memeorandum: The Real Columbian-Trade Story (John Hood/The Corner)

11:15 AM ET, April 7, 2008

Top Items:

Obama May Not Have Fully Contained Damage From Ex-Pastor — Sen. Barack Obama's Philadelphia speech on race relations last month seemed to put the controversial remarks of his former pastor behind him. But three weeks later, there is evidence of lingering damage.

Discussion: Real Clear Politics, Hot Air, Macsmind, TalkLeft and The Page

William Kristol / New York Times:

The Shape of the Race to Come — I've spent a fair amount of time the last couple of weeks with conservatives of all ages and leanings. Call it my very own listening tour. — It began with a series of conversations with a group of Weekly Standard subscribers.

Discussion: Soccer Dad, Craig Crawford's Trail Mix, Booman Tribune, The Campaign Spot, Outside The Beltway, TBogg and Connecting.the.Dots

John Kass / Chicago Tribune:

Dialogue on race could begin on hallowed ground — The wounds inflicted on Barack Obama by the hateful speech of his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, are serious and profound. — Why else would ministers gather at Obama's church in Chicago—Trinity United Church of Christ …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Commentary and protein wisdom

Washington Post:

Clinton's Chief Strategist Steps Down — Mark J. Penn quit Sunday as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief strategist, the second shake-up in her campaign's top ranks since the onetime front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination began trailing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, New York Times, Sister Toldjah, 1115.org, Prairie Weather and The Reaction

Ben Smith / The Politico:

Clinton strategist left mark, message — Mark Penn's exit from his role as Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief strategist likely will portend no dramatic shift in message for the campaign in coming weeks but will bring satisfaction to scores of Clinton loyalists who have wanted the controversial image-meister sacked for months.

Discussion: Time, The Opinionator, Washington Wire, Salon and David Corn

John Harwood / New York Times:
In Superdelegate Count, Tough Math for Clinton

Discussion: MSNBC

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
FULL FIRING? OR JUST GELDED?

Discussion: Corrente

Jackie Calmes / Wall Street Journal:
Clinton Aide Sacked Over Controversy On Colombia

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Redstate and The Field

Glenn Thrush / Newsday:
Timing of tax information may backfire on Clinton

Discussion: Feministing

John M. Broder / New York Times:
Top Clinton Aide Leaving His Post Under Pressure

Discussion: The Swamp, NY Daily News, Democratic Strategist, The Carpetbagger Report, FP Passport, TPM Election Central, The Huffington Post, The Moderate Voice, Gateway Pundit and marbury

Glenn Thrush / Newsday:
Hillary's chief strategist is ousted

Discussion: The Caucus and The Campaign Spot

John M. Broder / New York Times:
Chief Strategist of Clinton Campaign Steps Down

Discussion: The Swamp, The New Republic, Lawyers, Guns and Money, The Fix, The Nation, The Page, Commentary and AMERICAblog

Zzaki / Political Radar:
Clinton Chief Strategist Pushed Out

USA Today:

Radio host Ed Schultz: 'I'm sorry ... John McCain is a warmonger' — “I'm sorry, John, the label sticks. John McCain is a warmonger,” liberal radio host Ed Schultz said a few minutes ago on CNN's American Morning. — Schultz called McCain a “warmonger” on Friday as he was warming …

Discussion: Redstate, FOX Embeds, Say Anything and TPM Election Central

Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:

The Next Campaign Stop: Iraq Hearings — At Tuesday's Sessions, Candidates Can Ask Questions, Try to Score Points — When Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker travel to Capitol Hill tomorrow, they might be the ones before the microphones, but the cameras will be trained …

Discussion: Stumper, Betsy's Page, TalkLeft, AMERICAblog, American Power and The Page

Wall Street Journal: Iraq and Its Costs — When Gen. David Petraeus testifies …

Sean Wilentz / Salon:

If the system made sense, Clinton would be far ahead — Under a winner-take-all primary system, Hillary Clinton would have a wide lead over Barack Obama — and enough delegates to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination by June. — Hillary Clinton celebrates with supporters …

Discussion: The Confluence, Outside The Beltway, Taylor Marsh, Obsidian Wings, The Huffington Post and Associated Press

Marc Ambinder:

Ex-Clinton Insider Launches Unity Ticket Drive — Hillary/Obama '08 becomes official today. In a way. — A Clinton insider who served as ex campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle's executive assistant for several years has set up a new website, http://www.voteboth.com/ and plans to register with the Federal Election Commission today.

Discussion: Spin Cycle, The Field, Liberal Values, MyDD and Boston Globe

New York Post:

RICE BIDS TO BE VP: GOPER — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been “campaigning” to be John McCain's running mate, a former Bush administration aide said yesterday. — Rice has been courting the Republican elite, Dan Senor, a political strategist and former foreign-policy adviser to President Bush, said on ABC's “This Week.”

Discussion: The Glittering Eye

Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times: Rice Eyeing Ticket? That's News to McCain

Lindsey Ellerson / Political Radar:
Dan Senor: Condoleezza Rice Is Pursuing the VP Spot

Discussion: The Sleuth, American Spectator, Shakesville, No More Mister Nice Blog, Hot Air, Political Machine, Comments from Left Field, Buck Naked Politics, The Strata-Sphere, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, Macsmind, The News Buckit, Patterico's Pontifications, Althouse, American Street and Donklephant

CNN:

Olympic torch extinguished during Paris leg — (CNN) — The Olympic torch relay was disrupted Monday by protesters in Paris demonstrating against the Chinese government, causing authorities to extinguish the flame three times and put the torch on a bus, according to The Associated Press.

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The Moderate Voice, Hot Air and Donklephant

New York Times:

U.S. and Iraqis Battle Militias to End Attacks — BAGHDAD — Sharp fighting broke out in the Sadr City district of Baghdad on Sunday as American and Iraqi troops sought to control neighborhoods used by Shiite militias to fire rockets and mortars into the nearby Green Zone.

Discussion: Washington Post, Firedoglake, Hullabaloo, Informed Comment, War in Context, Balkinization and The Page

MSNBC:
3 soldiers die in Baghdad

Discussion: Reuters, Making conservatives … and Mercury Rising

Anne Lieberman / Boker tov, Boulder!:

Your federal government at work ... for Palestinians … 04/12/2006 … And lest you think “certain [otherwise prohibited] transactions” are merely being “authorized,” think again. They're being encouraged, promoted and assisted... all over our federal — dot-GOV. Here's just one thread …

Discussion: Power Line and Israel Matzav

Lawrence O'Donnell Jr / New York Magazine:

Four Days in Denver — The Democratic Party is closer than it's ever been to a political nightmare—a deadlocked convention. Though the odds of its actually happening are still remote, the idea is so rich with dramatic possibility that we asked Lawrence O'Donnell Jr., former West Wing writer-producer …

CNN:

Clinton predicts more ‘twists and turns’ — MISSOULA, Montana (CNN) - Hillary Clinton on Sunday predicted “more twists and turns” in the primary battle with Barack Obama during a campaign event in Montana — one of the last two states to weigh in on the Democratic presidential race on June 3.

Discussion: Redstate