memeorandum: How Character Corrodes (Maureen Dowd/New York Times)

2:25 PM ET, May 3, 2009

Top Items:

Feds are looking at Edwards' campaign — RALEIGH Federal investigators are sifting through the records of money that helped John Edwards' presidential campaign to determine if any was used to keep quiet his affair with Rielle Hunter. — Edwards, a Democrat and former U.S. senator …

Discussion: The Note and Liberal Values

Mike Baker / Associated Press:

Edwards acknowledges probe over campaign funds — RALEIGH, N.C. - Failed presidential candidate John Edwards, whose political action committee paid more than $100,000 to his mistress' company, acknowledged Sunday that federal investigators were looking into how he handled his campaign funds.

Mandy Locke / Raleigh News & Observer:

Mellon gave Edwards a boost — Feds probe whether nonprofit's money went to girlfriend — John Edwards marched toward the White House in 2006 seeking an arsenal of millions collected a little at a time. — He also gathered more ammunition, about $11 million, collected in larger chunks …

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Ben Armbruster / Think Progress:

Specter: ‘I Did Not Say I Am A Loyal Democrat’ — Shortly after news leaked that Sen. Arlen Specter would be switching from the Republican to the Democratic Party, media reports quoted Specter telling President Obama he would be a “loyal Democrat” who would support his agenda:

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias, Washington Monthly and Young Philly Politics

JSOnline:

GOP chairman Steele calls moderates to party at La Crosse convention — By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel — La Crosse - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appealed to the political middle Friday to join his party but added that the party itself wouldn't moderate.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Forbes, The Strata-Sphere, Balloon Juice and Think Progress

Mike Allen / The Politico:

Specter: GOP moved ‘far to the right’ — Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) said Sunday in his first TV interview since becoming a Democrat last week he had not promised to be “a loyal Democrat” and would lead a filibuster against his new party if he felt strongly enough about an issue.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs

CNN:
Bob Barr: GOP in ‘very deep trouble’

Discussion: Newshoggers.com, Liberal Values, Raw Story and The Moderate Voice

Associated Press:

Jack Kemp, quarterback turned politician, dies — WASHINGTON - Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73. — Family spokeswoman Marci Robinson said Kemp died shortly …

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, The Moderate Voice, The New Ledger, NewsBusters.org, Commentary, Scared Monkeys, Shakesville, Israel Matzav, No Sheeples Here!, Outside The Beltway, The Next Right, Fausta's Blog, TigerHawk and American Power

Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Jack Kemp, all-star quarterback, politician, father, dead of cancer, 73

Discussion: The Volokh Conspiracy and The Page

Rory Cooper / The Foundry:
Heritage Foundation Mourns Loss of Former HUD Secretary Jack Kemp

Discussion: Fox News, AmSpecBlog and Michelle Malkin

Adam Clymer / New York Times:
Jack Kemp, Star on Field and in Politics, Dies at 73

Discussion: Democratic Strategist, DownWithTyranny!, RAGGED THOTS, The Caucus and First Draft

Associated Press:
Former VP candidate, Bills QB Jack Kemp dies

Discussion: Power Line

Patricia Sullivan / Washington Post:
Ex-Official Championed Housing, Tax Reforms

Discussion: NewsBusters.org and AmSpecBlog

Andy Barr / The Politico:

Assailin' Palin: Complaints deluge gov. — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's life has changed in a myriad of ways since she became the Republican vice presidential nominee last August, but one aspect of her newfound fame has been more bracing than the others: Since entering the national spotlight …

CNN:

Cantor: 'We've got a lot to learn' from Obama — (CNN) — House Minority Whip Eric Cantor tells CNN's John King that the GOP still has a lot to learn from President Obama. — “President Obama is a great communicator. We understand that,” he said in an interview that aired on CNN's State of the Union Sunday.

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Library Grape

Patrick Leahy / Boston Globe:

Lifting the Bush-era veil of secrecy — On US torture, we need to find out what happened - and why — THE OBAMA administration's decision to release more Bush-era memoranda, which sought to rationalize torture, shows that President Obama is following through on his promise to ban torture …

Discussion: Think Progress, Macsmind and The Swamp

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

How Character Corrodes — How quaint. — The Republicans are concerned about checks and balances. — The specter of Specter helping the president have his way with Congress has actually made conservatives remember why they respected the Constitution in the first place.

Discussion: TalkLeft, Liberal Values, The Reaction and Washington Monthly

Washington Times:

Pelosi confronts justice — Laws apply to lawmakers, too — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is working to buffer lawmakers from federal investigators. This is a bad idea. Special legal protections for politicians encourage unethical conduct. — Irvin B. Nathan, general counsel of the House …

Discussion: Gateway Pundit

Christine Simmons / Associated Press:

Obamas take a walk, holding hands in the evening — WASHINGTON - The first couple took full advantage of the cool spring night. — After a date night out on Saturday evening, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama decided to take a stroll when their motorcade arrived back at the White House.

Discussion: Weekly Standard