Even though 50-some percent of the American people think the economy tanked because of the last administration, that’s not relevant. What’s relevant is we’re in charge.

— Vice President Biden, quoted by CBS News, pointing out that it is “totally legitimate” that the 2012 election be a referendum on the Obama administration.

We tracked down and put a missle on Anwar al-Awlaki.
But some are saying that’s a lot worse than tacky:
Though we got him in Yemen,
He was still a U.S. citizen —
So what, we kill Americans now, don’t we?

No president since George H.W. Bush has had more foreign-policy successes happen under his watch than President Obama. The death of bin Laden. The dismantling of al Qaeda. The ouster of Khaddafy. And the end of combat operations in Iraq. Yet when you look at polls and Obama’s approval rating, he’s getting almost no credit from the American public, a la Bush 41.

— NBC’s First Read

The scale of change I am suggesting is so enormous that I couldn’t possibly show you as a single leader all I am going to do. This is a beginning of a conversation.

— Newt Gingrich, quoted by the Des Moines Register, unveiling his latest “Contract with America.”

Less Than 0.5%

Percentage of jobs killed by government regulations, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite Republican claims that government regulations are the main source of job growth stagnation, according to the report, in 2010 Q4, only 0.25 percent of “layoff events” were the result of regulation. In 2011 Q1, it was 0.4 percent. In 2011 Q2, it was down again to 0.3 percent.

Translation: “Let them eat cake.”

From the Murdoch/News Corp (R-Hacking) owned New York Post:
After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run — and could make his decision next week, The Post has learned.
The announcement may come as soon as Monday, said sources familiar with Christie’s [...]

60,000

Estimated number of potentially harmful chemicals entering U.S. waterways annually. The Environmental Protection Agency only requires municipalities to test tap water for 91 contaminants.

3rd – or 1st, depending

Rank of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in popularity of new senators. Public Policy Polling ranked the top ten of the senators elected in 2010 and found the only two Democrats in positions number one (Joe Manchin, W.V. with a rating of +33) and two (Richard Blumenthal, Conn. at +18). Rubio was third, but first among Republicans, with an approval rating of +7, with Rand Paul (Ken.) near the bottom at -2, and Roy Blunt (Mo.) dead last at -9.