From the story:  U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than it can encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic.  An appeal is on the way (USA Today).  She was appointed by Jimmy Carter (Judgepedia). 

Obama: Tea Party Members Should Thank Me

            Because so few people pay taxes.  He still doesn’t get it (FOX News).  Americans do get it, with the majority knowing their taxes are about to go up (Gallup).  It might help Obama to read the Contract from America (The Contract).  From Larry Kudlow:  What’s so significant to me about this tea-party Contract from America is the strong emphasis on constitutional limits and restraints on legislation, spending, taxing, and government control of the economy. Undoubtedly, the emphasis is there because no one trusts Washington (Townhall). 

Obama Orders Hospitals to Give Gays Marital Visitation Rights

            And if they don’t, no Medicare or Medicaid money.

            LA Times

Biden Charitable Giving for 2009:  $4,820

            A paltry 1.44 percent of his income.  Unfortunately, the story doesn’t say where the money went (Washington Times).  But this is not unusual for Biden, who gave less than $4,000 over a ten year period (NRO). 

Democrats Eye Vote on Cap and Trade

            From the story:   A long-awaited compromise bill to reduce U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming will be unveiled by a group of senators on April 26, sources said on Thursday.  Later:  The White House is also eager to show the rest of the world the United States is ready to take a leadership role on global warming, including to help kick-start stalled international efforts to tackle the problem.  Despite vocal climate change skeptics in the United States, leading scientific groups have been hoping the United States, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, would take action.

            Reuters

Wrong Twin Baby Aborted

            Dr. Albert Mohler explains:  A doctor in the city has lost his license because he aborted what is now described as the “wrong” baby. Back in 2006, Dr. Matthew Kachinas had been asked to perform an abortion on a baby that had been identified as having Down syndrome and other congenital defects. Instead, the doctor aborted that baby’s healthy twin.  Later:  The situation with Dr. Kachinas reveals the horribly confused morality that marks modern America and, in far too many cases, the practice of medicine.

            Albert Mohler

Crash the Tea Party Founder Under Investigation

            The story explains “The investigation by Oregon’s teacher licensing agency comes in response to a public outcry over Jason Levin’s public statements that he’ll do anything short of throwing rocks to bring down the Tea Party.”  Here’s the great irony/hypocrisy:  At the moment, the Beaverton School District is officially defending Levin’s actions as the district’s public information officer, Maureen Wheeler, told FoxNews.com “What this teacher does in his private time is his private personal business. So when he’s not in school, that’s his personal time and there’s just not a lot we can do.”  Yet they’re telling their teachers not to talk to the press about Levin’s actions.

            FOX News

ACLU Helps Man Profit by Flipping Cop the Bird

            The man did so in front of his kids.  The ACLU believes flipping off cops is your right.  They sued and the city settled.

            NBC

            Doug Elmendorf said it “cannot be solved through minor tinkering.”  And the story notes he was echoing “the recent sentiments of a pair of Federal Reserve chiefs — the current head, Ben Bernanke, and former Chairman Paul Volcker.”

            Politico

Netanyahu Cancels Trip to Washington

            From Reuters:  He made the decision after learning Egypt and Turkey intended to raise the issue of Israel’s assumed atomic arsenal at the meeting (Reuters).  According to AP, he feared “Israel would be singled out over its own nuclear program” (FOX News).  From the Jerusalem Post:  Army Radio reported that US sources informed Israel that a group of participating Arab countries led by Turkey and Egypt plan to use the summit to demand that Israel sign the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and allow its alleged nuclear capabilities to be placed under international inspection (Jerusalem Post).  One story notes “Obama won 78 percent of Jews in 2008, more than John Kerry before him. In fact, despite a string of stories hinting otherwise, Obama was never really at risk of losing Jews in 2008. No Republican has won Jews since 1920 (and that was due to a third-party candidate). Only blacks are a more loyal bloc of the Democratic Party.”  Later:  Most US Jews don’t view Israel as a top issue partly because of America’s strong support, despite periodic flare-ups, of the Jewish state. Western Europe tells another story. In recent decades, the rise of considerable anti-Israeli sentiment on the European left pushed many Jews rightward.  Finally:  Obama attempts to thread the needle: pressure Israel for diplomatic gain without risking significant domestic political loss. Obama is gambling that the ends might justify the means. But he is also unlikely to dramatically escalate those means and risk too much political cost. After all, like so many before him, the ends will likely escape this president as well (RCP). 

