memeorandum: White House credits higher approval ratings to lame-duck success (Sam Youngman/The Hill)

3:10 PM ET, January 24, 2011

Top Items:

Abdon M. Pallasch / Chicago Sun Times:

Rahm Emanuel booted off ballot in 2-1 Appellate Court decision — Rahm Emanuel was thrown off the ballot for mayor of Chicago today by an appellate court panel, a stunning blow to the fund-raising leader in the race. — An appellate panel ruled 2-1 that Emanuel did not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.

Discussion: Hot Air, Talking Points Memo, Ben Smith's Blog, msnbc.com, Sky Dancing, Big Government, The Page, Little Green Footballs, Raw Story, Publius Forum, The Daily Caller, TPMDC, theblogprof, Runnin' Scared, The Impolitic, Pajamas Media and Wonkette

Adam Harrington / CBS Chicago:

Court Tosses Rahm Emanuel Off Chicago Mayoral Ballot — CHICAGO (CBS) - The Illinois Appellate Court has tossed mayoral frontrunner Rahm Emanuel off the ballot, reversing the decision of a lower court. — The Appellate Court reached a 2-1 decision to remove Emanuel.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Outside the Beltway, Patterico's Pontifications and HotAirPundit

Kristen Mack / Chicago Tribune:

Court orders Emanuel off mayoral ballot — Rahm Emanuel should not appear on the Feb. 22 mayoral ballot, according to a ruling issued by a state appellate court today. — In a 2-1 ruling, the appellate panel said Emanuel does not meet the residency requirement of having lived in Chicago for a year prior to the election.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Law Blog and Taegan Goddard's …

Lauren Etter / Wall Street Journal:

Emanuel Removed From Chicago Ballot — CHICAGO—An appeals court said Rahm Emanuel is not allowed to stay on Chicago's mayoral ballot, a blow to the former White House chief of staff who has already raised more than $10 million in his bid for mayor. — The three-judge Illinois Appellate Court …

Discussion: The Jawa Report, Shot in the Dark and Pajamas Media

Daniel Strauss / The Hill:
Emanuel booted off Chicago ballot

Discussion: The Note

Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Rahm Emanuel booted off Chicago mayoral ballot

Discussion: Liberty Pundits Blog

Monica Davey / The Caucus: Court Says Rahm Emanuel Not Eligible to Run for Mayor

Lynn Sweet / Politics Daily:
Rahm Emanuel Tossed Off Chicago Mayoral Ballot; Case Heads to Illinois Supreme Court

Discussion: AOL News

Aharding / CNN: BREAKING: Emanuel appeal expected before close of business

BBC:

Domodedovo blast: Explosion rocks Moscow's main airport — Moscow's Domodedovo airport - the busiest in the Russian capital - has been rocked by an explosion that has reportedly killed 31 people. — More than 100 more are thought to have been injured in the blast, which reports suggest may have been the work of a suicide bomber.

Discussion: Hot Air, rt.com, Washington Post, Guardian, This Just In, Firedoglake, AOL News, HillBuzz.org, The Jawa Report, Outside the Beltway, Sister Toldjah, New York Magazine, Balloon Juice, Shakesville, Pajamas Media, FrumForum and The Awl

New York Times:

Deadly Blast Strikes in Moscow's Main Airport — MOSCOW — An explosion rocked an international terminal of Moscow's busiest airport on Monday afternoon. There were conflicting reports on the number of dead and injured, but the toll appeared to be rising rapidly.

Discussion: Danger Room, RIA Novosti, The Lede, msnbc.com, Atlas Shrugs, The Daily Beast, Outside the Beltway, AOL News, The Atlantic Online, Israel Matzav, New Atlanticist, Eschaton and Sweetness & Light

Amie Ferris-Rotman / Reuters:

Suicide bomber kills 31 at Russian airport: reports — (Reuters) - At least 31 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Monday in a suicide bombing at Russia's biggest airport, Russian news agencies reported. — Russia's ruble-dominated stock market MICEX fell by nearly …

Discussion: Associated Press, Guardian, The Jawa Report, CNN, The Gateway Pundit, Michelle Malkin, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, Patterico's Pontifications, Pajamas Media, The Other McCain, The Agonist and newsfeed.time.com

John Heilemann / New York Magazine:

The West Wing, Season II — Almost overnight, Barack Obama overhauled his White House and rewrote much of the script. Now all he needs is a happy ending. — David Axelrod awoke at three in the morning and checked his BlackBerry. It was January 12, a few hours before Barack Obama …

Discussion: Firedoglake, The Wire, Ezra Klein, Marbury, Booman Tribune, Ben Smith's Blog, Hot Air and TPMDC

Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Obama's transformation culminates in State of the Union

Discussion: Reuters, CNN, Washington Post, Prairie Weather and AMERICAblog News

Emily Friedman / ABCNEWS:
Vampire for President? …

Discussion: Mediaite

Javier Manjarres / The Shark Tank:

Senator Rubio Questions Need for the Senate Tea Party Caucus (VIDEO) — During my recent interview with Senator Marco Rubio, he addressed the growing speculation concerning whether or not he would join the newly formed Senate Tea Party Caucus. Many of Rubio's supporters and Tea Party leaders …

Discussion: Cubachi, CNN, The Daily Caller, license.icopyright.net, USA Today, Fox Nation, Hotline On Call and Liberty Pundits Blog

Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Tea time for Antonin Scalia

Discussion: Raw Story, Althouse, CNN, RedState, Weigel, The Caucus, Law Blog and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Rubio casts doubt on Tea Party Caucus

Discussion: Commentary and FrumForum

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:

19 days in, GOP leadership takes credit for job growth — It took less than three weeks for the new Republican Congressional leadership to claim credit for an apparent economic upturn. — An aide to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Brian Patrick, emailed reporters this morning:

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Weigel, Dow Jones Newswires, Hullabaloo, Daily Kos, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway, TPMDC and AMERICAblog News

Rep. Jan Schakowsky / The Huffington Post:
A Frightening “Roadmap” …

Discussion: The Hill

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly: GOP SCRAMBLES FOR CREDIT ON ECONOMY.... A couple of news items …

Barack Obama / USA Today:

Reagan saw that ‘we are all patriots’ — Ronald Wilson Reagan was a believer. As a husband, a father, an entertainer, a governor and a president, he recognized that each of us has the power — as individuals and as a nation — to shape our own destiny. He had faith in the American promise …

Discussion: CNN, Liberty Pundits Blog, Weasel Zippers, The Politico and Pajamas Media

Aharding / CNN:

CNN Poll: Obama approval up to 55%, but still under 50% on economy — Washington (CNN) - On the eve of his State of the Union address, Barack Obama's approval rating is at its highest level in more than a year, according to a new national poll. — Full results (pdf)

Discussion: The Politico, The Political Carnival, Fox Nation and The Hill

Shane D'Aprile / Ballot Box:
N.J. Gov. Christie says ‘no’ to State of the Union response

Discussion: Politics Daily, The Politico, YID With LID, Hot Air, Outside the Beltway and FrumForum

Fred Lucas / CNSNews:

Three SEIU Locals—Including Chicago Chapter—Waived From Obamacare Requirement — (CNSNews.com) - Three local chapters of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), whose political action committee spent $27 million supporting Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election …

Discussion: The Hill, Weasel Zippers, HillBuzz.org, Michelle Malkin, Don Surber, The Gateway Pundit and The Politico

Sean J. Miller / Ballot Box:

Liberals trying to draft Keith Olbermann for Joe Lieberman's Senate seat — Liberals want Keith Olbermann to run for retiring Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Conn.) seat. — The ploy to coax the former MSNBC host into the Democratic Senate primary was hatched by activists attending a conference in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

Discussion: New York Post, Outside the Beltway, USA Today and FrumForum

Stranded Wind / Daily Kos:
Senator Keith Olbermann

Discussion: Mediaite, The Daily Caller, iOwnTheWorld.com, USA Today, Weasel Zippers, Wonkette and Capitol Watch

Shane D'Aprile / Ballot Box:

George Allen claims 'it's time for an American comeback' — Former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) officially began his effort to win back his old Senate seat, announcing his campaign Monday in an email and video message to supporters. — In a nearly three minute announcement video posted on Allen's website …

Discussion: CNN

Erick Erickson / RedState:
George Allen's Problem

Discussion: Virginia Politics Blog, Ballot Box, Hotline On Call and TPMDC

Gretchen Morgenson / New York Times:

Mortgage Giants Leave Legal Bills to the Taxpayers — Since the government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, taxpayers have spent more than $160 million defending the mortgage finance companies and their former top executives in civil lawsuits accusing them of fraud.

Discussion: The Foundry, The Atlantic Online, Sweetness & Light, ThinkProgress, New York Magazine and FrumForum

New York Times:

Olbermann Split Came After Years of Tension — MSNBC never had any doubt about what it was getting when it made Keith Olbermann the face of the network in 2003: a highly talented broadcaster, a distinctive and outspoken voice and a mercurial personality with a track record of attacking his superiors and making early exits.

Discussion: Mediaite, Company Town, Runnin' Scared, Raw Story, AOL News, Indecision Forever, Shakesville and George's Bottom Line, more at Mediagazer »

David Catanese / The Politico:

Rendell to MSNBC, declares Casey “unassailable” — One of the country's most plain-spoken, media-friendly politicians is about to get paid for his punditry. — Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is close to signing a deal with MSNBC to become a regular political contributor for the 2012 campaign cycle, POLITICO has learned.

Discussion: Washington Wire, NewsBusters.org blogs, New York Magazine, PoliticsPA and Mediaite

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

The Competition Myth — Meet the new buzzword, same as the old buzzword. In advance of the State of the Union, President Obama has telegraphed his main theme: competitiveness. The President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board has been renamed the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.