When States Go Bust

James Pethokoukis, Weekly Standard
It’s a solution of apparent Alexandrian elegance and simplicity: Empower America’s cash-strapped states to slice cleanly through a strangling knot of debilitating debt and government union cronyism by letting them file for bankruptcy. Long-term liabilities could be restructured, unaffordable labor contracts rewritten, fiscal health restored. No federal bailouts necessary.This intriguing idea quickened last November when former House speaker Newt Gingrich gave it an animating shoutout during a speech at a Dallas think tank.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/02/08/when_states_go_bust_250103.html

MIKE MURPHY MARC THIESSEN R. EMMETT TYRRELL LIZ CHENEY

The Weekly Standard: Yes, They Are Overpaid

November president Obama announced a two-year pay freeze for federal workers, an idea that has enraged the left, and not quite satisfied the right. Andrew G. and Jason Richwine of The Weekly Standard argue that it is the government's duty to lower federal wages, not only to save billions of dollars, but to prove its dedication to free markets.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133596573/the-weekly-standard-yes-they-are-overpaid?ft=1&f=1057

Olympia Snowe Paul Gigot Joe Scarborough Victor Davis Hanson

The Root: Health Rulings Undercut 'Sputnik Moment'

In last month's State of the Union address, President Obama urged citizens to "win the future." But Sherrilyn A. Ifill of The Root argues that recent court decisions ruling Obama's health care law as unconstitutional show that we are nowhere near ready for our "Sputnik moment."

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133587775/the-root-health-rulings-are-no-sputnik-moment?ft=1&f=1057

Mike DuHaime Damon Dunn Mike Flood Carte Goodwin

Foreign Policy: For Egypt, The Window Is Still Open

With the conflict in Egypt still raging and the people still pushing for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, David Rothkopf of Foreign Policy takes issue with those who argue that the window of Egypt's chance for democracy is closed ? in fact, Rothkopf says, it may just now be opening.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133587486/foreign-policy-for-egypt-the-window-is-still-open?ft=1&f=1057

Jim DeMint Frank Luntz Jeff Flake Huma Abedin

AOL And HuffPo: Can This Marriage Really Work?

AOL's announcement Monday that it is buying The Huffington Post for $315 million raises many questions. Chief among them: Can this marriage work? NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik explains what the two see in each other.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/07/133570081/aol-and-huffpo-can-this-marriage-really-work?ft=1&f=1057

Victor Davis Hanson Erick Erickson Chris Ruddy Jim DeMint

Centrist Democratic Leadership Council To Close: Politico

The DLC was a platform for centrist New Democrats. Bill Clinton was its most famous member. But the group was detested by many in the Democratic Party who saw it as not just selling out liberal ideas but attacking them.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/02/07/133573016/democratic-leadership-council-to-close-politico?ft=1&f=1003

Justin Amash Nick Ayers Jeremy Bash George P. Bush

New Approach: Obama Woos Chamber Of Commerce

The chamber actively campaigned against key parts of the Obama agenda, including the health care law and new rules for financial services. But in recent weeks, the administration has been talking more about ways to work together with businesses to put people back to work.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/07/133551752/new-approach-obama-woos-chamber-of-commerce?ft=1&f=1014

Jeremy Bash George P. Bush Julián Castro Nathan Daschle

Op-Ed: Accept Violence, Or Abolish Football

The NFL season is over, but not the debate over hard hits on the football field. Daily Beast columnist Buzz Bissinger once opposed violent tackles. But now he says cutting violence out of football is not an option, and there are only two paths left: acceptance, or abolishment of the game itself.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/07/133568680/op-ed-accept-violence-or-abolish-football?ft=1&f=1057

Sarah Huckabee Ben Jealous Bobby Jindal Mike Johnston