Obama: “Last I Checked, Sarah Palin’s Not Much of an Expert on Nuclear Issues”

            The president gave that attack-the-accuser response to ABC News when informed of criticism of his nuclear policy (ABC News). Video (RCP).  From Charles Krauthammer:  A nuclear posture is just that — a declaratory policy designed to make the other guy think twice.  Our policies did. The result was called deterrence. For half a century, it held. The Soviets never invaded. We never used nukes. That’s why nuclear doctrine is important.  Later:  Under President Obama’s new policy, however, if the state that has just attacked us with biological or chemical weapons is “in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” explained Gates, then “the U.S. pledges not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against it.”  Imagine the scenario: Hundreds of thousands are lying dead in the streets of Boston after a massive anthrax or nerve gas attack. The president immediately calls in the lawyers to determine whether the attacking state is in compliance with the NPT. If it turns out that the attacker is up-to-date with its latest IAEA inspections, well, it gets immunity from nuclear retaliation (Townhall).  From Linda Chavez:  Obama has made the critical mistake of signaling to our enemies our willingness to hold back if we are attacked by a weapon of mass destruction. And you can bet they’ve taken notice (Townhall).  From Senators Jon Kyl and John McCain: “Under the treaty, Russia and the United States have reduced the number of warheads and verification procedures significantly. Both of these changes will have ramifications on our force structure and intelligence that we will need to evaluate” (Townhall).  Once again, Obama is going against the wishes of Americans (Rasmussen). 

Poll:  Democrat Party Favorable Ratings Hit Record Low

            Down to 41 percent.  GOP, traditionally below Dems, is up to 42 (Gallup).  And the public anger about the force feeding of Obamacare has Democrats dodging the issue (AP).  Democrats fear they could lose a congressional seat in a special election in Hawaii, one that seemed very secure pre-Obamacare (US News). 

Goldberg:  As We Become Europe, Who Will Be America?

            From Jonah Goldberg:  We can’t become Europe unless someone else is willing to become America.  He later makes the point:  Europe is a free-rider. It can only afford to be Europe because we can afford to be America.  The most obvious illustration of this fact is national defense. Europe’s defense budgets have been miniscule because Europeans can count on Uncle Sam to protect them (Townhall).  Newt Gingrich said Obama is “The most radical president in American history has now thrown down the gauntlet to the American people: ‘I run a machine. I own Washington and there’s nothing you can do about it”‘ (FOX News).

NY Times:  Economy “Gaining Strength” “Accelerating”

            9.7 percent unemployment suddenly looks good to the Times (NY Times).  Jobless claims saw an unexpected rise last week (FT). 

Now Cows Might Actually be Good for Environment

            From the story: “…a new study found that cattle grazed on the grasslands of China actually reduce another greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide.”  Who’ll be the first to create the bumper sticker:  Save the Planet, Eat Beef. 

            Telegraph

Animal Rights Activists Upset over Donkey Basketball

            Among other things, the activists worry donkeys will find the game “confusing.”  That takes donkey chess off the table.

            KOMO

            So key factual phrases like “Islamic extremism” are axed due to political correctness.

            FOX News

GOP Continues Strength Against Democrats

            A New Gallup poll notes “While it is too early to predict voter turnout by party this November, Republicans continue to show much greater enthusiasm than Democrats about voting in the 2010 elections” (Gallup).  Rasmussen has the GOP up by nine (Rasmussen).  Arkansas Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln is in big trouble with deep double-digit deficits against any Republican candidate (Rasmussen).  Despite all this, a story from The Hill claims “Democrats feel they have grabbed political momentum.”  Then the story notes “Democratic strategists and independent political experts identify roughly five stumbling blocks that the party must overcome to avert big losses: history, jobs and the economy, an apathetic base, ethics and anti-Washington sentiment” (The Hill).  While some worry the Republicans are peaking too early, Dick Morris argues that isn’t the case (Townhall). 

