memeorandum: The Making of a Euromess — Lately, financial news … (Paul Krugman/New York Times)

6:05 AM ET, February 16, 2010

Top Items:

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.

Spencer Ackerman / ATTACKERMAN:

It's Extremely Important We Don't Torture Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar — The Taliban's military commander has been captured in a joint Pakistani-U.S. intelligence raid. A high-five to Langley: this is one serious motherf**king success. Now it's really important we don't screw it all up by abusing Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Discussion: Guardian and Wonkette

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: Firedoglake, Eunomia, Althouse, MyDD, Lawyers, Guns and Money, Blue Crab Boulevard, CBS News, Wizbang and Washington Monthly

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, Another Black Conservative, Don Surber and Weasel Zippers

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 …

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

Democrats Reel as Senator Says No to 3rd Term — WASHINGTON — Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana announced on Monday that he would not seek re-election, sending a wave of distress over his fellow Democrats and focusing new attention on the view that unyielding partisanship had left Congress all but paralyzed.

Discussion: Ta-Nehisi Coates

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Lane on Bayh — I have several more months in which to kick him around.

Discussion: TalkLeft

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Thoughts on Bayh

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

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

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

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

Discussion: driftglass and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

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

Discussion: Gawker and Lean Left

Peter Wehner / Commentary:
Barack Millstone Obama

Discussion: Eunomia and The New Republic

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

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

Eric Zimmermann / The Hill:
Bayh to retire in huge blow to Dems

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

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

Discussion: Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, The Huffington Post, Outside The Beltway, Mad Kane's Political Madness, The Impolitic, Democratic Strategist, Blue Indiana, Think Progress and Swing State Project

Hotline On Call:
Explaining The IN Filing Process

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

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

Discussion: Guardian, PostPartisan, Swing State Project, The Politico, Newsweek Blogs, Talking Points Memo, RedState, The Corner on National … and MyDD

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

Discussion: The Daily Caller

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

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

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, YID With LID and GayPatriot

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: TPMDC, Michelle Malkin and Gateway Pundit

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

Ezra Klein:
Democrats released a compromise health-care reform proposal

Discussion: The New Republic, Liberal Values, Daily Kos, DISSENTING JUSTICE, Democratic Strategist, Hit & Run, Grasping Reality … and The Reality-Based Community

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

Discussion: TalkLeft and Emptywheel

James Queally / New Jersey Online:

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg is 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 New Jersey Democrat was conscious when he was taken to the hospital …

Discussion: TPMDC

Jim Hoft / Gateway Pundit:

FAIL... Just 6% of Americans Believe Obama's $787 Billion Stimulus Created Jobs — In December the Obama Administration announced they had “saved or created” 1.1 million jobs. — In January the Obama Administration announced they had “saved or created” 2 million jobs.

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

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

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.