House Republicans approve Paul Ryan budget plan and its mix of lower spending, lower taxes, and overhaul of Medicare and Medicaid

• "The passage of the Ryan's blueprint represented a significant political victory for House GOP leaders, who have struggled to pass high-profile legislation in recent months" - The Hill
• "After the vote, Republicans ground out press releases praising the vote for proposing “real solutions” to improve the economy. Democrats responded with a round of statements decrying the GOP effort to revamp Medicare" - Washington Post
• "Democrats said the GOP budget would cripple vital programs and dismantle Medicare while not raising taxes on the wealthy, even though several bipartisan panels have recommended a mix of spending cuts and tax increases to cut the deficit" - Wall Street Journal
• Ryan Budget Will Be GOP Blueprint - Commentary

Peggy Noonan's verdict onthe "devious and dishonest" looking Obama

"We were in crisis in 2009—we still are—and instead of doing something strong and pertinent about our economic woes, the president wasted history's time. He wasted time that was precious—the debt clock is still ticking!" - Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal

ObamaCare/ Supreme Court updates

• "The attack on ObamaCare was that Congress does not have the power under the Commerce Clause to force a private citizen into a private contractual relationship. If such a thing is permitted to stand, the anti-ObamaCare forces argue, there will be no limit to Congress’s power in the future." - John Podhoretz for the New York Post
• "If one of the most unpopular aspects of the legislation gets tossed out and many of the more popular provisions remain intact, it might suddenly become much easier for the president to score points by talking about" - Ross Douthat
• "The defeat of ObamaCare would also free up Romney from the burden of trying to prove why his bill was not the spiritual father of Obama’s. That would help him with the GOP base as well as give him space to concentrate on his economic expertise and to flay the president’s record on employment." - Jonathan Tobin for Commentary
• Most experts think it'll be a GOP win if Court strikes down ObamaCare - Hotline

Nate Silver: Supreme Court May Be Most Conservative in Modern History

Romney's labeling of Russia as America's "No. 1 geopolitical foe" has drawn attention to his hawkishness on several foreign policy fronts - Wall Street Journal

"Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney is preparing to broaden his challenge to President Obama’s management of foreign affairs, sensing political vulnerability in an area in which the incumbent has received his strongest public support" - Washington Post

Paul Ryan expected to endorse Mitt Romney imminently - Daily Caller

The importance of Rubio's endorsement

"The Florida Republican is the last in a line of prominent Republicans to get behind Romney in recent weeks, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and kind words from South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. But Rubio — a prominent Latino lawmaker with roots in the tea-party movement — offers Romney cover with conservatives who have been hesitant to support him." - Politico

More Romney in brief

• "The elder George Bush formally endorsed Mitt Romney on Thursday, calling him “an old friend” and saying he would “make a great president” - New York Times | Romney campaign blog
• Sporting lavendar socks H W endorses Romney - MSNBC
• Romney supporters yearning for the personal side - New York Times
• Romney well ahead in Maryland - Weekly Standard
• "As far as the Republican presidential nomination contest this year: Yes, it’s basically over, and has been for a while. Pretending that it’s not is just a disservice to anyone trying to understand what’s going on" - Jonathan Bernstein for the Washington Post
• News of a Romney-Gingrich Meeting, but No Deal - WSJ
• Romney is only slightly more popular than war in Afghanistan - Andrew Sullivan

Robert Costa goes on the campaign trail with Gingrich: " “I haven’t done a very good job as a candidate because it is so difficult to communicate big solutions in this country,” he said wistfully near the end of his talk. “The entrenched structure of the system is so hostile to it.” The students nodded; some clapped. Gingrich didn’t pause. He didn’t smile. He wasn’t looking for a cheer. For what it’s worth, he was trying to make a point." - NRO

• Gingrich's low key Wisconsin launch - MSNBC

Republicans declare peace on gay rights issues

"What was once a front-and-center issue for rank-and-file Republicans — the subject of many hotly worded House and Senate floor speeches — is virtually a dead issue, as Republicans in Congress don’t care to have gay marriage litigated in the Capitol... It’s not like the GOP has become a bastion of progressiveness on gay rights, but there has been an evolution in the political approach — and an acknowledgment of a cultural shift in the country. Same-sex relationships are more prominent and accepted. There are more gay public figures — including politicians — and it’s likely that many Washington Republicans have gay friends and coworkers. Just as important — there’s also a libertarian streak of acceptance on people’s sexuality coursing through the House Republican Conference." - Politico

"Can center-right moderates find a home in the G.O.P., even in coastal California? As the two parties become more insular, is it possible to mount an independent alternative?" - David Brooks in the New York Times

Jimmy Carter: Jesus Christ would never have approved of abortions

Fox reports the former President's words: "I’ve signed a public letter calling for the Democratic Party at the next convention to espouse my position on abortion which is to minimize the need, requirement for abortion and limit it only to women whose life are in danger or who are pregnant as a result of rape or incest. I think if the Democratic Party would adopt that policy that would be acceptable to a lot of people who are now estranged from our party because of the abortion issue."

The Senate approved dozens of President Obama's nominees as leaders sought to temper the brinkmanship that had developed after the president made a recess appointment earlier this year over GOP objections - LA Times

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