memeorandum: 2 Top Candidates Skip G.O.P. Rally (Adam Nagourney/New York Times)

3:30 AM ET, October 17, 2010

Top Items:

Democrats Retrench as GOP Pulls Away — Democratic strategists acknowledged they are abandoning a dozen House seats the party now holds, as they try to salvage their majority in the chamber by shoring up candidates with better chances. — With Republicans expanding their advertising …

Discussion: Human Events, Gateway Pundit, blogs.telegraph.co.uk, The Caucus, Wake up America, Pajamas Media, FrumForum, FiveThirtyEight and American Power

Alex Isenstadt / The Politico:

GOP cash flow threatens to swamp Dems — It doesn't pay to be a Democratic incumbent in 2010. — House and Senate Democrats — all the way up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — are being outraised by GOP rivals as the cash follows the momentum.

Katharine Q. Seelye / New York Times:
For Some Embattled Democrats, a Campaign Against Their Leader

Discussion: The Page, Outside the Beltway and Prairie Weather

Kasie Hunt / The Politico: GOP longshot outraises Pelosi

Julie Pace / Associated Press:
Obama: End tax breaks to stop overseas hiring

Discussion: Politics Daily, Power Line and The Hill

Alex Isenstadt / The Politico:
GOP challengers outraise 40-plus House Democrats

Discussion: CNN and National Review

BBC:

Merkel says German multicultural society has failed — Angela Merkel said Germany had “kidded itself” multiculturalism was working — Attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have “utterly failed”, Chancellor Angela Merkel says. — In a speech in Potsdam, she said the so-called …

Discussion: ParaPundit, Atlas Shrugs, Booman Tribune, Don Surber, National Review and Gateway Pundit

Abby Phillip / The Politico:

Fired up? Not so much — If President Barack Obama needed any more reminders that it's not 2008, he got another one Thursday night in a town hall with young voters. — Back when he was a candidate, Obama inspired legions of young people who responded to his message of hope …

Discussion: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Carol E. Lee / The Politico:

President Obama: ‘Fear and frustration’ drive voters — BOSTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday blamed Americans' “fear and frustration” for the fierce, negative, anything-goes midterm election cycle that threatens to upend his agenda. — “Part of the reason that our politics seems …

Discussion: Power Line and Weasel Zippers

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Obama stumps in Massachusetts

Discussion: Da Techguy's Blog, The Other McCain and The Politico

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

2 Top Candidates Skip G.O.P. Rally — ANAHEIM, Calif. — What if you held a voter turnout rally and the top candidates on the ballot didn't show up? — Michael Steele, the Republican National Committee chairman, and Sarah Palin, arguably the biggest draw in the Republican Party …

Discussion: Orange County Register, The Politico, Mother Jones, American Power and Outside the Beltway

Maeve Reston / PolitiCal:

At Fiorina event, McCain doesn't hide disdain for Boxer — she's ‘bitterly partisan’ and ‘anti-defense’ — Former Republican presidential contender John McCain reunited with his onetime advisor Carly Fiorina on the campaign trail Saturday in San Diego, offering a blistering indictment …

Discussion: Ballot Box and Weasel Zippers

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

You've Gotta See This Ad — Jack Conway's trailing Rand Paul down in Kentucky. But he's not out of it yet. And there are some signs he's starting to turn the corner. (The current TPM Poll Average is Paul 46.9%, Conway 41.7%.) But this ad ... man, this ad. Whew.

Discussion: CNN, Weekly Standard, Gawker, Ben Smith's Blog, Zandar Versus The Stupid and Riehl World View

CNN:

Barbara Billingsley of ‘Leave it to Beaver’ fame dies — (CNN) — Barbara Billingsley, who wore a classy pearl necklace and dispensed pearls of wisdom as America's quintessential mom on “Leave it to Beaver,” has died at age 94, a family spokeswoman said Saturday.

Discussion: Left Coast Rebel, The Moderate Voice and Suburban Guerrilla

Peter Berkowitz / Wall Street Journal:

Why Liberals Don't Get the Tea Party Movement — Our universities haven't taught much political history for decades. No wonder so many progressives have disdain for the principles that animated the Federalist debates. — Highly educated people say the darndest things, these days particularly about the tea party movement.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, sisu, American Power and Zandar Versus The Stupid

New York Times:

Don't Stay the 'Don't Ask' Ruling — The Obama administration has conjured up some inflated fears to justify its decision to appeal an injunction that brought a screeching halt to investigations and discharges of gay men and women serving in the military. — To hear the administration tell it …

Discussion: Pam's House Blend

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Playing All the Angles — As I sat above the Hoover Dam under the broiling sun, I was getting jittery. — There was Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, speaking at the dedication of a bridge linking Arizona and Nevada 890 feet above the Colorado River. — As the politicians droned …

Discussion: Riehl World View

Sig Christenson / Agence France Presse:

Fort Hood soldier ordered to delete video of rampage — FORT HOOD, Texas — A US soldier who captured a deadly 2009 rampage at Fort Hood with his cell phone camera testified Friday that he was ordered to erase the video by his commanders. — The video could have provided key evidence …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Balloon Juice