Equality

Federal Judge Finds Same-Sex Long-Term Care Ban Unconstitutional

Think Progress: U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken says she will likely overturn an aspect of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that excludes California state employees who are in same-sex domestic partnerships from receiving federal tax benefits related to long-term health coverage as the law appears to be “motivated by antigay animus”.

11 | FEDERAL JUDGE FINDS SAME-SEX LONG-TERM CARE BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Shocked, Shocked I tell ya

Surprise! Ron Paul Signed Off On Racist Newsletters

Washington Post/TPM: People close to Paul's operations said he was deeply involved in the company that produced the newsletters, Ron Paul & Associates, and closely monitored its operations, signing off on articles and speaking to staff members virtually every day.

14 | WaPo: Ron Paul Signed Off On Racist Newsletters

Commander-in-Chief

President Obama at Buckley Air Force Base

More pics in the thread.

8 | President Obama at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado - pics

Morons with guns

Arizona Police Officer Posts Bullet-Riddled Pic of President Obama

NYT: The Secret Service said Thursday that it was looking into a photograph posted on the Internet that showed a group of young Arizona men posing in the desert with guns while holding up what appeared to be a bullet-riddled image of President Obama’s face.

84 | Shot-Up Image of President Draws a Secret Service Inquiry

Wisconsin 'John Doe' Investigation

Walker Aide Cops Plea, Will Testify

This is added information from the John Doe arrests made against Walker and/or his inner circle:

TPM: Here is another wrinkle in the charges filed Thursday in the investigation of former aides to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), from his time as Milwaukee County Executive: One of them has worked out a plea bargain, and will provide testimony against others in the investigation.

The charges were announced Thursday by District Attorney John Chisholm (D). Walker’s former deputy chief of staff Kelly Rindfleisch, and former constituent services coordinator Darlene Wink, are charged with illegally raising money while in a county building and using government equipment to do so. (Rindfleisch was allegedly raising money then state Rep. Brett Davis, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2010 Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor, while Wink was allegedly raising money for Walker.)

31 | Walker aide singing like a canary in John Doe

When all else fails, attack the messenger's secretary

Desperate Right-Wingers Attack Buffett's Secretary

Omaha World-Herald: Warren Buffett's secretary, after being pointed out on national television during Tuesday's State of the Union speech, now is facing criticism over her salary and second home. Debbie Bosanek and her boss both declined Thursday to disclose how much she's paid, saying it's private.

In an interview with The World-Herald, Buffett also said none of the online guesses about Bosanek's salary is right, and the critics are missing his point. "I'm saying she is being treated unfairly in the tax code, as are tens of millions of others, compared to me," Buffett said. "They shouldn't change the rates on all the other people. They should change mine."

17 | Buffett: Criticism is 'ridiculous'

So much for captain fiscal responsibility

Oops -- Romney failed to disclose 23 funds and partnerships to the FEC

TPM: Mitt Romney released his tax returns to put to bed discussions of his wealth and lack of transparency. Instead, they have only spawned more unanswered questions.

Thursday afternoon, the LA Times reported that Romney’s tax returns listed 23 funds and partnerships that did not appear on Mitt Romney’s personal financial statements — the disclosure forms candidates are required by federal law to file with the Federal Elections Commission.

31 | Romney's Tax Return Nightmare Worsens After Errors Found In Financial Disclosure Statements

CLOWN Car REst Stop

GOP debate live blog thread 2

156 | ***** Official GOP Debate thread - 8pm ET on CNN - live stream links below ***** #2

Clown car rest stop

GOP debate live blog thread 1

GOP debate live from Jacksonville, FL.

132 | ***** Official GOP Debate thread - 8pm ET on CNN - live stream links below *****

GOP Establishment Vs. Newt

Dole Throws Gingrich Under the Bus

Boston Globe: “If Gingrich is the nominee, it will have an adverse impact on Republican candidates running for county, state, and federal offices,” Bob Dole wrote. “Hardly anyone who served with Newt in Congress has endorsed him, and that fact speaks for itself. He was a one-man-band who rarely took advice. It was his way or the highway.”

The former Senate majority leader, whose tenure overlapped with that of Gingrich from 1995 until he ran for president a year later, said his House counterpart “had a new idea every minute and most of them were off the wall. He loved picking a fight with Bill Clinton because he knew this would get the attention of the press. This and a myriad of other specifics helped to topple Gingrich in 1998.”

24 | Newt to Bob Dole "Why do people take such an instant dislike to me?"