The Root: Reforming Schools, But Missing Goals

During a visit to a Virginia middle school on Monday, President Barack Obama called for reforms to No Child Left Behind. But Cynthia Gordy of The Root takes a look into the education debate, and argues that Obama's new educational reform blueprint may not be as groundbreaking as his calls for action suggest.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134559942/the-root-reforming-schools-but-missing-goals?ft=1&f=1057

Mike DuHaime Damon Dunn Mike Flood Carte Goodwin

Crisis Deepens At Japanese Nuclear Power Plant

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said in a televised national address that there is a high risk of more radioactivity leaking from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. He ordered everyone within 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) to evacuate and everyone within 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) to remain inside.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134528211/japan-nuclear-plant-hit-by-second-explosion?ft=1&f=1007

Ben Rhodes Cedric Richmond Marco Rubio Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

A Strategy for Fiscal Conservatives

Keith Hennessey, KeithHennessey.com
Several conservative House and Senate Members, dissatisfied both with the spending cuts enacted so far and with repeated short-term appropriations negotiations, are threatening to oppose another Continuing Resolution.  I think that’s a mistake.Conservatives are expressing two concerns – spending cuts are not being enacted quickly enough, and short-term CRs lack funding limitations (e.g., No federal funds may be appropriated for [National Public Radio, implementing ObamaCare or new EPA regulations, Planned Parenthood].)

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/03/15/a_strategy_for_fiscal_conservatives_252068.html

Lou Dobbs Meg Whitman Joe Wilson Jeb Bush

Fukushima, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl: Putting It All In Perspective

The situation at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi facility is prompting comparisons to the two prior crises that have become cultural touchstones for what can go wrong at a nuclear power plant: Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. But do they really compare?

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134568383/japan-three-mile-island-chernobyl-putting-it-all-in-perspective?ft=1&f=1004

TOM DELAY MIKE MURPHY MARC THIESSEN R. EMMETT TYRRELL

Crisis Gives Kan a Shot at Redemption

Masahiro Matsumura, Guardian
News of the disaster hit the nation like a bolt from the blue. At first 11 March had been one of those ordinary days. The issues that concerned Japan were relatively mundane: the economic problems of deflation and unemployment, the inertia of a government unable to improve people's lives a year and a half after being voted in on rosy pledges. The country's politics were gridlocked; there was the familiar sense of things going wrong.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/03/15/crisis_gives_kan_a_shot_at_redemption_252044.html

Jeb Bush James Dobson Ann Coulter Judd Gregg

Is Tim Kaine the Perfect Answer? Maybe Not

Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call
Sen. Jim Webb’s announcement in early February that he would not seek a second term wasn’t exactly a shocker. Democrats always knew that since Webb isn’t your typical Senator, he might not behave as others have and that they needed a Plan B.For many, Tim Kaine has remained Plans B, C and D ever since Webb announced his plans. They think that the former Virginia governor is the only Democrat with the statewide name identification, fundraising ability and stature to hold the open seat next year.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/03/15/is_tim_kaine_the_perfect_answer_maybe_not_252055.html

Jennifer O\'Malley Dillon Sean Duffy Mike DuHaime Damon Dunn

U.S. Power Plants Should Withstand Natural Disasters

The Obama administration is not backing away from nuclear power. That's despite the danger facing Japan, as that country tries to cool several reactors following last week's earthquake. The White House is offering reassurance that U.S. plants are built to withstand natural disasters.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134556528/Japans-Disaster-Doesnt-Deter-Obama-From-Nuclear-Power?ft=1&f=1007

Bakari Sellers Kyrsten Sinema Brendan Steinhauser Jake Sullivan

Weekly Standard: A Deficit Without Defense

As the U.S. budget battle wages on in Congress, Jeffrey H. Anderson of The Weekly Standard analyzes the skyrocketing deficit and argues that the Congress will not come up with a feasible budget any time soon without significantly reforming entitlements.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/15/134561571/weekly-standard-a-deficit-without-defense?ft=1&f=1057

Cedric Richmond Marco Rubio Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Stephanie Schriock

Let's Cool the Meltdown Over Nuclear Reactors

William Saletan, Slate
Less than a year ago, a drilling rig exploded off the coast of the United States, killing 11 workers and pouring 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. No natural disaster caused this tragedy. It was entirely man-made. President Obama halted deep-water drilling but lifted the moratorium less than six months later. On Friday, while fielding questions about Japan's nuclear reactors, he proudly noted that his administration, under new, stricter rules, had "approved more than 35 new offshore drilling permits."

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/03/15/let039s_cool_the_meltdown_over_nuclear_reactors_252017.html

Kyrsten Sinema Brendan Steinhauser Jake Sullivan MARK SANFORD