memeorandum: Wall Street Power Play: Bankers In Bizarre Showdown With Auto Dealers (The Huffington Post)

10:45 PM ET, May 20, 2010

Top Items:

Rand Paul may not be a racist, but he is an extremist — Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy — It's safe to say Rand Paul's first few days as the Republican nominee for the open Senate seat in Kentucky are not going well.

David Weigel / Right Now:

Rand Paul, telling the truth — If we use “gaffe” in its proper, Kinsleyan form, that's what U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul issued to NPR yesterday, and that's what he defended on Rachel Maddow's show last night. He told the truth about his stance on the Civil Rights Act.

The Huffington Post:

Rand Paul On Civil Rights Controversy: I Shouldn't Have Talked To Rachel Maddow [UPDATED] — See new updates below. — The morning after he declined to endorse the totality of the Civil Rights Act in his much-discussed appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show, Dr. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) …

Discussion: The Corner on National …, Ben Smith's Blog, The Politico, TPMDC, Raw Story, Newsweek Blogs, Balkinization, Gothamist, Beltway Confidential, Little Green Footballs, The Moderate Voice, Washington Monthly, Pam's House Blend, Swampland and alicublog

Lee Fang / Think Progress:

Exclusive: DeMint Says He Disagrees With Rand Paul On Civil Rights, Needs To ‘Talk To Rand About His Positions’ — Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) endorsed anti-government extremist Rand Paul (R-KY) in the Kentucky US Senate primary, funneling money and resources for his successful campaign.

Discussion: Right Now, Hot Air, Washington Monthly, TPMDC, The Daily Beast, Balloon Juice, Page One, Crooks and Liars, The Rachel Maddow Show, The Hill, Althouse, Barefoot and Progressive and Firedoglake

Mike Memoli / Real Clear Politics:

Paul: I Support the Civil Rights Act — Reacting to an avalanche of criticism over his perceived views of the Civil Rights Act, Rand Paul's campaign issues this statement today: … Sphere It!

Discussion: The Caucus, The Politico, TPMDC, TPMMuckraker, The Reaction, Crooks and Liars, MyDD, Think Progress, Below The Beltway, Daily Kos, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, New York Times, The Rachel Maddow Show, Outside The Beltway, FrumForum and The Awl

Ezra Klein:

Area politician has some explaining to do — Rand Paul is predictably walking his statements on the Civil Rights Act back as fast as he can. “Let me be clear,” he says in a statement released today. “I support the Civil Rights Act because I overwhelmingly agree with the intent of the legislation …

Discussion: USA Today and The Daily Dish

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:

Paul blames ‘loony left’ for civil rights focus — Rand Paul lashed out at the “loony left” for pressing him on his view of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in an interview with Laura Ingraham this morning. — “I've never really favored any change in the Civil Rights Act,” he said.

Discussion: CNN, Page One, Newsweek Blogs, Firedoglake, TPMDC and Barefoot and Progressive

David Weigel / Right Now:
Rand Paul in '02: I may not like it, but ‘a free society’ …

Discussion: The Plum Line, Washington Monthly, New York Times and Ben Smith's Blog

Jake / Page One:
Rand Paul Made Same Racial Comments in 2002

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, Right Now and TPMDC

Bruce Bartlett / Capital Gains and Games blogs:
Rand Paul is No Barry Goldwater on Civil Rights

Discussion: Erick's blog, The Volokh Conspiracy, Washington Monthly, The Huffington Post, Facing South, Newsweek Blogs, Page One, Cato @ Liberty, Right Now and Mother Jones

James Taranto / Wall Street Journal:
Rand Paul and Civil Rights

Discussion: The Speakers Lobby, Salon, American Power, Guardian, Politics Daily, Democratic Strategist and The Corner on National …

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Paul won't back repeal of 1964 act

Discussion: The Plum Line, The Politico, DISSENTING JUSTICE, CNN and TPMDC

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
In Defense Of Rand Paul (Kinda)

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, No More Mister Nice Blog, FiveThirtyEight, The Other McCain, Newsweek Blogs and Outside The Beltway

Howard Fineman / Newsweek Blogs:
Rand Paul and D. W. Griffith

Discussion: NewsBusters.org and NPR Topics

Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
What do Rand Paul's patrons think of Civil Rights talk?

Discussion: TPMMuckraker, TPMDC, The Swamp and TPM LiveWire

Political Punch:

Exclusive: President Obama To Replace Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair* — ABC News has learned that President Obama will replace the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair (ret.) His resignation will come as soon as tomorrow, sources tell ABC News.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Power Line, Politics Daily, Laura Rozen's Blog, Washington Post, The Corner on National …, The Atlantic Online, Talking Points Memo, The Foundry, Emptywheel, Hot Air, Newsweek Blogs, Israel Matzav, Daily Kos, TPMDC, The Washington Independent and NO QUARTER

Mark Mazzetti / New York Times:
Blair to Leave Intelligence Post After Rocky Tenure

Discussion: PostPartisan, Swampland and Mediaite

Eileen Sullivan / Associated Press:
National intelligence director resigning

Discussion: Outside The Beltway and newsfeed.time.com

Agence France Presse:
Obama's intelligence czar to resign: US official

Discussion: Townhall.com and The Jawa Report

reason-contest.s3.amazonaws.com:

And The Winner of The Everybody Draw Mohammad Contest is... To remind readers of the stakes: In recent months, a Swedish cartoonist that sketched Mohammed as a “roundabout dog” as part of a planned street installation was assaulted during a lecture and, the following week, two extremists attempted to burn his house down.

