memeorandum: The Onion Wins The Internet. (Adam Serwer/American Prospect)

7:40 PM ET, August 27, 2009

Top Items:

PREDICTING POLITICIZATION.... It looks like word went out yesterday about what leading conservative voices should say about Ted Kennedy's death: complain about the memorial service that hasn't happened yet. … All of this came the same day Kennedy's death was announced.

Discussion: The TrogloPundit, Democratic Strategist and Riehl World View

Andy Barr / The Politico:

Romney won't run for Kennedy's seat — Former Massachusetts GOP Gov. Mitt Romney will not seek the Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy's death, a Romney spokesman said Thursday. — Responding to speculation that Romney may be interested in the seat—which he challenged Kennedy for in 1994 …

Discussion: The Atlantic Politics Channel, Ben Smith's Blog, The Caucus, Swing State Project, Flopping Aces, Don Surber, The Strata-Sphere, Let Freedom Ring, The Page, Right Wing News, The Hill, TPMDC, Hot Air, ABCNEWS, Moonbattery, Boston Globe and GOP 12

Ben Smith / The Politico:

Conservatives warn of ‘Wellstone effect’ — Key conservative voices have begun to charge in the day after Sen. Ted Kennedy's death that Democrats are inappropriately politicizing the senator's death, his memorial and his legacy. — Kennedy was that ultimate political creature, a …

Discussion: The Note, Talking Points Memo, MyDD, About.com US Liberal Politics, The HSA Coalition and Townhall.com

Media Matters for America:

Conservative media invoke Wellstone memorial smear in predicting politicization of Kennedy's death — Following Sen. Ted Kennedy's death, conservative media figures have returned to the smear that the memorial service for Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) became “a political rally” …

Discussion: Democracy in America, Taylor Marsh, The Politico, Minnesota Independent and Hullabaloo

Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
After Diagnosis, Determined to Make a ‘Good Ending’

Discussion: Washington Post, The Politico, CNN, The Caucus, Prairie Weather, NewsBusters.org, San Francisco Chronicle, The Daily Dish, Michael Calderone's Blog, TalkLeft, The Plank, msnbc.com, New York Times, Boston Globe and Associated Press

David Weigel / The Washington Independent:

Obtained: The RNC's Health Care Survey — I just chatted with Raymond Denny, the 64-year-old La Center, Wash., man who received the RNC's “2009 Future of American Health Survey,” which alleged that President Obama's health reform plans might discriminate against Republicans. Here's the survey question:

Discussion: Think Progress, Glenn Thrush's Blog, Washington Monthly, TPMDC, Swampland, Salon and Runnin' Scared

Digby / Hullabaloo:

Suggested By ... Glenn Beck? — Dave Weigel catches a remarkable mailing from the Republican National Committee: … You can't dismiss this as fringe weirdos or “entertainment,” can you? The official Republican Party is telling its members that Democrats may use voting registration information to identify and kill them.

Discussion: The Washington Independent and Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!

Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Whoops! RNC Admits Screwing Up With Suggestion That Health Care …

Discussion: Glenn Thrush's Blog

Taylor Gandossy / CNN:

Girl taken in 1991 surfaces; couple held — (CNN) — A 29-year old woman walked into a northern California police station, saying she was abducted 18 years ago, authorities said Thursday. Two people are being held in connection with the case. — Jaycee Dugard is in good health …

Discussion: ChattahBox News Blog, Riehl World View and Shakesville

Adam Serwer / American Prospect:

The Onion Wins The Internet. — First, there was the article on the “afterbirthers” demanding to see Obama's placenta. Now, we have an Onion segment discussing whether or not using a minotaur to gore detainees is, in fact, torture. Obviously there are two sides to the question.

Discussion: Onion News Network and DISSENTING JUSTICE

Adam Serwer / American Prospect:
Andy McCarthy's Unwavering Defense Of Torture.

Discussion: The Washington Independent

Fox News:

Richardson Probe ‘Was Killed in Washington’ — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former high-ranking members of his administration won't be criminally charged in a federal investigation into pay-to-play allegations. — SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former high-ranking members …

Discussion: Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Bloomberg, Townhall.com, New Mexico Independent, TPMMuckraker, Ben Smith's Blog, Don Surber, Raw Story, ChattahBox News Blog, Riehl World View and The Page

Carrie Johnson / Washington Post:
Sources Say Richardson Probe Wrapping Up, Unlikely to Lead to Charges

Discussion: The Caucus, New Mexico Independent and TPMMuckraker

Jules Crittenden:

Dems In Mourning — His friend of many years' body not yet cold, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shows the depth of his grief. Boston Herald: … The late Lion's dying wish was that the Massachusetts governor and Legislature overturn the 2004 law they passed on his request …

Discussion: WAMU 88.5, TVbytheNumbers, Boston Herald, Capitol Briefing, Pajamas Media, Don Surber and Gateway Pundit

Jennifer Robison / Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Reid speaks to Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce as protesters picket outside

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Congress Matters and The Note

Amanda Terkel / Think Progress:

Steele Confused, Overwhelmed By NPR Interview: 'Now Wait A Minute. Hold up. ... You're Trying To Be Cute.' — In an interview with Michael Steele, NPR's Steve Inskeep repeatedly asked the RNC chairman to explain why Republicans keep defending Medicare at the same time they claim …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Prescriptions, Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Balloon Juice and Democratic Strategist

Erica Werner / Associated Press:

Key Democrat suggests party moderates ‘brain dead’ — WASHINGTON (AP) - A key House liberal suggested Thursday that party moderates who've pushed for changes in health care legislation are “brain dead” and out for insurance company campaign donations. — Moderate Blue Dog Democrats …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and JammieWearingFool

Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal:

Obama Targets Medicare Advantage — Seniors would lose with health ‘reform,’ and seniors vote. — Printer — Friendly — President Barack Obama was wise to vacation this week on Martha's Vineyard. Not because it's one of the few places in America where his health-care plan is still popular …

Discussion: Hot Air and Prescriptions

Robert Moore / Coloradoan Online:
Markey: Medicare will take hit

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Townhall.com and Hot Air

CNSNews:

Howard Dean: Democrats Left Tort Reform Out of Health Care Bill Because They Feared ‘Taking On’ Trial Lawyers — (CNSNews.com) - Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, a medical doctor who served as governor of Vermont, said at a town hall meeting on Tuesday night …

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Video: Dean says no tort reform because trial lawyers too intimidating

Discussion: Stop The ACLU

CBS News:

Democratic Health Care Bill Divulges IRS Tax Data — Posted by Declan McCullagh One of the problems with any proposed law that's over 1,000 pages long and constantly changing is that much deviltry can lie in the details. Take the Democrats' proposal to rewrite health care policy …

Discussion: Hot Air, Ben Smith's Blog, Riehl World View, The Volokh Conspiracy and Wake up America

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

Even The New Republic now calls for a party purge of corporate-owned “centrists” — The New Republic, 2004, endorsing Joe Lieberman for President: … TNR's Jonathan Chait, in The Los Angeles Times, 2006, viciously condemning those who mounted a primary challenge against Lieberman (an “anti-Lieberman jihad"):

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias, Daily Kos and The New Republic

Anchorage Daily News:

Palin won't show at fundraiser, denies accepting invitation — TONIGHT: Spokeswoman says ex-governor was never asked. — Organizers of an Anchorage event that has been billing Sarah Palin for weeks as a star speaker were left scrambling Wednesday after learning that the former governor …

Discussion: Politics Daily, Top of the Ticket, Christian Science Monitor, The Mudflats, Conservatives4Palin.com, TBogg, Washington Monthly, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Think Progress, The Washington Note, Wonkette, GOP 12 and msnbc.com

gqrr.com:

