The Midday Brief: April 16, 2010

“I'm thinking that's a good name for his NASCAR ride: the ‘Adios Mofomobile.’ — A Perry race car? That's one way to rev up campaign — Austin American-Statesman 

“Unfortunately, the president has already said that he intends to fill the vacancy with someone who has ‘similar qualities’ to Stevens. In other words, the president plans to replace the departing liberal justice with another liberal justice.” — America doesn’t need another liberal justice — Politico

“Nearly a quarter of the estimated 225,000 students who received corporal punishment nationwide in 2006, the latest figures available, were from the Lone Star State.” — Texas city revives paddling as it takes a swat at misbehavior — The Washington Post

“Texas has added 32,500 jobs during the last six months, and the state unemployment rate remains well below the national average of 9.7 percent.” — Texas jobs up slightly in March; unemployment rate steady — The Dallas Morning News

“Mexican prosecutors can use evidence gathered by ICE and Customs and Border Protection to build their cases against smugglers.” — Tougher justice: Traffickers at bridges can now be prosecuted in Mexico — El Paso Times

“The policies were announced Thursday as Sen. Joe Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, accused the Pentagon and Justice Department of stonewalling his investigation of the shooting by refusing to provide documents and witnesses.” — Fort Hood massacre spurs changes — San Antonio Express-News