I’ve got some out-of-town family visiting, so posting could be occasionally erratic in its timing, particularly on an excrutiatingly slow news day like this one (so far, at least). But we’ll get you your blogospheric sustenance, like these mid-day morsels:
* As expected, city councilman Eric Garcetti and city controller Wendy Greuel finished first and second in yesterday’s Los Angeles mayor’s election amid terrible turnout, and will face each other in a May primary where turnout will be even lower.
* Speaking of California, the New York Times‘ Norimitsu Onishi chronicles the $9 billion hit the state is expecting from sequestration, which could derail its long-awaited fiscal recovery.
* Politico reports Paul Ryan backing off from rumored plan to reduce “grandfathering” of near-retirees in his Medicare premium support proposal.
* Ezra Klein joins yours truly in expressing some chagrin that White House can’t bring itself to embrace flexibility in implementing the sequester on grounds that it doesn’t want to “own” the cuts.
* Rand Paul conducting an actual “talking filibuster” of Brennan confirmation; has been going on for a couple of hours, but he claims he’ll keep talking until his voice gives out.
And in non-political news:
* HuffPost’s Madeline Boardman interviews man who inspired “The Dude” character in The Big Lebowski on 15th anniversary of that wonderful flick’s release.
Just have to tee up one of my favorite Big Lebowski scenes: the scattering of Donnie’s ashes (WARNING: non-family-friendly language included).
Back after a brief break to check weather and guests’ itineraries.
