President Obama called Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) and Boston Mayor Tom Menino (D) “and pledged any and all support needed in responding to the explosions,” Roll Call reports.
In a brief appearance at the White House, Obama vowed to bring “the full weight of justice” to whoever perpetrated the bombings in Boston.
Said Obama: “We will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable.”
The Week has the latest developments on the Boston bombings.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) linked his opposition to any gun control legislation to gay marriage and bestiality on a conference call, a recording of which was obtained by Right Wing Watch.
Said Gohmert: “In fact, I had this discussion with some wonderful, caring Democrats earlier this week on the issue of, well, they said “surely you could agree to limit the number of rounds in a magazine, couldn’t you? How would that be problematic?”
“And I pointed out, well, once you make it ten, then why would you draw the line at ten? What’s wrong with nine? Or eleven? And the problem is once you draw that limit ; it’s kind of like marriage when you say it’s not a man and a woman any more, then why not have three men and one woman, or four women and one man, or why not somebody has a love for an animal?”
The Cloakroom: From snollygoster to mugwump.
Nate Cohn: “While some might interpret his strength among younger voters as a sign that the GOP could benefit from a more libertarian tone, 59 percent of young voters believe that the government ‘should do more.’ Young voters are libertarian on cultural issues, but Paul is pro-life and against gay marriage. Even if young voters were libertarian on economic issues, the GOP’s small-government message attracts many of the same voters persuaded by economic libertarianism, without the cost of questionable ideas like ending the Fed. If Paul’s proposals for restraint abroad and marijuana at home would help Republicans, the party would be best served by attaching those proposals to a more traditional conservative, not Rand Paul.”
Politico: Five reasons you should take Rand Paul seriously.
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After winning her re-election race by a single point, Roll Call reports Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) “now shuns the national spotlight for Saturday morning coffees in St. Cloud.”
“Fourteen months after dropping out of the White House race, Bachmann is attempting to recast her national profile into a local one. After a humbling year, the former state senator appears to be fortifying the roots that helped launch her quick ascent into the national consciousness and ultimately made her a contender for the GOP’s presidential nomination.”
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Mitt Romney “made a wistful but triumphant return” to the Conservative Political Action Conference, “receiving standing ovations from the audience as he expressed optimism about the Republican Party’s future and vowed to work with conservatives to achieve ‘larger victories’ after failing to win last year’s presidential election,” the Washington Post reports.
National Journal: “His first public speech since his November defeat was as lackluster as most of his stump speeches and as about as forgettable as his candidacy. He will be better remembered for what he did wrong (’47 percent’ and ‘self-deportation’) than what he did right (his first debate against President Obama). He was a transitional, not a transformational nominee.”
Romney acknowledged that himself: “As someone who just lost the last election, I’m probably not the person to chart the course for the next one.”
“Final preparations were underway Saturday in Michelangelo’s splendid Sistine Chapel for the conclave of prelates who will elect a new pope to head the Roman Catholic Church,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Journalists were given a look inside the famed chapel where the red-hatted cardinals, the ‘princes’ of the church, will begin their secret proceedings Tuesday to try to settle on a new leader from within their ranks.”
“At the back of the frescoed interior sat the pair of stoves that will be the 115 cardinals’ only form of communication with the outside world. Ballots will be burned in one stove and special coloring chemicals in the other, their fumes mixing in a combined duct to create black smoke to signal an inconclusive vote and white puffs to show a new pope has been elected.”
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Businessweek reports that out of the 535 members of Congress, only five — Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep Bob Goodlatte, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, and Rep. Darrell Issa — are recognized as being fluent in the language of the Internet.
If you’re a student, joining Amazon Student is no-brainer.
Since an embarrassing sex scandal in 2007, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) “has lain low, ducking reporters at the Capitol and largely avoiding the media spotlight,” Politico reports.
“But Vitter has weathered a Category 3 public relations disaster that would have ruined most politicians. Voters shrugged at the scandal and overwhelmingly reelected him to a second term, and polls show he leads the field of potential candidates in the 2015 governor’s race. And he even has a new super PAC supporting him.”
Ipsos was one of the most accurate pollsters during the 2012 presidential campaign.
Now you can join the Ipsos Survey Panel.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) tells WBUR that he will support Rep. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) run for Sen. John Kerry’s seat if Kerry is confirmed as secretary of state.
Frank is lobbying for the interim appointment to fill the seat before a special election is held.
Meanwhile, sources close to former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) tell CNN he hasn’t decided yet whether to make his own run.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) absolutely unloaded on House Republicans for spiking the hurricane relief bill last night.
It’s must-see video.
The AP reviews this year’s additions to the “List of Words to be Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness” and finds “fiscal cliff” received the most nominations.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was admitted to a New York City
hospital on Sunday after doctors discovered that a blood clot had formed
after she sustained a concussion a few weeks ago, NBC News reports.
The Washington Post notes Clinton hasn’t been seen in public in three weeks.
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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