll, up for grabs — NEW ORLEANS — Supporters of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) are amused by the rumors about their straw poll prowess. — “We keep hearing about the well-organized Paul machine,” said Tim Shoemaker, a legislative campaigner for Paul's 501(c)4, the Campaign for Liberty …
The Politico:
Romney wins SRLC straw poll — NEW ORLEANS — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Southern Republican Leadership Conference's quadrennial straw poll by a narrow margin Saturday while Sarah Palin finished a disappointing third. — Romney won with the support of 24% …
Discussion:
CNN
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Haley Barbour's growing influence — A self-described “fat redneck” is the most influential Republican in the country in our latest Friday Line. — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is that rare combination of effective politician and savvy strategist, popular in his home state and revered among …
New York Times:
Polish President Dies in Jet Crash in Russia — WARSAW — A plane carrying the Polish president and dozens of the country's top political and military leaders to the site of a Soviet massacre of Polish officers in World War II crashed in western Russia on Saturday, killing everyone on board.
Discussion:
Pajamas Media, The Hill, Left Coast Rebel, The Lede, City Room, Firedoglake, Newsweek Blogs, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Gateway Pundit, Advocate, Another Black Conservative, TPMCafe, Vanity Fair, Michelle Malkin, Wonkette, GayPatriot, Daily Kos, The Agonist, FP Passport, Balloon Juice, The Page and Fausta's Blog
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Associated Press:
Polish leader, 96 others dead in Russia jet crash — SMOLENSK, Russia - Polish President Lech Kaczynski and some of the country's highest military and civilian leaders died on Saturday when the presidential plane crashed as it came in for a landing in thick fog in western Russia, killing 97, officials said.
Discussion:
Associated Press, BBC, neo-neocon, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Crooks and Liars, New Atlanticist and Liberty Pundits dot net
theblogprof:
KGB'd? Polish President, High Level Officials Die In Plane Crash Over Russia — The sad news this morning of the Polish President and some of the highest-level leaders in the Polish government over Russia smells rancid to me. Consider that: — Polish president Lech Kaczynski was a friend of the US …
Daily Mail:
A nation in mourning: Polish president and wife among 88 confirmed …
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys
Khopkins / Southern Republican Leadership …:
SRLC 2010 Straw Poll Results — If the primary election for president were held today, for whom would you vote? Please check the box by the candidate of your choice. — Newt Gingrich 18% — Mike Huckabee 4% — Gary Johnson 1% — Sarah Palin 18% — Ron Paul 24% (438 votes)
Adam C. Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Junior Florida Republican Party staffer had $1.3 million charged to party credit card — She was a 25-year-old junior staffer when the Florida Republican Party gave her an American Express card. — Over the next 2½ years, nearly $1.3 million in charges wound up on Melanie Phister's AmEx …
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
REMEMBER THOSE TAX CUTS?.... April 15 comes this week, so taxes will no doubt be on the minds of many. President Obama used his weekly address to remind the public about a little detail that usually goes overlooked: he cut taxes. — “All across America are good, decent folks who meet …
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Bob Herbert / New York Times:
A Voice of Reason — The Republican Party is not simply the “just-say-no” party. It's also a shameless advocate of the free lunch. Ronald Reagan famously told us he could jack up defense spending, cut taxes and balance the federal budget all at the same time. — George W. Bush put two big wars on a credit card.
Nyier Abdou / New Jersey Online:
Friends and colleagues remember Franks as tireless mentor, decisive leader … NEWARK — Former U.S. Rep Bob Franks, a longtime Republican strategist credited with engineering the resurgence of the GOP and nearly becoming governor, was remembered today by friends and colleagues as being a brilliant tactician and a natural candidate.
Discussion:
The Eye
The Politico:
Right gears for fight, not filibuster — Conservative judicial activists say they won't ask their Republican allies to go to the mat over President Barack Obama's nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens by pressing for the ultimate weapon in a court fight - a filibuster.
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