Black Tea Party Members Catching Heat

            For not following the rest of the crowd.  It doesn’t help that this FOX News/AP story, like so many others, refers to  the Tea Party as “mostly white,” a label they wouldn’t dare pin on themselves or network news anchors (FOX News).  Meanwhile, Thomas Sowell continues his series on race and politics (Townhall). 

Obama Economic Advisor Suggests VAT Tax

            To help pay for Obama’s out of control spending.

            NY Post

Nebraska Bill Could Challenge Roe v Wade

            From the story:  If the legislation passes, Nebraska will be the first state to ban abortions based on the controversial notion that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. State law now has a post-viability ban on abortion but defines viability on a case-by-case basis.

            ABC News

LA Times Deems Questionable Shows “Family Friendly”

            And that caught the attention of the Parents Television Council.  The Editor-in-Chief of TV Guide claims “it all depends how you define family, and each family can define that on their own. Family television has changed, just as the notion of ‘the family’ has changed.” (FOX News).  The LA Times article (LA Times). 

Danger as Co-Ed Dorms Spread

            From Dr. Mohler:  The rise of co-ed dorms is the inevitable result of a breakdown in all rationality about sex, gender, and sexuality. In this case, the movement is being pushed by activists who are all too clear about their agenda.  Later:  All of this adds up to a perfect jumble of moral confusion. Consider all that is mixed-up here. First, we have schools collapsing under the logic of gender rebellion. Instead of respecting boundaries, they remove them as a gesture of supposed tolerance and sensitivity. Second, we have students insisting that there is nothing remotely odd or sexualized about two heterosexual students of opposite genders living in the same small space. That is both unbelievable and deeply sad. Third, we have activists and administrators lecturing parents that they have no right to resist all this. When Jeffrey Chang insists that college students are adults who “have every single right to choose the person they feel most comfortable living with,” he assumes, probably rightly, that many parents will just accept that argument at face value.

            Albert Mohler

Obesity Activists Latest Target:  Ronald McDonald

            According to the story they say “the venerable spokes-clown… has hooked kids on unhealthy food, spurring an epidemic of diet-related diseases.”  But he makes great fries.

            ABC News

            Remarkably, even in self defense (NY Times).  Rich Lowry looks at Obama’s disastrous game with Iran (NY Post).  And another story looks at the man Obama nominated as associate director of national security and international affairs in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (Politico). 

US Debt has Nation Flirting with Disaster

            From the story:  Lost amid last month’s passage of the new health care law, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report showing that within this decade, President Obama’s own budget sends the U.S. government to a potential tipping point where the debt reaches 90 percent of gross domestic product.  UC Berkeley economist Alan Auerbach explained “The real problem is not just current deficits but where we’re heading.  We’re on a trajectory where the deficit’s going to go down a little and then go up again. And we have no solution for that” (San Francisco Chronicle).  The Washington Times called Obama “the most fiscally irresponsible president in American history” (Washington Times). 

54 Percent Still Want Repeal of Obamacare

            Including 57 percent of unaffiliated voters (Rasmussen).  Byron York examines the dangerous Obamacare concept of redistributing wealth (Townhall).  Hugh Hewitt looks at Obama’s plummeting popularity (Washington Examiner).  And Harry Reid continues to be despised back home (LA Times).  Victor Davis Hanson calls Obama a postmodern president and explains:  For 14 months we have tried to use abstract benchmarks like “did Obama contradict himself?,” “did Obama break another promise?,” “did Obama really think borrowing another $2 trillion won’t help to bankrupt us?,” “did Obama indeed think another entitlement ’saves’ money?,” “did Obama snub another ally and court another enemy?,” “did Obama apologize again?” — when, in fact, such linear thinking, such artificially constructed “norms,” such “facts” are nothing of the sort at all. To Obama, our first postmodern president, such facts and truth are mere signatures of privilege, and so he is offering us another — a postmodern — way of looking at the world (Pajamas Media). 

