Citizen Cartwright

Romney's Michigan win

So Mitt Romney beat Rick Santorum by 3 percentage points in Tuesday's Michigan primary (and won big in Arizona).

A sample of headlines pretty much sums up the reaction to the Michigan win:

New York Times: "Romney faces stubborn question, despite victories"

Associated Press: "Mitt Romney aptly sums up his Michigan win: ‘We won by enough’"

Politico: "Mitt Romney wins ugly"

Los Angeles Times: "Mitt Romney averts disaster in Michigan primary"

Wall Street Journal: "Romney regains momentum"

The saber-rattling on Iran

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets next week with President Obama, he will be urging Obama to up his rhetoric and state unequivocally that the United States is preparing for a military operation if Iran crosses certain "red lines," Israel's Haaretz newspaper reports.

Meanwhile, The New York Times says U.S. officials believe that Iranian would respond to any attack by Israel on its nuclear program by launching missiles on Israel and terrorist-style attacks on U.S. civilian and military personnel overseas.

O no, Snowe!

I must say that I'm sad to see moderate Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe — who was a friend of the liberal GOP House member for whom I came to Washington to work long ago — announce her retirement because of political partisanship.

Snowe said in a statement: “I see a vital need for the political center in order for our democracy to flourish and to find solutions that unite rather than divide us. It is time for change in the way we govern, and I believe there are unique opportunities to build support for that change from outside the United States Senate.

"I intend to help give voice to my fellow citizens who believe, as I do, that we must return to an era of civility in government driven by a common purpose to fulfill the promise that is unique to America."

Snowe, who has spent 33 years in Congress, is the sixth moderate senator to call it quits this year.

President Obama issued a statement thanking Snowe for her service — the first such presidential statement by Obama for a retiring Republican, according to veteran NBC reporter Chuck Todd.

The FDA is adding new warnings to statins

Labels of cholesterol lowering drugs such as Lipitor will be changed to say that they may increase blood sugar levels and could cause memory loss.

"I don't think we should change our practice based on this report," says Dr. Kenneth Ong, acting chief of cardiology at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York.

"But the report is a sobering reminder there's no such thing as a free lunch," Ong says. "Every drug has its problems and its side effects, despite the benefits."

Also in the news

China backs efforts to send humanitarian aid to Syria

25 suspected 'Anonymous' hackers arrested in Europe, South America

Local, state, foreign officials attack Volcker Rule

Report: Remains of some 9/11 victims disposed of in landfill

It's 'make or break day' for Romney, Santorum

That's the headline of the Detroit Free Press, as Michigan voters go to the polls Tuesday with the race a toss-up.

The state once was seen as an easy win for Romney, who was born in Detroit and grew up in suburban Royal Oak, the son of a popular three-term governor and former auto executive.

Arizona also votes Tuesday and is expected to be an easy win for Romney.

No change expected in U.S.' Afghan strategy

While distrust remains high after the weekend's killing of two U.S. military officers in the Afghan Interior Ministry, the Pentagon said on Monday it wouldn't change its "fundamental strategy" in the country.

At least 36 U.S. and NATO troops have been killed in "fratricidal attacks" by Afghans wearing official police or army uniforms since the start of last year, The Washington Post says.

Anthony Cordesman, a military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who has consulted for the Pentagon, said recent crises are symptomatic of deeper problems including the persistence of insurgent networks, Taliban sanctuaries across the border in Pakistan, corruption within the Afghan government and poor coordination among NATO allies.

Arctic ice melt linked to recent snowier winters

Since 2007, large areas of the United States, Europe and China have had early or abnormally heavy snowfalls.

And a climate model at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research suggests why.

Major sea ice loss could be changing the way air circulates in the atmosphere, enabling more cold air masses from the Arctic to head farther south.

And melting sea ice also exposes more ocean water, which results in increased water vapor in the atmosphere that becomes snow.

Study: Privilege promotes dishonesty

The pursuit of self-interest is a “fundamental motive among society’s elite, and the increased want associated with greater wealth and status can promote wrongdoing,” researchers report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Members of the "upper class," as defined by the study, are more likely to break the law while driving, take candy from children, lie in negotiations, cheat to increase their odds of winning a prize and back unethical behavior at work, the researchers found.

Also in the news

Israeli officials say they won't warn U.S. if they decide to strike Iran

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki gains more power after political crisis

Japanese leaders secretly considered evacuating Tokyo over nuclear disaster

Injured foreign journalists escape from Syria

Standard & Poor's downgrades Greece to 'selective default'

Obama to sign executive order creating trade enforcement unit

Keystone pipeline section from Oklahoma to Texas going forward

Southern Poverty Law Center accuses Alabama of abusing Hispanics

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey may enter Nebraska Senate race

Hawaiians highest, West Virginians lowest in Gallup survey of well-being

Commonly prescribed sleeping pills linked to higher death risk