Cheat Sheet - I’m a Republican and I Like Gays

Today: Pope: I'm 'Not Coming Down From the Cross' , House GOP to Sneakily Allow VAWA , CNN Ratings Drop February 27, 2013 I'M HERE 1. I'm a Pro-Gay Republican Gay marriage got a big boost from unlikely quarters this week when more than 70 bold-faced Republican names signed a brief urging the Supreme Court to preserve California's same-sex marriage rights. The Daily Beast's David Frum, who signed the paper himself, on why he stuck his neck out for the gays. Read it at The Daily Beast VALETE 2. Pope: I'm 'Not Coming Down From the Cross' Pope Benedict XVI told an estimated 150,000 worshipers packed into St. Peter's Square in the Vatican for his final Mass on Wednesday that he is "not coming down from the cross." Benedict, the first pope in almost 600 years to retire, recalled the "joy" of the papacy, but also insisted that "to love the church means to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself." Meanwhile, most of the church's most powerful cardinals are already in the Vatican to pick Benedict's successor, and Benedict will meet with them for the final time on Thursday morning. Oddsmakers have Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson at 11–4 odds of being the next pope, and Italy's Archbishop Angelo Scola with 3–1 odds. Read it at Associated Press CLEVER 3. House GOP to Sneakily Allow VAWA Isn't this kind of like when instead of studying you write a crib sheet—and then learn the material anyway? House Republicans are reportedly going to allow the Violence Against Women Act to pass without actually forcing their members to vote for it, sources told Talking Points Memo Tuesday. Confused? Here's the plan: the Rules Commission added a caveat in the House bill that if it isn't passed, the Democrat- and moderate Republican–approved Senate bill will go to an up or down vote in the House—which it is likely to get. More-conservative House Republicans have taken issue with the Senate bill's protections for gays, Native Americans, and undocumented workers, but the Senate has refused to budge. If the Senate bill passes, everyone wins—especially women. Read it at Talking Points Memo CATATONIC NEWS NETWORK 4. CNN Ratings Drop There just weren't enough cruise crises to save CNN this month. CNN's ratings slid in February, falling 5 percent in the daytime and 1 percent at night in the first full month since the high-profile arrival of new network chief Jeff Zucker at the beginning of the month. Fox News Network won the month with more than 1 million daily viewers, more than MSNBC and CNN combined. In February 2012, CNN came in second and MSNBC third—and, in even worse news for CNN, the network has seen a 10 percent decline in total daytime viewers and a whopping 18 percent drop in nighttime viewers from one year ago. The much-mocked all-day-long cruise coverage in the middle of month was the only bright spot, with viewership up on February 14. Read it at Deadline YUM 5. How to Eat Like a Greek Thanks to a news-making study this week, we now know that a Mediterranean diet does wonders for the heart. The Daily Beast's Lizzie Crocker talks to a chef and nutrition expert about how to get a little more olive oil and wine into your life. Read it at The Daily Beast REAL TALK Sarah Palin to D.C.: Cut the Drama Says Americans care about debt, not sequester. The Supremes Justices Challenge Voting Rights Act Conservative judges voice skepticism. CULTURAL ICON Famed Pianist Van Cliburn Dies Was a cold war hero. STRONGER THAN STEEL Spider-Man's Web Could Stop Subway Car Researchers: Some spider silk equivalent to superhero's. Blerg! Tina Fey as Oscar Host? 'No Way.' Says she'd never take the gig. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. More Videos The Secret Life of Janet Jackson by Kevin Fallon The 787's Comeback Plan by Clive Irving Beauty Queens Gone Bad by The Daily Beast

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