Jindal: GOP scandal response should focus on big government

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) says in a new op-ed that Republicans should focus their scandal response as much on President Obama's role in growing government as on who in his administration knew what and when.

Jindal, a potential 2016 presidential candidate who has sought to become a steady hand in guiding his party through its recovery, says the latter is still a valid line of inquiry, but that the size of government is a winning issue for the GOP.

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Senate Republicans praise Victoria Nuland

If Victoria Nuland is going to take heat from Republicans in her confirmation hearing, it won't come from the party's traditional leaders on national security.

President Obama plans to nominate Victoria Nuland as assistant secretary of state for Europe. In a statement Friday, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) praised the pick and did not mention Nuland's role in crafting talking points after the Sept. 11, 2012, Benghazi attack.

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Hillary Clinton book due out in June 2014

Hillary Clinton's new memoir doesn't have a title yet, but it does have a scheduled release date: June 1, 2014.

That's according to the new Amazon.com entry for the book, which features a plain book jacket with the former secretary of state's name and photo, but no title.

For now, the book is titled merely "New Memoir" and is available, naturally, for pre-order.

But the book isn't a straight memoir, as it is also set to include some forward-looking ideas for the country — something that suggests Clinton may well have designs on running for president again in 2016.

Here's the book's one-sentence description:

"Hillary Clinton's candid reflections about the key moments during her time as Secretary of State, as well as her thoughts about how to navigate the challenges of the 21st century."

Gomez compares Markey to 'pond scum'

The Massachusetts Senate race has gotten quite heated, with Republican Gabriel Gomez calling Democratic Rep. Ed Markey "pond scum" for a web video that invokes Osama bin Laden.

"You know I've got four young kids, and they've got to sit there and they've got to see an ad with their dad, who's a SEAL, who served honorably," he told a reporter after speaking at the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce. "And for him to be as dirty and low, pond scum, to put me up there next to bin Laden, he's just got to be called what he is."

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Cuomo's swipe at Weiner was a joke, office says

When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appeared to condemn mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner he was only joking, his office says.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (AP Photo/Tim Roske, File)

Cuomo told the Syracuse Post-Standard's editorial board on Thursday that it would be "shame on us" if New Yorkers elect Anthony Weiner as mayor. He was the first high-profile Democrat to come out strongly against Weiner's candidacy. But an administration official later told reporters that Cuomo's comment was "made in jest."

The newspaper's editorial board has said that readers can judge the comment for themselves.

The popular governor has repeatedly said that he plans to stay out of the mayoral race.

How Medea Benjamin got to heckle Obama

Madea Benjamin before she was escorted out of Obama's speech. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

How did Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin, a well-known anti-war protester, get into President Obama's speech Thursday at the National Defense University?

By listing herself as press. In a statement, the university explained that Benjamin "was given access via the list of media attendees expected."

After repeatedly interrupting Obama's speech on counterterrorism policy, Benjamin was escorted out of the room and questioned by police.

Benjamin told the Huffington Post Thursday that she got an invitation to the event from someone whose name she could not disclose and was surprised herself that she was able to get in so easily.

The speech was not open to the general public. "Attendance for non-media was limited to invited guests from the National Defense University faculty, staff, and student body,
along with those invited by the White House," the university said.

David Young running for Senate in Iowa

The chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will try to join his boss in the Senate, strategists familiar with his plans confirm. As first reported by the Iowa Republican Web site, David Young plans to quit his job in the Capitol and run for Senate in Iowa.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D) is retiring, and the field of Republicans aiming to replace him could get crowded.

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Obama, Christie to tour Sandy recovery on Jersey Shore

President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose embrace in the wake of Hurricane Sandy was a memorable show of bipartisanship on the eve of last fall's election, will reunite on the Jersey Shore next week.

Obama plans to travel to New Jersey on Tuesday to survey recovery efforts in coastal communities battered by last October's hurricane, a White House official confirmed.

Christie, a Republican running for reelection in a state Obama won handily, will accompany the president on the visit.

Obama raises concerns with DOJ over press leaks

In a lengthy speech at the National Defense University in Washington, President Obama outlined the future of his counterterrorism polices and addressed a controversy over the Justice Department seizure of Associated Press phone records.

Stressing the need to balance civil liberties and national security, Obama said journalists should not be "at legal risk for doing their jobs." Rather, he said, the focus should be "on those who break the law" by leaking classified information. He said he has raised his concerns about "overreaching" with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. As part of an overall review of subpoena regulations for the press, Obama said Holder will convene a meeting of media executives and produce a report by July 12.

In a statement, the Justice Department said that Holder "looks forward to meaningful engagement with these media representatives as well as other experts inside and outside government."

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