COLBUFFPOST HILL - Boehner 0, HuffPost Hill 1

Cosmo readers learned how to strip away that winter weight AND that Mike Pence is stripping away their reproductive rights. Democrats are demonstrating that if you can't beat them, co-opt their agenda that you've spent your career fighting against (or just join them...whatever). And after a short stint in the AOL family, we're pleased to welcome our new CEO, Stephen Colbert. As long as our editorial meetings will continue to be held in a "40, Single and Sexy" chat room, we're positive it'll be a beautiful partnership. This is COLBUFFPOST HILL for Thursday, February 17th, 2011:

HUFFPOST HILL'S ANONYMOUS RADICALIZED MARGINAL HOUSE DEMOCRAT UNHAPPY WITH CR DEBATE - Punch drunk House members sparred for another day on the House floor. Our Anonymous Radicalized Marginal House Democrat isn't liking what he sees. "Republicans say they want to run government like a business. The business they're running the House like is a 24-hour Safeway. The new Republicans who seem...different... during normal business hours are even stranger in the middle of the night," said the congressman of his new colleagues. The House worked into the wee hours of this morning, chugging through amendments and ditching the ones whose sponsors were at home asleep when they were called up. Thanks, ARMHD!

The House will vote on a series of amendments this evening and may finish the bill late tonight, but tomorrow seems more likely. But what do we know?

HUFFPOST HILL 1, BOEHNER 0 - Last night, we broke news that Walter Jones was prepared to bring a resolution to the House floor calling for a moment of silence to honor soldiers who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan if John Boehner didn't agree to do it first. "I would hope Mr. Boehner would remember that we have young men and women dying every day in Afghanistan and all we're asking is that we remember them with a moment of silence to show that the House supports them," said Jones, who voted to approve the invasion of Iraq but has since become skeptical of both wars. "I think two months is enough time. I don't mean that as a criticism, that's just a matter of priorities." This morning, the GOP brought back the moment of silence. That was us jogging past your window, taking our victory lap. [C-SPAN]

The Senate looks like it'll finish up the FAA reauthorization tonight.

WISCONSIN DEMS FLEE STATE AHEAD OF UNION VOTE - With a vote scheduled in the Wisconsin legislature today on a bill that would strip state employees of their collective bargaining rights, Senate Democrats hightailed it out of the state as tens of thousands of protesters occupied the state's version of Tahrir Square. While Republicans have a 19-14 majority in that chamber, they need at least one Democrat present to proceed. This action led the Republican-run body to force lawmakers to check in on Foursquare every few hours dispatch police to retrieve the at-large (in the other sense) legislators. "Today they checked out, and I'm not sure where they're at," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. "This is the ultimate shutdown, what we're seeing today." [AP]

UPDATE: Reports indicate they're camped out at the Best Western Clock Tower Resort in Rockford, Illinois.

Solidarity forever/ Solidarity forever/ Solidarity forever/
For the union complimentary continental breakfast and coffee makes us strong!

Today in "ironic tweets": @GovWalker: Senate Democrats should show up to work - like other WI taxpayers did today.

Today in "awesome tweets": @ufcw: Winning the internet - Wisconsin Democratic State Senator tells @govwalker she'll "brb" - http://on.fb.me/fhW7JS

Where are all the stories telling us that the public-employee unions are organizing using Facebook and Twitter?

SOME LOVE FOR BOEHNER - Sixty House Republicans broke with their party, including the GOP chairman of the committee formerly known as Education and Labor, to beat back an amendment to defund the National Labor Relations Board. It was at least the third loss for Speaker Boehner since he took over, but you know what? The guy deserves credit: He really does believe in the principle of an open floor debate -- who has process principles??? -- and has been putting those principles to a practical test. And the advantage of losing this much this fast means the press can't chase a "When will Boehner break?" narrative, since he scooped everyone by getting broken quick. In the end, he might get an open floor and win the legislative victories he wants: the House eventually passed an extension of the PATRIOT Act and this exercise on the House floor is for show, anyway, since the Senate's not approving anything close to what the House is doing. And the NLRB certainly hasn't heard the last of the GOP.

