memeorandum: U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice; military apologizes (CNN)

10:15 PM ET, May 18, 2008

Top Items:

Powerful Video of Ugly Sexist Vilification of Hillary Clinton — Sexism is alive and well in America. — One exit poll I saw had almost twice as many voters having trouble voting for a woman for president than voting for a black man. — The New York Times had a long piece about a future woman president today, Kate Zernike writes:

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Tom Watson, TBogg, Taylor Marsh and Balloon Juice

Libby Spencer / Newshoggers.com:

Better messaging please — Man, I really don't want to step into this but it just really bothers me. Yes, the blatant sexism in this Youtube is horrible. It's unfair, but so is the central message the video seems to be conveying, at least to me. — I'm hearing that I should be blaming Obama for not solving sexism.

Kate Zernike / New York Times:

She Just Might Be President Someday — If not her, who? — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton may or may not become the first female president of the United States, but if fate and voters deny her the role, another woman will surely see if the mantle fits. — That woman will come from the South, or west of the Mississippi.

Discussion: Liberal Values, The Mahablog, JustOneMinute, Swampland, No More Mister Nice Blog, Open Left and Althouse

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

75,000 ATTEND OBAMA RALLY IN PORTLAND — From NBC's Mark Hudspeth — Per the Obama campaign, 75,000 people (60,000 in the gates and 15,000 outside of them) turned out in Portland to hear Obama speak there this afternoon — making it the largest Obama crowd to date.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Caucus, Comments from Left Field, The Jed Report and BlueOregon

Mike Allen / The Politico:

Another top McCain official resigns — Former Rep. Thomas G. Loeffler, a Texan who is among the McCain campaign's most important advisers and fundraisers, has resigned as a national co-chair over lobbying entanglements, a Republican source told Politico on Sunday.

Discussion: Balloon Juice, Blue Girl, Red State, Obsidian Wings, RADAMISTO and The Other McCain

Matthew Yglesias:
Real Americans and Lobbying

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Michael Isikoff / Newsweek:
Mccain vs. Lobbyists

Discussion: Marc Ambinder, DownWithTyranny!, Political Punch, Open Left, Booman Tribune, The Carpetbagger Report, Think Progress, Emptywheel and Wonk Room

Jeralyn / TalkLeft:

Obama To Spend Tues. Night in Iowa, Possibly Will Claim Victory — Barack Obama will return to Iowa Tuesday night. The New York Times says it may be to “claim victory” and declare himself the Democratic nominee. His campaign views winning a majority of 2025 pledged and unpledged delegates victory.

Discussion: Denver Post, NO QUARTER and Corrente

CNN: Clinton: ‘Think about this as a hiring decision’

Larry Rohter / New York Times:
Obama to Return to Iowa, Possibly to Claim Victory

Discussion: The Trail, Open Left, The Confluence, Degree of Madness, Taylor Marsh, The Jed Report, Jeff Mapes on Politics, The Iconic Midwest, TalkLeft, Political Radar and The Page

White House:

President Bush Attends World Economic Forum — Sharm el Sheikh International Congress Center — THE PRESIDENT: Klaus, thank you very much. Thanks for inviting me. Klaus said, it's about time you showed up. Proud to be here. Laura and I are so honored that, Klaus, you gave us a chance to come.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Gateway Pundit and Jihad Watch

Terence Hunt / Associated Press: Bush Lectures Arab World on Political Reform, Women's Rights

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
The Middle East in the Year 2068? Some Presidential Prognostications

Discussion: Commentary and The Impolitic

CBS News:
Bush An “Appeaser,” Says Egyptian Press

Discussion: RADAMISTO, Newshoggers.com, Israel Matzav and Raw Story

Andrew E. Kramer / New York Times:

U.S. General Apologizes for Desecration of Koran — BAGHDAD — The commander of United States troops in Baghdad asked local leaders and tribal sheiks this weekend for their forgiveness after the discovery that a soldier had used a Koran for target practice at a shooting range.

Discussion: abu muqawama

CNN:

U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice; military apologizes — BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — A soldier used the Quran — Islam's holy book — for target practice, forcing the chief U.S. commander in Baghdad to issue a formal apology on Saturday. — Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond …

Discussion: Jihad Watch, JammieWearingFool, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, Los Angeles Times, RADAMISTO, Atlas Shrugs and VetVoice

MSNBC:

May 18: Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), political roundtable — MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday, John Edwards endorses Barack Obama after Hillary Clinton's landslide victory in West Virginia. The next battle for the Democrats: Tuesday in Oregon and Kentucky. John McCain outlines his priorities for a first term.

Discussion: Shakesville and Top of the Ticket

Ali / Think Progress:

Webb: Bush Would Be First President In History To Veto Benefits For Vets — On NBC's “Meet the Press” this morning, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) discussed his 21st Century GI Bill, which would dramatically expand educational benefits for returning veterans. President Bush, however, has vowed to veto the bill.

Discussion: Big Brass Blog, Crooks and Liars and Shakesville

Susan Milligan / Boston Globe:

As Clinton chances wane, old slights come due — Some prominent Democrats recall past grievances — WASHINGTON - When Democratic superdelegate Jim Cooper, a Tennessee congressman, pondered the choice between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, his thoughts wandered back to 1993.

Mark Steyn / The Corner:

Shoot the messenger — You may recall, from early last year, a riveting documentary from the British TV network Channel 4. Undercover Mosque showed preachers at some of the most “moderate” mosques in Britain urging their congregants to beat their wives, toss homosexuals off cliffs, etc.

Lisa Stone / BlogHer:

BlogHer EXCLUSIVE: Barack Obama answers policy questions from women who blog (Video) — Sen. Barack Obama sat down with BlogHer today to answer key policy questions developed by this community of bloggers for 2008 presidential candidates. — In an exclusive on-camera interview with BlogHer …

Discussion: Bang the Drum

John Amato / Crooks and Liars:

Mike Huckabee thought McCain's ‘bomb, bomb, bomb Iran’ song was funny. — Tim Russert asked Huckabee about the very dangerous joke he he told about Barack Obama at the NRA dinner in Kentucky. The one where Obama gets assassinated. … He responds by bringing up Bobby Knight …

Discussion: The Trail