Tennessee Democrat Compares Tea Party to KKK

            Steve Cohen said they show a “hardcore angry side” of the country, only “without robes and hoods.“  He was also shockingly disrespectful to John McCain and his service to America (FOX News)

Los Angeles Four Weeks from Being Unable to Pay Bills

            From the story:  City Controller Wendy Greuel declared an “urgent financial crisis” and said the only way to continue paying bills in the short term was to begin to drain the city’s already limited emergency reserve (LA Times).  In one city, the mayor cut trash pickup to every other week and the garbage is piling up (Examiner). 

Obamacare Forbids Doctors from Owning Hospitals

            One of the many favors in exchange for support.  The story notes “A group of lawyers can own a hospital. A group of hedge fund managers can own one. But doctors, who would presumably know the most about starting a hospital, won’t be able to after this year when the bill kicks in” (Forbes).  Another story explains that under Obamacare, you are forced to buy health care or your tax refund could be confiscated (Daily Caller). 

Woods at Masters, Apologies to Fellow Golfers

            So far, the fans seem to be forgiving (AP).  Audio of his press conference (SONnetwork).

Women in Portland March Topless, “Enraged” by Men Watching

            They were protesting the topless “double standard.”  The what-were-you-expecting moment from the story:  Ty McDowell, who organized the march, said she was “enraged” by the turnout of men attracted to the demonstration. The purpose, she said, was for society to have the same reaction to a woman walking around topless as it does to men without shirts on.  However, McDowell said she plans to organize similar demonstrations in the future and said she would be more “aggressive” in discouraging oglers.

            Press Herald

            Down to 44 percent.  The story also notes “When it comes to health care, the President’s approval rating is even lower — and is also a new all-time low. Only 34 percent approved, while 55 percent said they disapproved” (CBS News).  From Hot Air:  Small wonder Obama has taken to campaigning again for health care; he’s getting buried by it.  Obama might do better to change the subject, but the next most pressing issue is another which Americans don’t like the job he’s doing.  He only gets 42% approval on the economy, sinking closer to his all-time low of 41% in January (Hot Air). 

White House:  Economic Recover Kinda Slow After All

            From the story:  Obama’s chief economic adviser Lawrence Summers said on a pair of talk shows that a year after the passage of the stimulus bill, the U.S. economy still has “a long way to go.”  Summers said pushing the unemployment rate down from its current 9.7 percent level won’t be easy (FOX News).  Michael Barone notes “a nation with an ever-larger public sector and an inhibited-growth private sector is a nation with fewer openings for people who want work that will benefit others. Fewer opportunities for young people who want to choose their future, just as they choose their iPod playlists and Facebook friends. Change, maybe, but not much hope” (Townhall).  Meanwhile, Obama meandered for 17 minutes when asked if it’s a “wise decision to add more taxes to us with the health care” package when “we are over-taxed as it is” (Washington Post). 

Greenspan Asks what Media Refuses:  What if CBO Numbers are Wrong on Obamacare?

            As he notes “our buffer between our capacity to borrow and our actual debt is narrowing, for the first time, I think, in the American history, there’s a question, supposing we are wrong on the cost estimates, and, indeed, they are actually much higher than the best estimates can generate, the consequences are very severe,…” (ABC News).  Scott Brown has vowed to continue the fight against Obamacare (FOX News). 

Polls Show Tea Party has Independents and Democrats, Too

            The story notes “The national breakdown of the Tea Party composition is 57 percent Republican, 28 percent Independent and 13 percent Democratic” (The Hill).  And another poll, with the Indy/Dem makeup 43/8, reveals they aren’t undereducated and poor, as those on the left want you to believe (Gallup).  A close-up of some of the Americans who call themselves Tea Partiers (FOX News).  The Tea Party is outpolling Obama (Rasmussen). 

7.2 Quake Strikes Baja California

            Few deaths or injuries reported as of early this morning (ABC News).  One group which assists victims isn’t far from the quake (Team Rubicon).  Data on the quake and aftershocks (USGS)

78 Percent Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead

            A pivotal moment in Christian history (Rasmussen).  Dr. Albert Mohler notes “The cross and the empty tomb stand at the center of the Christian faith. Without these, there is no good news — no salvation” (Albert Mohler). 