COMCAST MAKES AL JAZEERA PRINT OUT AND DELIVER EMAILS PRESSING COMCAST TO CARRY AL JAZEERA - Comcast may be the only corporation capable of such a thing: The cable company asked Al Jazeera English to stop inviting people to send them emails demanding that they carry the channel. Thus far, roughly 25,000 people had done so. But Comcast, according to an AJE official, wouldn't give AJE a general email address to send one to and we can attest it is IMPOSSIBLE to find one online. So Comcast asked AJE to print out all future emails -- 12,699 of them. So they did. Comcast and AJE will meet next week to discuss putting the channel on the air and AJE plans to bring the boxes with them, Jimmy Stewart-style. Here's a photo of two AJE employees sorting the boxes. [PHOTO]

How Wall Street helped topple Mubarak and is now ripping it up in Bahrain.

DAILY DELANEY DOWNER - Republicans in the House blocked legislation early Thursday morning that would provide additional benefits to the long-term unemployed. "Of the nearly 600 amendments to the continuing resolution that have been proposed or considered so far, this amendment is the only one, mind you, that deals with the problem of the unemployed directly," Barbara Lee said. "Don't resort to parliamentary maneuvers to block help to the unemployed." Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) then used a parliamentary maneuver to successfully block the amendment. "An amendment to an appropriation bill shall not be in order in changing existing law," said Rehberg. "The amendment directly changes existing law." [HuffPost]

MIDDLE EAST UPDATE: MILITARY CRACKS DOWN IN BAHRAIN - Efforts by Middle Eastern governments to crack down on unrest in their countries reached a fevered pitch today. In Bahrain, the army brutally shut down protests in the Manama, the capital city. The military later announced on TV that it had pacified "key parts" of the city. Elsewhere, two anti-government protesters in Yemen were killed as supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh engaged the demonstrators. And in Iran, state-sponsored television reports that opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi are set to stand trial for sedition. [HuffPost World]

Tonight in The Hill: "Many Republican lobbyists are sitting on the sidelines, but others have started to take sides in the 2012 presidential primary, reports Kevin Bogardus."

REMINDER: IT'S A LOCKOUT, NOT A STRIKE - Courtesy of HuffPost blogger Tony Richardson, who is also a fullback for the New York Jets: "It is important that everyone knows the difference between a lockout and a strike. A lockout is when employees that want to work are prevented from working; a strike is when employees refuse to work. This is a lockout. The players want to play a full NFL season in 2011, but each day brings more signs that owners are prepared to not allow that to happen." [HuffPost]

Don't be bashful: Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to [e-mail]. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill

BOEHNER PLAYS BUDGET CHICKEN: THREATENS SHUT-DOWN - Folks, you might want to try to stretch those $300 unemployment checks and postpone that trip to the Air and Space Museum. At a news conference this morning, the speaker of the House told reporters that unless budget cuts are made that meet his satisfaction. "Read my lips: We're going to cut spending. I am not going to move any short-term CR at current levels," he said. Boehner was so immensely pleased with himself that he reportedly said "I can't believe I just said that" after leaving the stage. By the way: Can you really play "chicken" with a three-trillion-plus budget? With that kind of money, can't you buy a slightly nicer bird? Like, "Speaker Boehner is playing ivory-billed woodpecker with Americans' hopes and dreams" or something? [HuffPost's Elise Foley]

Harry Reid was none-too-pleased about this development. @DavidMDrucker: "I am disappointed that Speaker Boehner doesn't believe he has the votes to avoid a government shutdown," he said, "unless his members get their way on all of their demands. It is unproductive."

DEMOCRATS TOLD TO 'EMBRACE' BUDGET CUTS - At a legislative retreat last week, Senate Democrats were given a presentation by Geoff Garin, a prominent pollster, who insisted that they try to co-opt the Republicans' budget-cutting platform and become the party of fiscal stinginess.......You know what? You're probably really jarred by the news that a pollster told Democrats to re-frame the parameters of a major policy debate in a manner favorable to conservatives. As such, we're going to give you a few moments to recover from this unprecedented development...
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Anyway, Garin reportedly cited polling indicating the public thinks the best way to revitalize the economy is through cuts, rather than new government programs, and that Republicans are viewed as the party most capable of turning things around. In an interview with Bloomberg, Garin defended his strategy, insisting that the issue "can't be framed as a debate between dealing with the deficit and not dealing with the deficit...[Democrats] have to make sure that [deficit reduction] is posed in terms of the right way and the wrong way...in a way that won't harm the economy," While a presentation is just that -- a presentation -- the news does align with the caucus' "Winning the Future" proposal it laid out yesterday and sheds light on just how Democrats are hoping to approach the issue of spending. [Bloomberg]

@davidshepardson: Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., backs proposal to kill top adviser jobs, including car czar. "To the czars I say, Nyet."

Barney Frank's instant reply on the House floor: "I will leave it to the gentlemen to work out his Lenin fantasy."

CONGRESS HAS NEW OVERLORDS - The National Rifle Association has elevated Chuck Cunningham to political director, named James Jay Baker top lobbyist and Jason Ouimet as his deputy. Please pay proper respects to your new masters.

The House approved the Senate's three-month extension of the PATRIOT Act today, 279-143.

OBAMA DISPATCHES RAY LAHOOD TO DEAL WITH RICK SCOTT MESS - The president has tasked his transportation secretary, a Republican who is renown far and wide for his ability to not care about anything, to find ways to circumvent Florida Governor Rick Scott's refusal to use $2 billion in federal high-speed rail funds. Scott claims to oppose the initiative due to the $280 million of the bill that his state must pay for. Rep. John Mica, a Republican, supports the measure and is seen by the White House as integral to finding a new path for implementation. LaHood met with members of the state's congressional delegation this afternoon. The purpose of the meeting, per an administration official, is to determine "whether we can create an entity that can run high-speed rail in Florida and get the state out of the way." [HuffPost's Sam Stein]

CONSERVATIVES IFFY ON AFGHANISTAN "I think you have a great number of the freshmen who will probably start questioning things happening over there," Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), a freshmen Tea Party member told Sam Stein while at CPAC. "I just went last week to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was incredible. There was a great experience. I learned a lot. I still have a lot more to learn before I reach a conclusion on it. But I have my concerns." [HuffPost]

HuffPost Hiccup: Last night's edition called Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) a freshman. Apparently, he was here in the 111th Congress, too. Sorry, Tom!

THE U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE EXISTS - It is "the only congressionally mandated and funded institution to develop civilian capacity to perform international conflict management and peace-building." Naturally, Republicans want to de-fund it. [Politico]

SOUTH DAKOTA LAWMAKERS SHELVE CONTROVERSIAL ABORTION BILL - Several days after news broke about a proposed bill in the South Dakota legislature that could potentially allow family members of a pregnant woman seeking to terminate her pregnancy to kill her abortion provider, the Republican leadership has reportedly yanked it. There was a brief second there where its sponsors attempted to defend the bill and play down the "justifiable homicide" part, but when you find yourself more or less arguing, "Listen, the language on state-sanctioned murder is hazy, at best," you know it's time to pack it in and call it a day. A spokesperson for Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard wanted his boss to have a little as possible to do with this, telling the New York Times, "Clearly the bill as it's currently written is a very bad idea." In case the bill's shortcomings weren't clear enough, Dave Leach, an anti-abortion activist in the state, told the times that its intentions were crystal clear. "There may be something I'm overlooking, but from all appearances, this bill would certainly justify an individual taking the life of an abortionist in order to save human lives," Leach said. [NYT]

BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR - Check out these eight-year-olds krump like no one else. We know, we know. But HuffPost Hill, everyone knows the best krumpers throw down in Northwest D.C. Well, you're wrong.

"Hitler finds out Adams Mill is closed"

MIKE PENCE MAKES COSMO MAGAZINE - And no, not in a feature on how to transition from being "prematurely gray" to "prematurely fabulous." Pence has introduced a bill in the House that would eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Cosmopolitan being the women's publication that it is, doesn't take too kindly to dudes taking aim at their rights. In an article entitled "Your Sexual Health is at Risk," Cosmo's Zoe Ruderman warns her readers about Pence's legislation. "In the next few days, the House of Representatives will meet in Washington, D.C. to decide whether or not to pass a bill that could shut down hundreds of clinics and health centers across the country, and leave your sexual health in jeopardy," it begins. Ruderman's unminced words continue: "The bottom line is that should the bill pass, more women will experience unwanted pregnancies and contract STDs that threaten their fertility and even their lives." [Cosmo, via Politico]

500K DASH - Bill Delahunt, Allen Boyd, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, and several high-ranking staffers this week remind America what public service is all about: getting rich after you're done. [Sunlight Foundation]

JEREMY'S WEATHER REPORT - Unless you're one of those no-good lazy union members, or a legislator in Wisconsin, it's hard not to enjoy the beautiful day today. We hit 70. Tonight, it will stay beautiful, bottoming out at 50. Tomorrow: Another beautiful, gorgeous day. 70 degrees again, so take the time to enjoy a picnic in the park, or fleeing your respective legislative body. Thanks, JB!

COMFORT FOOD

- Some giant photos from Boston.com of Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Someone alert The Daily [http://bit.ly/gFA09i]

- Tunisia started to revolt before everyone else did. To put it another way: Tunisia liked freedom before it was cool. Naturally, someone put some Buddy Holly glasses on Tunisia and called it a hipster. [http://bit.ly/eCH2vM]

- College Humor reworked Oh The Places You'll Go! to Oh The Places You'll Actually Go!, a much sadder and realistic forecast of your life.[http://bit.ly/gedaSa]

- There's been a lot of controversy surrounding a publisher's decision to reprint Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but replacing every N-word with the word "Slave." But what if they replaced it with the word "Robot"? [http://kck.st/e9HhrT]

- Someone's grandmother reads Conan O'Brian's tweets. We've been trying to get a toddler to read HuffPost Hill's tweets but that would just be....cruel. [http://bit.ly/e4C7IV]

- EXTREMEEEEEEEEE ORIGAMI [http://bit.ly/fEILQz]

- A bunch of hipsters in Brooklyn apparently held a parade in honor of Phil Collins. Lets all promise ourselves never to elect any of these people president, ok? [http://bit.ly/ho9NRd]

- Apparently a bunch of not so nice solar rays are headed our way. Make sure you have an umbrella with you. [http://bit.ly/ge3SQl]

TWITTERAMA

@lizzieohreally: My colleague just got Ron Artest to autograph Ben Bernanke's testimony. Guessing that's a first.

@pareene: Trust me: Those Wisconsin legislators will be back in-state the minute they need to buy fireworks and beer on a Sunday.

@alex_wags Famous Dave's BBQ catering truck unloading trays of pork in front of US Capitol buildng. Oh, the irony.

@jeremyscahill: Breaking: Scott Walker to announce Omar Suleiman as his vice-governor in #Wisconsin

ON TAP

TONIGHT

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Rep. Charlie Dent, who might possess the most literary name in Congress -- seriously, sounds like a Robert Penn Warren protagonist -- raises some campaign cash ("The first time I happend upon Charlie Dent I was a WPA agent scouting sites for power stations in the lowlands of the Tennessee Valley," etc). [The Home of David O'Brien, 201 C Street SE]

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Mary Landrieu hosts a reception for her colleague Sherrod Brown. Not sure how one reconciles Louisiana cuisine with Ohio cuisine, but maybe throw some Velveeta into the gumbo? [405 East Capitol Street SE]

TOMORROW

If you find yourself in Naples, Florida: A. You're lucky and B. There are several evening fundraisers

8:00 pm: Spend several hours afloat with Vernon Buchanan, some drinks, and your wallet, freshly relieved of $1,000.

8:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Rep. Connie Mack hosts a "Drinks, Desserts, Cigars and Beach Music" at the Ritz. Jeez, would it kill Mack to maybe treat his benefactors to something nice for a change? [Ritz Carlton, Naples, Florida]

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