FROM THE BLOGS:

Is the GOP a party full of dinosaurs?
The Daily Beast’s Paul Begala on the Party of Reagan’s need for an update.

The party of better gaydar
Mother Jones’ Chris Mooney on a recent study that examined how liberals and conservatives differ in their approach to assuming a person’s sexual orientation.

America’s sweetheart vs. America’s least favorite senator
The American Conservative’s W. James Antle III thinks Ashley Judd, if she chooses to run for office, has a strong chance of ousting the unpopular Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) from his seat.

Liberal court justice used in anti-GLBT agenda
Salon’s Irin Carmon on how some in the GOP are using Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s words against her.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

White House urges Supreme Court to rule against “pay-for-delay”
The Hill’s Benjamin Goad on the constitutionality of drug companies paying to keep generic drugs off the market.

New pro-marijuana super PAC launched
The Hill’s Sterling C. Beard on the first pro-marijuana super PAC.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Don't end the Fed, mend it
James Pethokoukis at AEIdeas thinks the Federal Reserve has an idea on how to reduce the size of the Fed's balance sheet.



Rove loves Ginsburg now?
Irin Carmon writes in Salon that Republicans are taking Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of context.

When does the shouting start?
Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo discusses the evolving moderate views of many in the Republican Party.



How Republicans can become compassionate conservatives again
Gary Bauer argues in Fox News says Republicans should stick to their principles on the sanctity of life and marriage.


OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

DCCC raffles trip to Obama Calif. fundraiser
The Hill's Justin Sink reports on the special prize that awaits some lucky Democratic donors.

Sen. Tim Johnson to retire, lifting GOP hopes in battle for Senate
The Hill's Mario Trujillo and Peter Schroeder report on the latest Democratic departure from the Senate.



FROM THE BLOGS:

New compromise on gun background checks floated
The Washington Post's Greg Sargent writes about Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-Okla.) willingness to rejoin bipartisan negotiations on gun control measures.

Over 30 Senate Democrats voted to repeal the medical device tax 
Erika Johnsen of Hot Air discusses the decision by some Democrats to strike down a provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Congress has a constitutional duty to preserve and promote the post office
John Nichols of The Nation gives constitutional evidence for why Congress needs to fund the U.S. Postal Service and why neglecting to do so is perilous for the country. 

Corporate taxes: Low rates, high revenues in Canada
Chris Edwards of Cato Blog argues that Canada's fiscal budget should serve as a model for the U.S.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Obama gets diplomatic win with Netanyahu apology to Turkey
The Hill's Julian Pecquet reports on the Israeli prime minister's apology for the flotilla incident that occurred a few years ago.

White House withdraws court nominee who was blocked twice by GOP
The Hill's Justin Sink reports on Caitlin Halligan's failed nomination to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

FROM THE BLOGS:

The real Barbara Mikulski
Slate’s David Weigel says the senator may be the “Last Great Defender of Liberalism.”
 
Lowering healthcare costs a losing battle
The American Conservative’s James P. Pinkerton breaks down the thorny costs versus value question.

U.S. Capitol building a beacon of white supremacy?
Mother Jones’ Tim Murphy looks at the leaders commemorated in Statuary Hall.
 
Ryan budget a return to conservatism for the GOP
The National Review’s Andrew Stiles on what the passage of the Ryan budget means for the Republican Party.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
 
Senate hawks pressure Obama on Syria
The Hill’s Carlos Muñoz reports on the senior members of the upper chamber calling for military action in Syria.
 
Ex-Romney chief to dig dirt on Dems
The Hill’s Cameron Joseph reports on America Rising, the new GOP opposition research firm headed by Mitt Romney’s former campaign manager.

FROM THE BLOGS:

No defense for the Ryan budget
Mother Jones’s Erika Eichelberger on the hidden line item for defense in the Ryan budget.

Sanford the 'Comeback Kid'
Slate’s Corey Hutchins on Mark Sanford’s unlikely return to politics.

Congressman Broun has an ax to grind on the Ryan budget
The Daily Caller’s Alex Pappas on Georgia Rep. Paul Broun’s opposition to the Ryan budget.

