memeorandum: CRIST AND HANDPICKED PARTY CHAIR FACE HEAT FOR LAVISH “INAPPROPRIATE” … (The DSCC)

9:40 PM ET, September 18, 2010

Top Items:

Christine O'Donnell In Oct. 1999: ‘I Dabbled Into Witchcraft’ — Before she stole the hearts of tea party activists, Delaware GOP Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell was best known for her regular and bizarre punditry on 22 different episodes of Politically Incorrect.

John / Power Line:

Christine O'Donnell's Career, RIP — Christine O'Donnell's campaign went off the rails today when Bill Maher announced that he has previously-unseen clips of O'Donnell from the late 1990s when she appeared several times on his show. In one clip, she says that she once “dabbled into witchcraft.”

Discussion: Political Byline, American Power, Riehl World View and Pajamas Media

Faiz Shakir / Think Progress:

Following Revelation Of ‘Witchcraft’ Comment, O'Donnell Cancels Sunday Show Appearances — As ThinkProgress reported, last night on his HBO show, Bill Maher aired a clip from an Oct. 29, 1999 show of Politically Incorrect, in which Republican senate candidate Christine O'Donnell revealed that she “dabbled into witchcraft.”

Discussion: New York Magazine and Joe. My. God.

Matt DeLong / Washington Post:

Christine O'Donnell in 1999: ‘I dabbled into witchcraft’ — The story of Christine O'Donnell's past got a little stranger Friday. Bill Maher — on whose former show, “Politically Incorrect,” O'Donnell appeared repeatedly in the late 1990s — showed a previously unaired clip from Oct. 29 …

Discussion: CNN, The Impolitic, Ruby Slippers, The Page, TPMDC and Polifrog Blog

Nafeesa Syeed / Associated Press:

Senate hopeful O'Donnell cancels national TV spots — WASHINGTON - Tea party favorite Christine O'Donnell, whose Republican primary upset in Delaware's Senate race shocked the GOP, canceled appearances Sunday on two national news shows. — O'Donnell had been set to appear on “Face the Nation” on CBS and “Fox News Sunday.”

Discussion: Ballot Box, The Hill, Washington Monthly and TPMDC

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:

O'Donnell cancels “Face the Nation” appearance — Delaware GOP Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell has backed out of an appearance tomorrow on CBS's “Face the Nation” with no explanation to the network. — “They just emailed us and said she needed to cancel,” said Mary Hager, “Face the Nation's,” senior producer.

Discussion: Mediaite, Crooks and Liars, The Huffington Post, TVNewser, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Outside the Beltway

Patterico's Pontifications:

Christine O'Donnell in 1999: I Dabbled in Witchcraft — Oh, come on. She was young: — You think any of this might show up in a campaign commercial? … I also like the bit about how she wouldn't lie to the Nazis at the front door to save Anne Frank.

Discussion: Doug Ross

Jeff G. / protein wisdom:
Wow. — No, really, wow. — Christine O'Donnell's candidacy …

Discussion: Riehl World View, Bookworm Room, NewsReal Blog and Doug Ross

Noel Sheppard / NewsBusters.org:
Bill Maher: Obama Would Be A Better President ‘If He Was Fully Black’

Discussion: The Other McCain, Political Byline and Gateway Pundit

Taegan Goddard's Political Wire:
O'Donnell Said She Practiced Witchcraft

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Des Moines Register:

Reaction to Sarah Palin speech by Iowa Republican activists — Should former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin decide to make a presidential bid, Iowa Republicans voting in the leadoff caucuses would have the opportunity to give her candidacy a major boost or a setback. Here are reactions from key activists after her speech Friday night.

TEApublican / The Iowa Republican: Sarah Palin Shines in Iowa Foreshadowing of 2012 Return

Kasie Hunt / The Politico:

Newt Gingrich: Force Kathleen Sebelius out — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Saturday said Republicans should try to oust Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius because she was acting “in the spirit of the Soviet tyranny” and represents “left-wing thought police.”

Discussion: TPMDC, Think Progress and Raw Story

CNN:

Pence wins Values Voter straw poll — Indiana Rep. Mike Pence is the winner of a presidential straw poll among socially conservative voters Saturday. — (CNN) - With 24 percent of the vote, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence was the winner Saturday of the fifth annual Values Voter straw poll …

Discussion: The Politico

CNN:
Gingrich blasts Democratic establishment at annual summit

Discussion: Politics Daily and Ballot Box

Roxana Tiron / Ballot Box: Gingrich to activists: ‘Establishment is in such a state of shock’

Michael O'Hare / The Reality-Based Community:

The whining of the rich — Through Glenn Reynolds, whither I wandered because of Mark's post about something else entirely, I came upon this truly amazing pasticcio of mendacity, ignorance, and small-minded cupidity. It's worth a close look because the author is a law professor …

Discussion: Grasping Reality …, Economist's View and Hullabaloo

Pundits Blog:

Blogger face-off: The biggest liabilities for both parties headed toward midterms — The Hill invites two established bloggers from either side of the political spectrum to sound off on a designated topic in original commentary each Saturday. This week, bloggers were asked what the greatest liability …

Discussion: Riehl World View

Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Americans Renew Call for Third Party

Discussion: The Hill, Instapundit, The Moderate Voice and Politics Daily

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
What ‘Republican establishment’ is the Tea Party rattling?

Discussion: Mediaite, The Mahablog, Daily Kos, PostPartisan and USA Today

Matt Lewis / Politics Daily:

RedState's Erick Erickson Promises Retribution on Lobbyists Who Back Lisa Murkowski … More than 200 conservative bloggers who convened in Austin, Texas for the second annual ‘Red State Gathering’ on Saturday came close to eavesdropping on a conference with lobbyists that was supposed to be held by Senator Lisa Merkowski (R-AK).

Discussion: TRAIL BLAZERS, Hot Air, Pajamas Media and Liberty Pundits Blog

Nicholas Riccardi / Los Angeles Times:

Internal memo accuses Sheriff Arpaio's department of wrongdoing — The Arizona lawman's No. 2 man and other top officials are accused of using the anti-corruption unit to conduct politically motivated investigations and to surveil campaign rivals. — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio received a 63-page memo from a deputy chief.

Discussion: Raw Story, Feathered Bastard, skippy the bush kangaroo and Truthdig