Corzine Closes Gap in New Jersey Governor Race — Stan Greenberg, Al Quinlan and Drew Lieberman — Democracy Corps — Research Categories … Executive Summary — A new survey conducted for Stan Greenberg and James Carville's organization Democracy Corps by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, TalkLeft, Scorecard's Blog, TPMDC and MyDD

Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard:

Obama's Uncles — They seem kind of hostile to the president. First there was Uncle Charlie, who Obama claimed had liberated Auschwitz (he'd helped liberate Buchenwald). And when Charlie was asked, months later, about Obama's visit to Buchenwald, he took a rather cynical view of the president's motives:

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blog

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:

Mary Mapes knew Bush volunteered for Vietnam: CBS report — This story by Bernard Goldberg certainly takes me back to the early days of my blogging career. Shortly after the 2004 Republican convention, Mary Mapes produced a segment for 60 Minutes II that alleged that George W. Bush …

Discussion: Power Line, The Moderate Voice, Little Green Footballs, Dean's World, QandO, theblogprof and Crooks and Liars

Ellis Goodwin / Chickasha Daily-Express:

Inhofe slams health reform — At a town hall meeting Wednesday Sen. Jim Inhofe told Chickasha residents he does not need to read the 1,000 page health care reform bill, he will simply vote against it. — “I don't have to read it, or know what's in it. I'm going to oppose it anyways,” he said.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Think Progress, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room and Sunlight Foundation

Justin Elliott / TPMMuckraker:

Pastor Of Gun-Toter At Obama Event Prayed For Obama To Die — Chris Broughton, the man who brought an assault rifle and a handgun to the Obama event in Arizona last week, attended a fiery anti-Obama sermon the day before the event, in which Pastor Steven Anderson said he was going to …

Discussion: Megan McArdle, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, pandagon.net, Talking Points Memo and The Plank

Laura Saunders / Wall Street Journal:

Is ‘Friending’ in Your Future? Better Pay Your Taxes First — Tax deadbeats are finding someone actually reads their MySpace and Facebook postings: the taxman. — State revenue agents have begun nabbing scofflaws by mining information posted on social-networking Web sites …

Discussion: Mashable! and The Corner on National …

Rasmussen Reports:

Support for Health Care Legislation Has Stopped Falling, But Most Still Opposed — As August winds down, the good news for President Obama and congressional Democrats is that support for their proposed health care legislation has stopped falling. The bad news is that most voters oppose the plan.

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard, Let Freedom Ring, Commentary and Real Clear Politics

ColorOfChange.org:

Ten New Companies Pledge Not to Run Additional Ads on Glenn Beck Program — Vonage, Bank Of America, Kraft Among Latest To Distance Themselves from FNC Host as the Network Struggles to Fill Beck's Advertising Space — OAKLAND, Calif.—Adding to an increasing list of companies distancing themselves …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Show Tracker, Little Green Footballs and Media Matters for America

Joshua Rhett Miller / Fox News:

ABC, NBC Won't Air Ad Critical of Obama's Health Care Plan — The refusal by ABC and NBC to run a national ad critical of President Obama's health care reform plan is raising questions from the group behind the spot — particularly in light of ABC's health care special aired in prime time last June hosted at the White House

Discussion: Hot Air, Gateway Pundit and RealClearPolitics Video Log

Stars & Stripes:

Files prove Pentagon is profiling reporters … WASHINGTON — Contrary to the insistence of Pentagon officials this week that they are not rating the work of reporters covering U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Stars and Stripes has obtained documents that prove that reporters' coverage is being graded as “positive,” “neutral” or “negative.”

Discussion: Think Progress, Bloomberg, Danger Room, Raw Story, Dr. Melissa Clouthier, Mudville Gazette, Michael Calderone's Blog, The Washington Independent, Mediaite, Don Surber, Swampland, Romenesko and The E&P Pub

Reid Wilson / The Hill:

FEC allows Club to go after Specter donors — Donors upset with Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-Pa.) decision to bolt the Republican Party earlier this year will have the opportunity to get their money back, thanks to a Federal Election Commission decision issued Thursday.

Discussion: Club for Growth and TPMDC