Gore Turns Away Media at Duke Speaking Engagement

            The former VP only allows recording for the first 5 minutes of his 45 minute speech.  The media seem okay with this.

            WRAL

School Suspends Girl for Touching Pill

            She turned down the drug, but the school stuck to its policy of considering this drug possession and suspended her for five days.

            NBC

            Though Rasmussen has had this for quite some time, this is a rare finding for Gallup.  The story notes “The shift toward Republicans raises the possibility that the healthcare bill had a slightly negative impact on the Democrats’ political fortunes in the short run” (Gallup).  From the LA Times:  According to Gallup’s interpretation, this new finding would indicate an even stronger GOP outcome if November’s midterm elections were held now because Republicans tend to vote at higher rates than members of the president’s party (LA Times).  From the Wall Street Journal:  …the current edition of the Democratic Party has disconnected itself from the average American’s sense of political modesty. The party’s members and theorists now defend expanding government authority with the same arrogance that brought Progressive Era reforms down upon untethered industrial interests.  In such times, this country has an honored tradition of changing direction. That time may be arriving (WSJ).  Meanwhile, a poll shows voters put the economy ahead of environmental concerns.  And once again, Independents are on the side of the GOP (CNN). 

            Poll:  Americans Increasingly Blame Obama for Economic Trouble

            And a year and a half into his first term, the majority says he doesn’t deserve reelection (USA Today).  His approval track looks a lot like Jimmy Carter’s (USA Today). 

Some Democrats Working to Sell Obamacare at Home

            While one story claims key Democrats are avoiding the discussion of Obamacare (Reuters) another says some are pushing it hard (USA Today).  Obama is still trying to convince voters it’s something they want and need (CNS News). 

Catholic Actor Rejects Sex Scene, is Fired

            Neal McDonough was allegedly tossed from the new series Scoundrels for rejecting a sex scene.  Will SAG do anything about it?

            Deadline

From the story:  Maybe instead of a public health option, we’ll next get a “public salary”— a fair and reasonable amount of money every America should earn to alleviate income envy and unfairness?  The president and his administration spend an inordinate amount of time attacking the rich and, by extension, achievement.  But it’s rare for Mr. Obama to promote  “economic success” or “wealth creation.” 

            Weekly Standard

Vatican Blisters the NY Times over Attack on Pope

            From the story:  Cardinal William J. Levada, the former Archbishop of San Francisco and a close aide to the pope, attacked the newspaper’s main story on the abuse scandal last week and an editorial as “deficient by any reasonable standards of fairness” and defended the way the Church and the Vatican had handled the Murphy case.  “I ask the Times to reconsider its attack mode about Pope Benedict XVI and give the world a more balanced view of a leader it can and should count on,” said a 20-paragraph statement written by Levada (FOX News).  Hugh Hewitt spoke with the priest in charge of the Church’s prosecution (Townhall). 

            Pence:  Obama Drilling Talk a “Smokescreen”

            The Indiana congressman explained “As usual the devil is in the details.  Only in Washington, D.C., can you ban more areas to oil and gas exploration than you open up, delay the date of your new leases and claim you’re going to increase production.”

             Washington Times

            Democrat Max Baucus, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, admitted Obamacare is “an income shift, it is a shift, a leveling to help lower income middle income Americans” (Townhall).  Not surprisingly and plenty related, communist dictator Fidel Castro, called a “revolutionary leader” by the Associated Press, dubbed the accomplishment “a miracle” (AP).  Speaking of miracles, Nancy Pelosi claimed Obamacare would somehow save the US $1.3 trillion (CNS News).  Charles Krauthammer looks at the massive out-of-control cost of Obamacare (Townhall).  Another story notes “Senate Democrats voted almost unanimously Wednesday night to ensure the right of rapists and child molesters to have guaranteed access to government-subsidized Viagra under the president’s health care plan. Only Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana broke ranks with his Democratic colleagues.  Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, put the Senate’s majority party on the spot by offering an amendment denying convicted sex offenders coverage for erectile-dysfunction medications” (Washington Times).  A look at one doctor who will be forced to retire under Obamacare (WXYZ). 

