memeorandum: Afghanistan offensive is key test of Obama's strategy (Karen DeYoung/Washington Post)

9:45 PM ET, February 15, 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: National Review Online, DownWithTyranny!, Doug Ross and Open Left

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: Matthew Yglesias, Althouse, Eunomia, Wizbang, MyDD, Blue Crab Boulevard and Lawyers, Guns and Money

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

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, ABCNEWS, CNN, CBS News, Newshoggers.com, The Washington Independent, The Swamp, USA Today, The Moderate Voice, Ben Smith's Blog, Moonbattery, TPMDC and NPR Blogs

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, The Note, Truthdig and Wonkette

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

WHAT BAYH IS THINKING.... Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-Ind.) retirement is a shocker, leading many to wonder what on earth a popular incumbent with plenty of money and a big lead in the polls is thinking. Bayh alluded to his frustrations on the Hill as part of his rationale.

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

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:

Challenger adds to post-Bayh chaos — A Bloomington, Ind., restaurant owner who had been running an obscure and uphill challenge against Sen. Evan Bayh for the Democratic nomination claimed Monday that she's just 1,000 signatures short of qualifying for the ballot.

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

Peter Wehner / Commentary:

Barack Millstone Obama — The news that Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is retiring is another stunning blow for a Democratic party that is already reeling. This development — because of who Bayh is (perceived as a moderate/centrist); because of the state he represents (a traditionally Red …

Discussion: Top of the Ticket, Eunomia and The New Republic

David Dayen / Firedoglake:

Senate Candidate Tamyra D'Ippolito: “Politics in Indiana is the Old Boy's School.” — I just spoke with Tamyra D'Ippolito, the candidate who was already running in the US Senate primary as a Democrat in Indiana before Evan Bayh ended his re-election bid today.

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

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Is Bayh Running for President — Let me start by saying, I don't buy it. If there's an explanation for this that involves the presidency it is that most of Bayh's career going back two decades anticipated an eventual running for the big office. And part of me thinks that at some point …

Discussion: Lean Left

Hotline On Call:
Explaining The IN Filing Process

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

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

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

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

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

Discussion: Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!

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

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

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

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Jim Geraghty / National Review Online:
Evan Bayh to Retire... The Deluge Continues — By: Jim Geraghty

Discussion: The Washington Independent, Blue Indiana, Betsy's Page and Gawker

The Caucus:
Bayh Decides Against Re-election Bid

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

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Holy Crap — Evan Bayh will announce today he's retiring from Congress.

Discussion: The Page

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, Liberal Values, Democratic Strategist, Hit & Run, Daily Kos, DISSENTING JUSTICE, SpeakEasy, Grasping Reality … and Washington Monthly

Chris Bowers / Open Left:

GOP demands White House post health care proposal online, then attacks WH for doing exactly that — Here is one from the “negotiating in good faith” files. — On February 8th, Republican House leader John Beohner sent a letter to the White House, demanding that the White House post online …

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

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

Discussion: TalkLeft and Emptywheel

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

Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:
White House revamps communications strategy

Discussion: New York Times, The Corner on National …, The Lonely Conservative, The Plum Line, Washington Times, Hot Air, Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, The Caucus, JustOneMinute, GayPatriot, protein wisdom and NewsReal Blog

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: Josh Gerstein's Blog, The Lonely Conservative, Sister Toldjah and JammieWearingFool

Boston Herald:

‘Oddball’ protrait emerges — Suspect's family, pals offer clues — As authorities searched for clues into what could have sent a University of Alabama neurobiology professor on an alleged killing spree, friends and family yesterday described Braintree native Amy Bishop as an awkward introvert …

Discussion: New York Times, theblogprof, PoliBlog, Jules Crittenden, Michelle Malkin, Don Surber and No More Mister Nice Blog

Boston Herald:
Quincy man recalls Amy Bishop holdup

Discussion: American Power, ABCNEWS, The Confluence, Jules Crittenden, TPMMuckraker, Gateway Pundit and Breaking News …

Andrea Adelson / Sun-Sentinel:

Sarah Palin Mania takes over Daytona — DAYTONA BEACH - Palin-mania easily surpassed Danica-mania at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday. — While Patrick got all the headlines for the better part of two weeks, she had no stake in the Daytona 500. Palin did, and as a VIP guest for the race, she ate up all the attention.

Discussion: The Confluence, Conservatives4Palin.com and Gateway Pundit

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: EU Referendum and GayPatriot

Peter Hamby / CNN:

Podesta: American political system ‘sucks’ — Washington (CNN) - John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress, can describe the state of Washington politics with a single word. And it's not a nice one. — Asked in an interview with the Financial Times to comment on …

Discussion: The Politico and Washington Monthly

New York Times:

Corrections — EDITORS' NOTE — In a number of business articles in The Times over the past year, and in posts on the DealBook blog on NYTimes.com, a Times reporter appears to have improperly appropriated wording and passages published by other news organizations.

Discussion: New York Magazine, Don Surber, The Huffington Post, Gawker, TPM LiveWire and Silicon Alley Insider

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:

Simcox endorses Hayworth — Chris Simcox, the co-founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the militant anti-illegal immigration group, has dropped his own primary challenge to Sen. John McCain for Senate to endorse former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, according to Hayworth spokesman Jason Rose.