memeorandum: The Benefits of Health Benefits — Ezra asks why … (Megan McArdle)

12:00 AM ET, February 16, 2010

Top Items:

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Evan Bayh won't seek re-election, Senate majority in play? — Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this year, he announce Monday, a decision that hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country. — “After all these years, my passion for service …

Rich V. / The Vail Spot:

Senator Mikulski of Maryland to Retire — I've just heard from an impeccable source that Barbara Mikulski, the Democratic Senator who is up for reelection this November, will choose to retire. Mrs. Mikulski is expected to make her formal announcement in the next few days.

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!, Doug Ross and The Lonely Conservative

Charles Lane / PostPartisan:

Bayh to Obama: take this job and shove it — Millions of Americans long to tell their bosses “take this job and shove it.” Hardly any have the power and money to do so, especially in these recessionary times. Sen. Evan Bayh (D) of Indiana, however, is the exception.

Discussion: Althouse, Eunomia, MyDD, Blue Crab Boulevard, CBS News, Wizbang and Lawyers, Guns and Money

Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:

New poll: Now, signs of real vulnerability for California's Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer — So, is California's brittle Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer about to become the next Harry Reid? Which is to say, embattled at home. — As Reid worked the wallets of San Francisco on Presidents …

Discussion: Daily Kos, GayPatriot and Don Surber

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:

Lane on Bayh — I have several more months in which to kick him around. — Here's an obviously admiring Charles Lane on Evan Bayh's decision: … The noteworthy thing here is that Lane, who seems to like Bayh and not see him as a selfish, immoral grandstander basically sees Bayh as a selfish, immoral grandstander.

Discussion: TalkLeft

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:

Thoughts on Bayh — I can't believe I'm saying this but I really think Republicans have a chance to win back the Senate this fall now. — Let's be realistic- there was a Rasmussen view of Indiana that showed Evan Bayh down to Mike Pence and barely up on John Hostettler and a Research 2000 view that showed him safe for reelection.

Discussion: The Corner on National …, msnbc.com, Hot Air, Blue Crab Boulevard and The Washington Independent

ABCNEWS:

Evan Bayh Disses Washington on Way Out — Two-term Senator from Indiana Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Pans Partisanship in U.S. Congress — Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh announced today that will not seek a third term — a huge blow to Democrats and an opportunity for Republicans to pick up another Senate seat in 2010.

Discussion: The Politico, CNN, Wizbang, Blogcritics, Mediaite, Truthdig, The Note and Wonkette

Jim Geraghty / National Review Online:

Let's Get Real: Barbara Mikulski Does Not Fear a Loss This Year. — By: Jim Geraghty — Many, many readers are excited about the rumor, eminating from The Vail Spot blog, that Sen. Barbara Mikulski will retire. — Mike Memoli of RealClearPolitics and Chris Cillizza of the Post …

Discussion: Don Surber

Eric Zimmermann / The Hill:

Bayh to retire in huge blow to Dems — Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) will announce this afternoon that he will not seek re-election in 2010. — The news is a big loss for Democrats, opening up a very competitive seat in what's shaping up to be a tough cycle for Democrats.

Discussion: PostPartisan, National Review Online, Talking Points Memo, ABCNEWS, CNN, The Washington Independent, Newshoggers.com, The Moderate Voice, USA Today, The Swamp, TPMDC, Ben Smith's Blog, NPR Blogs and Moonbattery

David Dayen / Firedoglake:
Senate Candidate Tamyra D'Ippolito: “Politics in Indiana is the Old Boy's School.”

Discussion: Erick's blog, The Washington Independent, Open Left, Angry Bear and The Moderate Voice

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Challenger adds to post-Bayh chaos

Discussion: Washington Examiner, CNN, Hot Air, The Washington Independent and Ben Smith's Blog

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
WHAT BAYH IS THINKING.... Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-Ind.) …

Discussion: Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, Blue Indiana, Democratic Strategist and The Impolitic

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Is Bayh Running for President

Discussion: Gawker and Lean Left

Peter Wehner / Commentary:
Barack Millstone Obama

Discussion: The New Republic and Eunomia

Hotline On Call:
Explaining The IN Filing Process

Discussion: TPMDC, Firedoglake, The Plum Line, Commentary, Open Left, Riehl World View and Daily Kos

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Bayh, Relative to His State, Was Valuable to Democrats

Discussion: Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Evan Bayh — Obviously, Evan Bayh's never been my favorite Senator.

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Eric Kleefeld / TPMDC:
Another Dem Already In Race For Bayh's Seat …

Discussion: Guardian, The Politico, Swing State Project, Talking Points Memo and RedState

Reid Wilson / Hotline On Call:
Bayh To Retire In Face Of Challenge

Discussion: AmSpecBlog, The Politico, The Huffington Post, Michelle Malkin, The Political Carnival, Firedoglake and Swing State Project

Ed Hornick / CNN: Too tough to be a centrist?

The Caucus:
Bayh Decides Against Re-election Bid

Discussion: msnbc.com, The Reality-Based Community, Balkinization, New York Magazine, Newsweek Blogs, Prairie Weather, The Political Carnival, Think Progress and CANNONFIRE

New York Times:

Secret Joint Raid Captures Taliban's Top Commander — WASHINGTON — The Taliban's top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials.

Discussion: JustOneMinute, Power Line, Newshoggers.com, democracyarsenal.org, Flopping Aces, TigerHawk, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, FP Passport, The Jawa Report, Matthew Yglesias, Political Punch, Hot Air, AMERICAblog News, RedState and New York Magazine

Spencer Ackerman / ATTACKERMAN: It's Extremely Important We Don't Torture Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar

Ezra Klein:

Democrats released a compromise health-care reform proposal — On Friday, I posted about the guest list for the White House's health-care summit, but I missed the big news in the accompanying invitation (mostly because I didn't notice that there was an accompanying invitation). Here's the money bit:

Discussion: The New Republic, Democratic Strategist, Hit & Run, Daily Kos, Liberal Values, DISSENTING JUSTICE, Grasping Reality …, SpeakEasy and Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!

Chris Bowers / Open Left:
GOP demands White House post health care proposal online …

Discussion: TPMDC, thedanashow.wordpress.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Daily Kos

Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
Sen.: W.H. mulls indefinite detention

Discussion: TalkLeft and Emptywheel

Walter Alarkon / The Hill:
Dems try to avoid overselling jobs bill

Discussion: Gateway Pundit

Jane Taber / Globe and Mail:

Romney threatened on flight out of Vancouver — Republican politician Mitt Romney was physically threatened by a violent passenger on an Air Canada flight leaving Vancouver this morning. — Mr. Romney, who has been in Vancouver since Friday for the Olympic Winter Games, did not respond to the attack.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin and TPMDC

Andrew Orlowski / The Register:

Now IPCC hurricane data is questioned — Open science: Got Excel? Debunk this — More trouble looms for the IPCC. The body may need to revise statements made in its Fourth Assessment Report on hurricanes and global warming. A statistical analysis of the raw data shows that the claims …

Discussion: YID With LID, EU Referendum and GayPatriot

Carol E. Lee / The Politico:

Senator: VP comments ‘insulting’ — Joe Biden shakes hands with Scott Brown. AP — Sen. Scott Brown thinks Vice President Joe Biden was “off base” when he suggested Sunday that the Massachusetts Republican get his facts straight on the legal procedures for military tribunals.

Discussion: JammieWearingFool, Josh Gerstein's Blog, The Lonely Conservative, Pundit & Pundette, Sister Toldjah, Moe Lane and Flopping Aces

Alan Colmes' Liberaland:

Will Obama's Up Numbers Get The Attention His Down Numbers Did? — The minute President Obama's numbers dipped below 50% the right wing went into full bashing mode. The play in the numbers always goes back-and-forth, and conservative icon Ronald Reagan began his third year in the White House at 35% approval.

Discussion: The Other McCain

James Queally / New Jersey Online:

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg taken to area hospital after fall — U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg was taken by ambulance tonight from his Cliffside Park home after suffering a fall, his spokesman said. — The 86-year-old Democrat was conscious when he was taken to the hospital …

RealClimate:

IPCC errors: facts and spin — Currently, a few errors -and supposed errors- in the last IPCC report ("AR4″) are making the media rounds - together with a lot of distortion and professional spin by parties interested in discrediting climate science. Time for us to sort the wheat from the chaff …

Discussion: Washington Post, The New Republic, Little Green Footballs and FP Passport