Discussion: Instapundit, Pajamas Media, Hot Air, Balloon Juice, Townhall.com, Dean's World and Washington Post

Mark Steyn / The Corner on National Review Online:
Everybody Draws Mohammed Day — By: Mark Steyn

Discussion: Big Hollywood, Michelle Malkin, The Jawa Report, Hot Air, RedState, The Daily Caller, Liberty Pundits Blog, Don Surber, Hit & Run, Gateway Pundit and Blazing Cat Fur

Brady Dennis / Washington Post:

Senate clears way to vote on financial reform — The Senate voted Thursday afternoon to end its three-week debate on a bill to rewrite the nation's financial regulations, paving the way for a final vote on the landmark legislation. — The 60-to-40 vote — the minimum required to end debate …

Wall Street Journal:
Senate Passes Financial Overhaul Bill

Discussion: The Corner on National …

Meredith Shiner / The Politico:
41st Republican is 60th reg reform vote

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, CNN and The Note

Matt Viser / Boston Globe:
GOP, 2 Democrats stall financial regulation bill in Senate

Discussion: Firedoglake, Ezra Klein and The Hill

Jordy Yager / The Hill:

GOP lawmaker blasts Mexican pres. comments as inappropriate — Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blasted Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday, calling the visiting dignitary's remarks on Arizona's recently implemented immigration law “inappropriate.” — Earlier Thursday …

Discussion: The Corner on National …, Weasel Zippers and The Note

Rasmussen Reports:

71% in Arizona Now Support State's New Immigration Law — Arizona voters now support the state's new immigration law more than ever and are still more inclined to think the law will be good for the state's economy rather than bad. A lot of voters in the state are thinking it's payback time …

Discussion: Top of the Ticket, Weasel Zippers, Liberty Pundits Blog, Scared Monkeys, Wake up America and National Review

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Democrats give Mexican president standing ovation for dumping on Arizona

Discussion: Fox News, Weasel Zippers, The Caucus, RedState and Confederate Yankee

Fox News:
Calderon Criticism of Arizona Law Overlooks Mexico's Tough Immigration Policy

Discussion: Hot Air, National Review and Newsweek Blogs

The Huffington Post:

Little Girl Who Challenged First Lady Is Right: Obama Is Deporting More Immigrants Than Ever — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — A little girl became the face of the nation's immigration debate on Wednesday, when she told First Lady Michelle Obama about her mother's fear.

Discussion: FrumForum, Don Surber and Suburban Guerrilla

Oscar Avila / Chicago Tribune:

Immigration crackdown for Illinois — Feds to step up enforcement — In the midst of an outcry over illegal immigration and Arizona's new crackdown, a top Department of Homeland Security official visiting Chicago on Wednesday said his agency intended to step up enforcement in places such as Illinois.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Hot Air

Ed O'Keefe / Federal Eye:

Mother of student who questioned Michelle Obama will not face action — Your Browser DoesNot Support IFrames. — The mother of a Maryland second-grader who questioned First Lady Michelle Obama about the Obama administration's immigration policy will not be deported, federal officials said Thursday.

Discussion: Gothamist, Politics Daily, Beltway Confidential, Washington Post and Immigration Chronicles

Glenn Thrush / The Politico:

Gibbs mum on Sestak job offer — Don't ask the White House if Obama aides tried to force Joe Sestak out of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary by offering him a job. They are keeping mum on the controversy. — Press Secretary Robert Gibbs deflected a barrage of questions about reports …

Discussion: Associated Press, Weekly Standard, CBS News, Right Now and Beltway Confidential

Sam Youngman / The Hill: Gibbs mum about Sestak's job offer

Lois Romano / Washington Post:
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate hopeful Sestak goes against the grain

Discussion: CNSNews, DownWithTyranny!, NewsBusters.org and Weekly Standard

The Huffington Post:

Wall Street Power Play: Bankers In Bizarre Showdown With Auto Dealers — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — Wall Street has found itself battling auto dealers in a last-ditch effort to block an amendment opposed by big banks from coming to the Senate floor. The bank lobbyists are working to persuade …

Discussion: Firedoglake

Annie Lowrey / The Washington Independent:
What Happens Next to the FinReg Bill?

Discussion: Ezra Klein, Open Left and Firedoglake

Victoria Gill / BBC:

Scientists make ‘artificial life’ — The synthetic cell looks identical to the “wild type” — Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell. — The researchers constructed a bacterium's “genetic software” and transplanted it into a host cell.

Discussion: Don Surber and Truthdig

JCVI: First Self-Replicating Synthetic Bacterial Cell

WDSU-TV:

Fishermen Report Illness From BP Chemicals — Toxicologist Says Chemicals Harmful, Can Lead To Death — LAFITTE, La. — More and more stories about sick fishermen are beginning to surface after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. — The fishermen are working out in the Gulf …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars