memeorandum: Consumers' electric bills likely to spike as coal plants close (Julie Wernau/Chicago Tribune)

11:05 PM ET, June 12, 2011

Top Items:

Alison Gendar / NY Daily News:

Rep. Anthony Weiner finally considering he may have to resign amid sexting scandal, says source — WASHINGTON - As a cache of embarrassing new photos appeared Sunday, Rep. Anthony Weiner finally began considering the possibility that he may have to resign. — A source close to the congressman told …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Mediaite, Weasel Zippers, Runnin' Scared, The Gateway Pundit and JammieWearingFool

TMZ.com:

Rep. Weiner Used Congressional Gym As Backdrop — Rep. Anthony Weiner took numerous photos of himself — clothed and partially nude — at the House Members Gym and sent them to at least one woman ... raising questions about whether he used Congressional resources in his online exploits.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, Big Government, YID With LID, iOwnTheWorld.com, Washington Wire, The Gateway Pundit, The Hill, Gothamist, Runnin' Scared, AmSpecBlog, Gawker, The Other McCain, American Power, The Moderate Voice, Riehl World View, Althouse and The Lonely Conservative

The Politico:

More Anthony Weiner photos surface online — Rep. Anthony Weiner took several pictures of himself grabbing his privates, part of a new batch of embarrassing photos that surfaced online Sunday morning. — The gossip website TMZ.com posted 11 photos it claimed were taken in the House member's gym …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Outside the Beltway, CNN, American Power, Ben Smith's Blog and FrumForum

Lucy Madison / CBS News:
Ryan, Hoyer call for Weiner's resignation

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and Patterico's Pontifications

Fox News:
Weiner Opts for Treatment as New Self Portraits Emerge

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers, Power Line, Fox Nation and The Daily Caller

Melissa Bell / Washington Post:

‘A Gay Girl in Damascus’ comes clean — In recent days, the world has followed closely the saga of Amina Araff, the blogger who presented herself online as “A Gay Girl in Damascus” and who drew attention with her passionate writings about the Syrian government's crackdown on Arab Spring protesters.

Discussion: The Jawa Report, msnbc.com, The Other McCain, Towleroad News #gay and Boing Boing, more at Mediagazer »

Amina A. / A Gay Girl in Damascus:

Apology to readers — I never expected this level of attention. While the narrative voce may have been fictional, the facts on ths blog are true and not msleading as to the situation on the ground. I do not believe that I have harmed anyone — I feel that I have created an important voice for issues that I feel strongly about.

Discussion: Gawker, The Raw Story, The Daily Dish and iOwnTheWorld.com

Esther Addley / Guardian:

Syrian lesbian blogger is revealed conclusively to be a married man — Tom MacMaster's wife has confirmed in an email to the Guardian that he is the real identity behind the Gay Girl in Damascus blog — The mysterious identity of a young Arab lesbian blogger who was apparently kidnapped …

Discussion: Harry's Place and New York Magazine

The Atlantic Online:

Open, and Revolting, Anti-Obama Racism at Fox — This is psychologically fascinating: The mind of Fox Business host Eric Bolling, when confronted with images of President Obama meeting with Gabon's president, Ali Bongo, instantly recalls other black people who have met with President Obama …

Discussion: Mediaite and Runnin' Scared

Brian Clark Howard / Daily Mail:

‘Trig will be a joy’: Sarah Palin plays God in touching email about her unborn son's Down's Syndrome — Sarah Palin ‘played God’ in a deeply touching email she wrote two weeks before her fifth child, Trig, was born with Down's Syndrome, it was revealed today.

Discussion: No Sheeples Here, UrbanGrounds, The Gateway Pundit, iOwnTheWorld.com, JammieWearingFool, Balloon Juice and The Politico

Aljazeera:

Syrian army ‘cracking’ amid crackdown — Testimonies from defected soldiers give a dramatic insight into the split apparently emerging in the security forces. — The escalating military offensive in northwest Syria began after what corroborating accounts said was a shoot-out between members …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, AMERICAblog News and Guardian

New York Times:
Syrian Troops Retake Control of Rebellious Town in North

Discussion: Pajamas Media, New York Magazine and Harry's Place

BBC: Syrian unrest: Army in control of Jisr al-Shughour

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:

Obama bullies Israel; so much for promises at AIPAC — Since the president's Arab Spring speech, friends of Israel have been nervous about at least two issues: the promise Israel would not have to sit down with those who seek its destruction and the negotiations based on the “1967 borders with land swaps.”

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Doug Ross, YID With LID, americanthinker.com, Little Green Footballs and The Lonely Conservative

Paul Krugman:

It's the Health Care Costs, Stupid — I've already written about Joe Lieberman's very bad, no good idea of raising the Medicare eligibility age. Austin Frakt and Aaron Carroll show that it's even worse than I thought: Americans near 65 who don't have good health insurance delay needed treatment …

Discussion: PERRspectives, ThinkProgress, Hullabaloo and Firedoglake

Julie Wernau / Chicago Tribune:

Consumers' electric bills likely to spike as coal plants close — As stricter environmental regulations approach, some power generators are choosing to shutter their coal-fired plants. — Consumers could see their electricity bills jump an estimated 40 to 60 percent in the next few years.

Discussion: Hot Air, Chicago Boyz, Weasel Zippers, Conservatives4Palin, The Lonely Conservative and americanthinker.com

John Tierney / New York Times:

For the Executive With Everything, a $230,000 Dog to Protect It — MINNEAPOLIS — Don't call her a guard dog. — When she costs $230,000, as Julia did, the preferred title is “executive protection dog.” This 3-year-old German shepherd, who commutes by private jet between a Minnesota estate …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog

insideBayArea:

East Bay Doomsayer Harold Camping suffers stroke — ALAMEDA — Harold Camping, the Doomsday radio preacher who sparked international media attention by predicting the end of the world last month, has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke at his Alameda home Thursday night.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Gothamist

Associated Press:

Gabrielle Giffords photographs released — PHOENIX — Two photos of a smiling Rep. Gabrielle Giffords were released early Sunday by her office, her hair shorn short but few other telling signs of her gunshot wound to the head. — The Facebook photos, the first clear snapshots of Giffords since …

Discussion: Scared Monkeys, Runnin' Scared, Crooks and Liars, Balloon Juice, Guardian and New York Magazine

Brad Knickerbocker / Christian Science Monitor:
Gabrielle Giffords photos inspire friends and strangers alike

Discussion: Wake up America

Gary Langer / ABCNEWS:

GOP Voting Factors: Look Out for Marital Infidelity — Mitt Romney's religion is far less of a concern to potential Republican voters than it once was, and a candidate's race or sex are non-issues for vast majorities. But if a GOP contender supports gay civil unions — or has committed marital infidelity — all bets are off.

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly: GOPers weigh in on candidate attributes

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:

Pawlenty takes a swing at ‘Obamneycare’ — (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty stepped up his attacks on Mitt Romney Sunday, labeling the current health care law “Obamneycare” for its similarities to the plan instituted in Massachusetts while Romney was governor.

Discussion: Pajamas Media, Ben Smith's Blog and The Note