The House Republican stopgap bill locks in the sequester cuts while cushioning their impact on party priorities.
A Real Live Filibuster!
At about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, Kentucky Republican Rand Paul took the floor of the Senate to launch one of the chamber’s rarest spectacles: a genuine filibuster.
Drone Monopoly: Hope You Enjoyed It While It Lasted
The Pakistani government may have been behind the drone killing of two senior al Qaeda leaders, putting into question America’s hold on the most effective “war on terror” weapon.
61%
— Support sequestration, according to a new Washington Post-ABC poll. But only 34% support the cuts for the military.
Morning Must Reads: March 6
In the news: Hugo Chavez, ex-Congressman Bob Ney, Pope Bendict XVI, the Dow, and the most powerful office you’ve never heard of
Ron Paul’s Transition from Politician to Pundit
Paul may be better suited to life outside of Congress, where he’s even less bound by political practicalities.
Brennan’s Ordeal: The Beginning of the End
John Brennan’s confirmation for CIA chief has prompted some interesting debate about counter-terrorism and the use of drones. While that debate has only skimmed the surface, Congress is nearly finished with it, at least for now.
“We completely reject the Venezuelan government’s claim that the United States is involved in any type of conspiracy to destabilize the Venezuelan government.”
— Patrick Ventrell, a spokesperson for the State Dept., on the rumors that the U.S. was behind the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Parsing Jeb II
Jeb Bush’s book not only rekindles the war within the GOP over amnesty and immigration; it sets up 2016 to be a potentially bruising primary with his friend Marco Rubio. UPDATE: Rubio responds.
In the ArenaRepublican Party
Grand Elderly Party
All this talk of rebranding and rethinking is more a marketing exercise than a soul-search. Still, there is some interesting and substantial thinking about policy going on within the GOP.
Parsing Jeb
Florida Governor Jeb Bush seems to be working through his position on amnesty and immigration.
46%
— President Obama's approval rating, according to Gallup. Last week, before sequestration took place, Obama was at 53%.
Morning Must Reads: March 5
In the news: North Korea threatens to cancel the Korean War cease-fire, Sen. Menendez was framed, Syrian refugees approach 1 million, and John Boehner, “Master Negotiator.”