“If standing for liberty and standing for the Constitution makes you a wacko bird, then count me a proud wacko bird.”
— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), quoted bu Huffington Post, responding to remarks made by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Most Think Iraq War Was Not Worth It
Ten years after the start of the Iraq war, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds nearly six in 10 Americans say the war was not worth fighting. Nearly as many say the same about the war in Afghanistan.
A key reason: “A substantial sense that neither war did much to achieve their goals of enhancing U.S. security. Only about half of Americans say either war contributed to the long-term security of the United States, and just two in 10 say either contributed “a great deal” to U.S. security – clearly insufficient, in the minds of most, to justify their costs in lives and lucre.”
Woman Says She Betrayed Country in $1 Million Scam
Army staff sergeant Tonya Long “pleaded guilty to stealing at least $1 million and shipping the cash in hundred-dollar bills to the U.S. in the guts of hollowed-out VCR players,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Said Long: “I cannot express how sorry I am… I chose to betray my country and my family.”
She did not ask for mercy, telling a judge, “because I don’t deserve it.”
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Chavez Will Not Be Embalmed
“Venezuela’s information minister says the government has decided that the body of Hugo Chavez will not be embalmed for permanent display, as officials had said it would be,” the AP reports.
New Utah Mayor Picked in Random Drawing
The new mayor of Helper, Utah was chosen by picking a name from a basket, KSL-TV reports.
In two rounds of voting, Ed Chavez and Kirk Mascaro “each received two votes from the City Council to fill the mayor’s seat. When it became clear that the tie would not be broken, the slips of paper bearing the council members’ votes were placed in a wicker basket… City Attorney Gene Strate then drew Chavez’s name from the basket, making him Helper’s new chief executive officer.”
Window Open for a Grand Bargain?
“Two weeks of bipartisan meals, closed-door meetings and dueling budget proposals have opened perhaps one last window for the White House and Congress to reach a deficit-reduction deal before a likely fight over the debt ceiling this summer,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Lawmakers say they now see a small opportunity to forge a comprehensive fiscal plan between now and July or August. That’s because the dynamics in recent days have changed, with a slow, steady process replacing repeated crisis-driven fights.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“More background checks? Dandy idea, Mr. President.
Should’ve started with yours.”
— Sarah Palin, quoted by the New York Times, speaking to CPAC about President Obama’s gun control proposals.
Rand Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll, edging out fellow Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 25% to 23%, Roll Call reports.
Other top finishers: Rick Santorum at 8%, Chris Christie at 7%, Paul Ryan at 6% and Scott Walker at 5%.
Love Prepares Another Attempt to Unseat Matheson
After a narrow loss last year, Mia Love (R) is actively laying the groundwork for a second challenge to Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Roll Call reports.
Love has hired former state GOP Chairman Dave Hansen, who was widely heralded last year for successfully managing the re-election campaign of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
Walker Admits He’d Consider Presidential Bid
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) acknowledged to Politico that “he’s open to a presidential bid and pointedly declined to pledge to serve a full four-year term if he’s reelected next year.”
Said Walker: “For me, it’s really a measure of what I’ve accomplished and what more I could accomplish if I was in a different position.”
Quote of the Day
“All too often we’re associated with being anti-everything:
anti-immigration, anti-women, anti-gay.”
— Jeb Bush, quoted by USA Today, in an address to the
Conservative Political Action Conference.
Christie Seeks Teacher’s Union Nod
Politicker NJ reports that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was at the New Jersey Teacher’s Association for their screening process, apparently in search of their endorsement.
Christie has been a “political enemy” of the group and has generated national attention over his previous attacks on the union.
Weiner Polls Potential Mayoral Bid
Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-NY) dormant New York City mayoral campaign paid more than $100,000 to a polling firm, “suggesting the once-prominent Democrat whose career was derailed by allegations he sent salacious texts and photographs to various women online was contemplating a return to politics in this year’s elections,” National Journal reports.
Anti-Drug Lawmaker Arrested for Marijuana Possession
New York State assemblyman Steve Katz (R), who “has railed against illegal drugs and voted against the legalization of medical marijuana last year,” was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after being pulled over for a traffic stop, Journal News reports.
Boehner Says He Can’t Imagine Flipping on Gay Marriage
Heller Loses Office Space
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) has lost the office suite his staff tried so hard to keep to Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roll Call reports.
“Heller’s staff had been using bullying tactics to prevent more senior member offices from viewing the space, which includes an unusually large personal office. Several complaints had been lodged with the Senate Rules and Administration Committee about the behavior of Heller staffers through the course of the months-long lottery process.”
North Dakota Poised to Ban Abortions at 6 Weeks
The North Dakota Senate “approved banning abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, sending what would be the most stringent abortion restrictions in the U.S. to the state’s Republican governor for his signature,” the Fargo Forum reports.
“The measure would ban most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, something that can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The House already approved the measure. Gov. Jack Dalrymple generally opposes abortion but has not said whether he will sign the bill into law.”
Another Bonus Quote of the Day
“In my party, we play to win. We play for life and death. Your party has no problem playing the Washington Generals to the Harlem Globetrotters.”
— Democratic pollster Pat Caddell, quoted by NBC News, to Republicans at CPAC.
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