TUESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Israel puts Biden in an awkward spot: “Hours after Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. vowed unyielding American support for Israel’s security here on Tuesday, Israel’s interior ministry announced 1,600 new housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem.”
* But Biden does the right thing: “‘I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel,’ Biden said in a statement released while he was having dinner with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at his residence. ‘We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them.’”
* Same-sex couples start getting married in the nation’s capital. Civilization remains intact.
* Speaking of D.C., health care reform advocates took to the streets in protest today.
* Must-read: “Leading Congressional Republicans are arguing that getting tough on terrorism means trying all foreign terrorism suspects before military commissions. But national security officials who served in the Bush administration say that taking away the criminal justice option would weaken the government’s hand.”
* Hoping to keep the RNC’s so-called “Fear-gate” controversy going, the DNC sets up a “Fight the Fear” site.
* The White House honors International Women’s Day.
* Bringing ROTC back to Stanford.
* Negotiating with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) is made more difficult by the fact that he doesn’t quite have his facts straight.
* Senate Republicans sure used to love the reconciliation process.
* The new attack ad against health care reform is filled with inaccurate claims. Try to contain your surprise.
* Some of you may be too young to remember this, but 14 years ago, rabid anti-Clinton Republicans thought “File-gate” was a major scandal, worthy of an extensive federal investigation. All these years later, we learned today that the controversy was … without merit. Is it too late for an “I told you so”?
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