Obama Dares GOP to Repeal

            With the maturity you’d expect from a Chicago Democrat, Obama said “Go for it” and “Be my guest.” Obama spent a considerable amount of time insulting the majority of Americans who oppose the bill (FOX News).  From William Kristol:  Republicans should take up the president on his dare. They should say, “Thank you Mr. President, we are going for it. And we’re going to win” (Weekly Standard).  As Obama spoke, hundreds protested (Daily Iowan).  And as for the threats to Stupak, Neil Cavuto notes “The Media were quite properly all over that, but oddly silent over the just as scary and threatening calls the congressman said he was receiving when he was against the health care plan and life, as he put it, had become a “living hell” (FOX News). 

The Israel-Obama Strain Continues

            From the Times of London:  For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of. Yet that is how Binyamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night, according to Israeli reports on a trip viewed in Jerusalem as a humiliation (Times Online).  From another story:  Barack Obama reached out to skeptical Jewish political activists immediately after nailing down his presidential nomination in 2008, promising he would “never compromise” in his support for Israel. Now president, he risks alienating a core Democratic constituency by ratcheting up a public feud with Israel’s prime minister (AP).  More from leaders critical of Obama’s actions (Jerusalem Post).  According to CBN, “Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was warmly greeted when he returned home from Washington on Thursday after standing up to unprecedented pressure and humiliating treatment from the Obama administration” (CBN).  From Frank Gaffney:  Barack Obama has had a longstanding enmity towards Israel.  Under the influence of his one-time fellow University of Chicago professor Rashid Khalidi, the future president honed a sympathy for the Palestinian cause assiduously promoted by his colleague.  Indeed, as far back as 2004, Mr. Obama was letting it be known that he had to subordinate public expression of his anti-Israel sentiments in order to advance politically.  In a report published in March 2008, a similarly minded pro-Arab activist in Chicago, Ali Abunimah, quoted the then-Senate candidate as saying four years before, “Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.”  Since entering the White House, Mr. Obama has been more “up front” – at least in his actions.  He has pressed Israel relentlessly for territorial, political and strategic concessions to the Palestinians.  He has reportedly denied Israel access to weapons, including bunker-busting bombs, even as sales of advanced arms to others in the Middle East – all of whom have tried to destroy Israel in the past – continue apace.  The effect is to diminish the qualitative edge so vital to the survival of the outnumbered Jews and their state (Center for Security Policy). 

Personal Income Drops in 42 States

            If this were a Republican president, that would be a big deal.

            WSJ

Gas Quietly Up $1 per Gallon on Obama’s Watch

            And many still seek domestic oil exploration.

            Washington Times

Half of All Modified Loans End in Second Default

            From the story:  Modifications are “clearly not working well and it’s not a surprise,” said Sam Khater, a senior economist at First American CoreLogic in Tysons Corner, Virginia. “It’s pointless to rewrite these loans because they’re underwater” (Bloomberg).  But uncle Obama is here to help.  From another story:  The Obama administration plans to overhaul how it is tackling the foreclosure crisis, in part by requiring lenders to temporarily slash or eliminate monthly mortgage payments for many borrowers who are unemployed, senior officials said Thursday (Washington Post). 

Military Softens Stands on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

            Removing most of the “don’t tell” issue.  Note the story begins “Gays and lesbians serving in the military can now breathe a little easier” taking the sympathetic to gays angle instead of the sympathetic to men who now have to live with gay men angle.

            ABC News

Judge Rules Father Can’t Take Daughter to Mass

            Because, prior to the divorce, the couple agreed to raise the child Jewish.  In a sign of the times, the man received “a temporary restraining order …to stop him from exposing her to other religions.”

            Fox Chicago

NPR Makes it Official:  Verbal Bias Against Pro-Lifers

            From the story:  The folks at National Public Radio understand the power of words. Managing Editor David Sweeney announced yesterday that the station would no longer refer to people in the abortion debate as “pro-choice” and “pro-life.” Instead, the station will say “abortion rights advocates” and “abortion rights opponents,” according to a memo circulated to NPR staff (Newsbusters).  The memo (NPR). 

California Could Legalize Pot Smoking Come November

            Note to stoners:  We may soon have a place to put you.  The taxes are high, but what do you care?

