“A Journal editorial yesterday noted the Obama argument that new IRS rules are intended to fix ‘confusion’ in the law surrounding non-profit groups like the Tea Party organizations that have been targeted by the tax agency. But in a letter this week to new IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, Reps. Darrell Issa and Jim Jordan show that the new rule-making was politically motivated from its inception. In an interview with House investigators, former IRS Acting Commissioner Steve Miller was asked what the problem was in the law that needed to be fixed. He responded, ‘So I’m not sure there was a problem, right? I mean, I think we were —we had, you know, Mr. Levin complaining bitterly to us—Senator Levin complaining bitterly about our regulation…’ Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat, is among the most partisan Members of the U.S. Senate.” – WSJ

“‘Pro-Obamacare ads are like an endangered species, like seeing a unicorn or the Loch Ness monster,’ said Elizabeth Wilner, Kantar Media senior vice president for political advertising. ‘Democrats are either not talking about it at all or talking about it needing to be fixed.'” – National Journal

“Here is wisdom: if you, as a Republican, remain true to small-government principles, many of your worst enemies will be found in your own party, and they are likely to be much more vicious, petty, vindictive, and malicious than most of your adversaries on the left. Intra-party squabbles and in-fighting are among the most brutal of all political conflicts in America.” – American Thinker

“The national boycott of Girl Scout cookies is inundating the group leading it. John Pisciotta, the boycott leader and director of Pro-Life Waco, tells Breitbart News his phone is ‘ringing off the hook.’” – Breitbart

“Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in an interview Thursday that his endorsement of construction of the Keystone oil sands pipeline comes after learning new information, including that the pipeline would not greatly increase carbon emissions.” – Denver Post

“The top U.S. diplomat for Europe apologized Thursday for comments about the European Union that were — to put it lightly — undiplomatic.” – Washington Post

“The American economy once again failed to keep up with population growth in job creation in January, the second poor jobs report in a row. Only 113,000 jobs were added last month according to the BLS, but the labor force rebounded a bit as well.” – Hot Air

“If all you know about Vladimir Putin is what you learned from Bob Costas during NBC’s Olympic coverage Thursday night, you might be excused for thinking the Russian autocrat is a great peacemaker on the world stage.” – Daily Caller

“Ironically, the GOP may wind up still losing the Senate because of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky. Another new, independent poll — this one from WHAS-TV and the Louisville Courier-Journal has 30 year incumbent Mitch McConnell four points behind Democrat challenger Allison Grimes. He polls only at 42% with only 12% undecided, has a job approval rating of only 32%, and has a personal favorability rating of only 27%.” – Erick Erickson/RedState

“House minority leader Nancy Pelosi says the CBO report vindicates Obamacare, because ‘this was one of the goals: to give people life, a healthy life, liberty to pursue their happiness. And that liberty is to not be job-locked, but to follow their passion.’ Pelosi is particularly invested in this view. She’s been mocked for years now for her repeated claims that Obamacare is an entrepreneurial bill because it would let Americans quit their jobs to, among other things, ‘write poetry.’” – Jonah Goldberg/National Review