memeorandum: McCain's Speech — He went after the Democrats—which was wise, in my view. (Ramesh Ponnuru/The Corner)

4:55 PM ET, February 7, 2008

Top Items:

Krooney / The Page:

Romney Quits Race — Says time of war is not the right time to continue GOP fight: “I feel I have to stand aside.” — Read full remarks from CPAC conference here. … AP: Decision effectively cedes nomination to McCain. … HALPERIN'S TAKE: TEN THINGS MITT ROMNEY COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY The Page, 2:12 PM

John King / CNN:

GOP sources: Romney to suspend campaign — (CNN) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will suspend his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, GOP sources tell CNN. — Romney had won 270 delegates in through the Super Tuesday contests, compared with front-runner John McCain's 680.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, New York Times, Washington Wire, Think Progress, The Carpetbagger Report, The Strata-Sphere, Burnt Orange Report, American Street, BizzyBlog, Buck Naked Politics, Buckeye State Blog, PoliGazette, Middle Earth Journal and Citizen Orange

Mark Halperin / The Page:

Transcript of Romney's Speech Withdrawing From the Race — Governor Romney's Address to the Conservative Political Action Committee - February 7, 2008 — I want to begin by saying thank you. It's great to be with you again. And I look forward to joining with you many more times in the future.

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias, The New Republic, The Daily Dish, Power Line, Shakespeare's Sister, The RBC, Democratic Strategist, Political Machine, GINA COBB, FP Passport, Wake up America and Dick Polman's American Debate

Byron York / The Corner:

Romney Pulling Out? Campaign Doesn't Want “To Look Destructive At What Might Be The End.” — We are beginning to see signs that Mitt Romney might be preparing to pull out of the Republican race. — Everyone is looking for tea leaves from the campaign, and we'll know more about the governor's state …

Discussion: Pajamas Media, Boston Globe, TownHall Blog, Redstate, Weekly Standard, Power Line, TIME, The New Republic, TigerHawk, The American Mind and PoliBlog (TM)

New York Times:

Romney Drops Out of Presidential Race — Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who sought to position himself as the true conservative choice for the Republican presidential nomination, announced Thursday afternoon that he had ended his campaign. — Mr. Romney, who had vowed …

Discussion: Jonathan Martin's Blogs

Eric Pianin / The Fix:

Romney Drops Out of GOP Race — Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. — Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney ended his presidential campaign today after a series of recent losses in key states including Florida and California, bowing to the near inevitability …

Discussion: Washington Wire, Threat Level, Comments from Left Field and Politics Plus

You Decide 08!: ROMNEY DROPS PRESIDENTIAL BID, CEDES FLOOR TO MCCAIN AT CPAC

The Politico:
Romney ends bid, eyeing 2012

Discussion: City Room and The Carpetbagger Report

The Caucus:
Romney Quits Presidential Race

Discussion: The New Republic, The Moderate Voice, Where's the Outrage?, PrawfsBlawg and All Spin Zone

Matt / Think Progress:
Romney: Dem victory would ‘mean attacks on America.’

Discussion: Hoffmania! and L'ennui mélodieux

Adam Nagourney / The Caucus:
With Romney Gone, What Will McCain Do?

Discussion: USA Today, The Seminal, The Carpetbagger Report and Group News Blog

Anne Schroeder Mullins / Anne Schroeder's Blogs:

CPAC to all CPAC-ers: Don't boo McCain — John McCain may have it easier than he expected today when he commandeers the podium at CPAC this afternoon. Conservatives from all over will predictably fill the room to the brim to listen to what the now GOP front-runner has to say, despite a hate/love relationship with the guy.

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, Daily Kos, The Sundries Shack, Salon, The Impolitic, Gateway Pundit, Born at the Crest …, Macsmind and Hot Air

Rick Moran / Right Wing Nut House:

“EXCLUSIVE!” JOHN McCAIN CPAC SPEECH — A secret operative working for this website has gotten a hold of the speech John McCain will deliver to attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference. She says I shouldn't ask how she got it although she mentioned that she had a real …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, michellemalkin.com, The Newshoggers, Macsmind and Cheat Seeking Missiles

Amanda / Think Progress:
McCain booed at CPAC.

Discussion: Jonathan Martin's Blogs and The Mahablog

Terry Frieden / CNN:

Mukasey won't investigate ‘waterboarding’ — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Attorney General Michael Mukasey told lawmakers Thursday he will not open a criminal investigation into the CIA's acknowledged use of “waterboarding” on terror suspects. — House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers …

Discussion: Making Light

David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:
MARK THIS DAY — Attorney General Michael Mukasey …

Discussion: Hold Fast

Paul Kiel / Muckraker:
Mukasey: No, I Will Not Investigate Waterboarding

Discussion: The Newshoggers and The Carpetbagger Report

Jennifer Parker / Political Punch:

And Obama Wept — Inspiration is nice. But some folks seem to be getting out of hand. — It's as if Tom Daschle descended from on high saying, “Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Moderate Voice, Attytood, JustOneMinute, Washington Monthly, The New Republic, The Corner, TalkLeft, Commentary, Redstate, Taylor Marsh, PunditGuy and Hot Air

Joe Klein / Time:
Inspiration vs. Substance

Discussion: Firedoglake

Kate Snow / ABCNEWS:

Clinton Campaign Staffers Not Going Without Pay — Staff Had Offered to Go Without Pay to Save Campaign Money But Never Did — So it turns out the Clinton campaign may not be so cash-strapped after all — at least not at this very moment. — After offering on Wednesday to go without paychecks …

Discussion: Political Punch and Ben Smith's Blogs

Marc Ambinder:
Money Pours In For Clinton, Obama

Discussion: TPM Election Central, my.barackobama.com, MyDD, The New Republic and The Democratic Daily

Joe Pappalardo / Popular Mechanics:

Sun Stays Sluggish as Weathermen Fight for Anti-Ice Age Funding — Every day, scientists hoping to see — an increase in solar activity train their instruments at the sun as it crosses the sky. This is no idle academic pursuit: A lull in solar action could potentially drive …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, protein wisdom, Don Surber and Clayton Cramer's BLOG

John McCain 2008:

Remarks By John McCain to CPAC — ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released the following remarks by John McCain as prepared for delivery: — Thank you. Thank you for inviting me. It's been a little while since I've had the honor of addressing you …

Steven Aftergood / NiemanWatchdog.org:

The next president should open up the Bush Administration's record — By now no one expects the Bush Administration to make itself accountable for its controversial and possibly illegal practices. But the next President will have a unique opportunity to reveal what has been kept hidden for the last seven years.

Discussion: protein wisdom, Firedoglake and Secrecy News

Nadia Schadlow / Wall Street Journal:

From the Jaws of Victory — The U.S. just dodged a bullet in Iraq. — Recently it was reported that Pentagon leaders were considering Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the Multi-National Force Iraq since February 2007, for a prestigious redeployment to Europe.

Discussion: Commentary and Jules Crittenden