News: Picks of the Day

Pic of The Day: Obama Attempts To Intimidate North Korea With Giant Teleprompters

US President Barack Obama (L) looks through binoculars towards North Korea from Observation Post Ouellette during a visit to the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near Panmunjom on the border between North and South Korea on March 25, 2012. Obama arrived in Seoul earlier in the day to attend the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit to be held on March 26-27. (AFP PHOTO/SAUL LOEB) http://weaselzippers.us/2012/03/26/pic-of-the-day-obama-attempts-to-intimidate-north-korea-with-giant-teleprompters/

Cartoons of The Day

by Nate Beeler

by Michael Ramirez

 Obama Lawyer Laughed at In Supreme Court 

On the first day of health care reform arguments before the Supreme Court, two justices needled a top Obama lawyer for simultaneously calling the fine that will be paid under the law for not purchasing insurance a “penalty” and a “tax.”

The confusion arises because of the administration’s argument that the power to enforce the individual mandate is rooted in Congress’ taxing power — but that the mechanism itself is designed to be a penalty, not a revenue-generating policy.

The narrow but important distinction created a communication challenge for the lawyer representing the Obama administration.

U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli used the phrase “tax penalty” multiple times to describe the individual mandate’s backstop. He portrayed the fee as a penalty by design, but one that functions as a tax because it’s collected through the tax code.

“General Verrilli, today you are arguing that the penalty is not a tax. Tomorrow you are going to be back and you will be arguing that the penalty is a tax,” said Justice Samuel Alito, in one of the few laugh lines throughout the 90 minutes of argument Monday.

The remark underscores the fine line the White House is walking in its argument.  read more at Fox Nation http://nation.foxnews.com/obamacare/2012/03/26/obama-lawyer-laughed-supreme-court

Unbiased - 29 judges and 25 reporters sign petitions for recall of Gov. Walker 

Gannett Wisconsin thought they had a big scoop when they exposed 29 sitting judges in the state that signed petitions for the recall of Governor Scott Walker.  Unfortunately, the scoop blew up in their face when they had to admit this weekend that nearly as many of their own reporters had signed the same petitions.  Now these 25 supposedly independent journalists in Wisconsin will face disciplinary action for participating in a political process on which they are expected to observe and report... read more at Hot Air http://hotair.com/archives/2012/03/26/25-reporters-signed-walker-recall-petitions/

Washington Salutes Andrew Breitbart

This past week, DC media and political luminaries came together at the Newseum in Washington, DC to celebrate the life of Andrew Breitbart.

Speakers included Representatives Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Steve King (R-IA) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI); as well as Citizens United's David Bossie, National Review's Jonah Goldberg, conservative activist Sonnie Johnson, and Breitbart.com CEO Larry Solov. Also in attendance were Representatives Mike Pence (R-IN) and Jeff Fortenberry (NE).

The program lasted a little over an hour, and was filled with deeply moving and personal accounts of Andrew, to whom Congressman Louie Gohmert so aptly and eloquently attributed the following trait: "Testicular Titanium."

There were common themes throughout the evening: Andrew's jovial and larger-than-life personality; his innate ability to connect with people, and to connect those people with others; and, most importantly, the passion and love he exhibited for his family, friends, and colleagues. All the speakers shared a profound commitment to continue Andrew's work, and issued a challenge to those in the audience to do the same.  Read more at http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/03/25/Washington-Salutes-Andrew-Breitbart