GOP’s lack of action on the Hispanic American dream
The Washington Examiner’s Michael Barone on why the GOP is losing with Hispanics.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Continuing resolution bill passes Senate
The Hill’s Ramsey Cox on how the continuing resolution bill passed the Senate a day early.

Dems strategize against RSC budget
The Hill’s Pete Kasperowicz on how House Democrats used a voting tactic against the Republican Study Committee’s budget.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Iraq War made Obamacare possible
Philip Klein writes in The Washington Examiner that the Iraq War helped now President Obama get elected in 2008.

Media upset about judge's overturn of Bloomberg soda ban
Liz Thatcher writes at News Busters that media pundits were openly supportive of New York Michael Bloomberg's (I) efforts to limit sugar intakes from largely sized sodas.

Ten years after
The New York Times editorial board reflects on the costs of the Iraq War.

Ryan's path to poverty
Ilana Novick of Demos's Policy Shop blog thinks that House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan's (R-Wisc.) budget plan cuts too deeply into federal expenditures.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Obama vows to learn if 'red line' crossed with Syria chemical attack
Obama said on Wednesday that he would look into a chemical weapons attack in Syria, according to The Hill's Jeremy Herb.

House rejects budget from Senate Democrats
The Hill's Pete Kasperowicz reports on the latest move by House Republicans  in opposition to Senate Democrats' proposed federal budget.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Reince Priebus wants to go on 'The View'
The Blaze's Eddie Scarry discusses the RNC chairman's view that the GOP needs to do a better job at communicating with the American people through diverse media outlets.

Lessons learned from the Steubenville rape case 
Zerlina Maxwell offers her take in The Grio on the rape charges of two football players.

Panic!
Ed Kilgore of the Washington Monthly writes about the potential bank deposit tax proposed by the Cypriot government.

The South Carolina GOP's not-so-sweet 16
National Review's Jim Geraghty discusses the likeliest candidates to face off against former Gov. Mark Sanford in the republican primary race to win Sen. Tim Scott's (R-S.C.) former House seat.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

Steele-Priebus feud heats up
The Hill's Jonathan Easley reports on the war of words between the current and former RNC chairmen.

Report: Women paid to say they had sex with Sen. Menendez
The Hill's Jordy Yager updates the lingering scandal surrounding the New Jersey senator.

FROM THE BLOGS:

Why GOP doesn't want a 'grand bargain'
At CNN, historian Julian Zelizer argues that the GOP is pushing for a deficit reduction plan it doesn't really want.

Embracing the 'stupid party' label
The American Conservative's Rod Dreher wonders if anyone outside hardcore conservatives still likes Sarah Palin.

Rape is no laughing matter
Some Republicans are saying Ashley Judd has an "unnerving" "obsession" with rape, Mother Jones's Timothy Murphy reports.

Far-right throws sticks and stones at LGBT equality
At the Daily Beast, Jay Michaelson reports on a group of conservatives that argue gay marriage obstructs religious liberty.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

AHIP launches TV campaign alerting seniors of threats to Medicare
The Hill's Sam Baker writes on the insurance industry’s lobbying efforts to block cuts to Medicare.

House Democrats unveil new budget
House Democrats released a new budget proposal on Monday that included $200 billion in stimulus spending and $1.2 trillion in additional taxes, according to The Hill's Erik Wasson.

FROM THE BLOGS:

A banner day for gay marriage on the right
Right Turn's Jennifer Rubin looks into the positive reaction to a CPAC panel on gay marriage and rights.

Ted Cruz trolls Diane Feinstein, gets smacked down
Karoli of Crooks and Liars thinks Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) attempts to provoke some of his colleagues are beginning to cross a line.

Thank God for Pope Francis -  and budget gridlock
Reason magazine pokes fun at Congress's inability to make a decision.

Does the GOP need a DLC?
Seth Masket at Mischiefs of Faction wonders whether the Republican Party needs its own version of the Democratic Leadership Council?

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

McConnell decries 'crybaby caucus,' tells conservatives they must unify
The Hill's Alexander Bolton and Alexandra Jaffe report on the Kentucky Senator's Conservative Political Action Conference speech.

Obama cracks joke about sequester
On Friday, speaking to a crowd at Argonne Labs in Illinois, President Obama joked that he thought the sequester meant they “had to get rid of chairs,” according to The Hill's Amie Parnes.