            AP

            Dingell is Chairman Emeritus of the Committee on Energy and Commerce (Breitbart)  Not surprisingly, the Communist Party USA is thrilled, as they wrote “We join with those who hail this legislation both as a measure that will save lives now and begin curbing the insurance industry, and as a giant first step to further reforms that will provide quality, affordable health care for every person in the United States” (People’s World).  Larry Elder notes “Communism collapsed under the romantic but bankrupt notion of “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs” (Townhall).  And Nancy Pelosi held up the bitter, forceful way they shoved through Obamacare as a “model” for future legislation (RCP). Pelosi gave a thanks to AARP for their support in passing Obamacare (AMAC).  The head of the United Nations’ World Health Organization praised Obamacare (Reuters). 

CBS Poll:  2 in 3 Americans Want GOP to Fight Obamacare

            From the story:  And another poll shows 55 percent of Americans want the legislation repealed (Rasmussen).  Yesterday’s Rasmussen tracking poll shows, while Obama gained among Democrats, he’s still down big among the critical Independents (Post-vote, the Los Angeles Times has suddenly discovered that California will take a “big hit from” Obamacare (LA Times).  A few things in the bill didn’t make it past the Senate Parliamentarian and will need to be voted on in the House again (ABC News).  And in another odd Biden moment, the Vice President said without passage of the health care bill the administration would be “absolutely done” (FOX News).  A look at the hypocrisy in Obamacare (FOX News). 

Social Security Payouts to Exceed Revenue

            Six years earlier than expected. 

            CBS News

Pro-Abortion Groups Back Stupak Reelection

            A telling sign of whose side he really chose in the Obamacare flap.  The story also claims “neither his Democratic nor Republican challengers stand much chance of unseating him in Michigan.”  Similar talk came out of Massachusetts not long ago.

            CNN

A Look at the States’ Challenge to Obamacare

            And why it just might work (Washington Times).  Minnesota may soon join the list of states suing (Star Tribune). 

Republican Leads in Ohio Senate

            As Obama’s popularity drops.

            Public Policy Polling

Reconciliation Act is an “Anti-Growth Tax Hike”

            A look at the economic damage the bill will cause.

            FOX News

Obama Softens Stance on Iran

            From the story:  The U.S. has backed away from pursuing a number of tough measures against Iran in order to win support from Russia and China for a new United Nations Security Council resolution on sanctions, according to people familiar with the matter (FOX News).  At the same time, things aren’t going well between Obama and Israel (Times Online). 

School Whisks Girl Away for Secret Abortion

            Hiding it from her parents.

            Life Site News

James Cameron Rants Against Critics, Beck, Global Warming Questioners

            Spewing hatred toward those he accuses of spewing hatred.  Then the hate-filled director accused those who question the religion of global warming “boneheads.”

            The Hollywood Reporter

            Explained an attorney representing 13 states:  “We are convinced that this legislation is fundamentally flawed as a matter of constitutional law, that it exceeds the scope of proper constitutional authority of the federal government and tramples upon the rights and prerogatives of states and their citizens” (ABC News).  Details on the battle in Tennessee (Knox News).   From another story:  Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania are among 14 states that filed suit after the president signed the bill over the constitutionality of the burden imposed by the legislation. The health-care overhaul will make as many as 15 million more Americans eligible for Medicaid nationwide starting in 2014 and will cost the states billions to administer (Bloomberg).  Republican state senators in California want the far left Jerry Brown to join in, though he’s quite unlikely.  Brown is running for governor.  The story notes “Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for governor, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman, opposed the health care package and supported a state lawsuit” (San Francisco Chronicle).  More of the public support the suits than do not (Rasmussen). 

Anger Against Obamacare

            According to Gallup, Democrats like the bill, Republicans don’t and Independents are split.  But here’s the sentence that should worry Democrats:  Independents are twice as likely to be angry as enthusiastic, and Republicans 10 times as likely (Gallup).  From Jim DeMint:  There is no fixing President Obama’s healthcare takeover that was jammed through on a partisan vote with secret deals, kickbacks and carve-outs.  This Mediscam bill must be repealed.  Later:  This process has been an insult to our democracy and threatens our nation’s prosperity and freedom (Human Events).  From Jonah Goldberg:  Congratulations to President Obama and the Democratic leadership. You won dirty against bipartisan opposition from both Congress and the majority of Americans. You’ve definitely polarized the country even more, and quite possibly bankrupted us, too. But hey, you won. Bubbly for everyone (Townhall).  Michael Medved looks at Obama’s attempt to convince the public that this giant expense somehow saves the country money (Townhall).  From Michael Barone:  Democrats wary of voting for the health care bill may have been soothed by the Congressional Budget Office’s report that it would reduce federal deficits over the next 10 years. But bond buyers know that the Democrats gamed the CBO system to get a good score (Washington Examiner).  From the New York Times:  The bill that President Obama signed on Tuesday is the federal government’s biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago (WSJ).  Maggie Gallagher warns despite Obama’s promises, “You will be forced to buy the kind of insurance that the secretary of HHS decides you must buy. The rules will vary whether you are rich or poor, over 30 or under 30. It’s complex. And the rules will be permanently unknowable with any certainty” (Townhall).  Obama is expected to sign the abortion executive order today (FOX News).  And he’ll do so quietly (NY Times).  Stupak defended himself, though not very well (Life News).  And the congressman who yelled “baby killer” is receiving an enormous amount of support (Politico). 

In Europe, the US was mocked for joining the party (and becoming like everyone else) so late (Time). 

Obama and Fellow Elite Democrats Exempt from Obamacare

            Though, as noted before in Topics, Sen. Chuck Grassley offered an amendment that would force members of congress to live under the same health care system they’re forcing on us.  Democrats quickly rejected it (NY Post).  From the Washington Times:  The special exemptions slipped into the health care law are another example of how those statists who rule consider themselves a privileged class, imposing burdens on the country that they will not accept themselves (Washington Times). 

Woman Explains How Gender Neutral Upbringing Failed Miserably

            A girl is a girl and no amount of liberalism can stop it.  From the story:  “We all thought that the differences had to do with how you were brought up in a sexist culture, and if you gave children the same chances, it would equalize,” my mom says. “It took a while to think, ‘Maybe men and women really are different from each other, and they’re both equally valuable.’ ”

            Newsweek

Coulter Speech Cancelled at U of Ottowa

            As the left shuts her down with threats (FOX News).  Coulter said she’ll be filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (Vancouver Sun).  Another story notes “In an unusual move, the University of Ottawa had sent her a warning before her speech, cautioning Ms. Coulter to watch her words lest she face criminal charges for promoting hatred in Canada.” Sounds like something you’d hear out of Iran or North Korea (Globe and Mail). 

Biden Uses F-Word On Mic

            And the classless White House is okay with it as Press Secretary Gibbs tweeted in response “And yes Mr. Vice President, you’re right…”

            CNN

Small Businesses Prepare for Pain of Obamacare

            From the story:  “It’s going to create huge uncertainty and the potential for another downtick in the economy fed by that uncertainty,” said Keith Ashmus, a partner at Frantz Ward LLP, a law firm in Cleveland. He said the bill will “almost certainly” lead to increased health insurance costs for businesses with more than 50 employees — like his.  “And it’s going to result in a lot of people looking at the structure of their business to see how they can structure themselves to avoid horrendous penalties,” Ashmus told FoxNews.com (FOX News).  From another story:  Indoor tanning salons will charge customers a 10 percent tax beginning today in just one of the changes Americans will see as a result of the U.S. health-care overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama (Bloomberg). 

Judge Rules School Violated Lesbian’s Rights

            By not allowing her and her lover to come to the prom.  But the judge did not force the school to have the prom, regardless.  Parents have decided to hold a prom off site and the lesbian has not been invited.

            CNN

Scientist Challenges Cattle/Global Warming Claim

            And he appears to be a global warming believer, otherwise (FOX News).  Meanwhile, France scrapped their controversial carbon tax after Sarkozy experienced big losses in the elections (FT). 

Somali Pirates Hijack Ships Further from Home

            And why not?  They’re being rewarded.

            Straits Times