memeorandum: Levin: Stephanopoulos Is Foolish in Lecturing Bachmann (Jeffrey Lord/AmSpecBlog)

7:35 PM ET, June 28, 2011

Top Items:

George Stephanopoulos / George's Bottom Line:

John Quincy Adams a Founding Father? Michele Bachmann Says Yes — On the heels of her official entry into the Presidential campaign in Iowa yesterday, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann came to “GMA” today. I gave her the opportunity to clear up some of her past statements that caused Chris Wallace …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, The Note, Don Surber, Washington Monthly, Betsy's Page, AmSpecBlog, Top of the Ticket, Daily Kos, New York Magazine, Outside the Beltway, American Power, Wonkette, Taegan Goddard's …, Hullabaloo, National Review and blogs.abcnews.com

Des Moines Register:

Bachmann is so not ready for presidency, but Pawlenty has the judgment and skills — In early 2012, Iowans in all 99 counties will bundle up, brave the cold night air, and join neighbors and fellow Republicans in casting their vote for the next president of the United States.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Washington Post, CNN, Ballot Box, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway, Feministing, ThinkProgress, Washington Wire, GOP 12, FrumForum and Daily Kos

Mark Levin / Facebook:

George Stephanopolous: Flake — George Stephanopolous has revealed his own flakiness and ignorance in his effort to pile on Michele Bachmann. No, John Quincy Adams was not a founding father. He was John Adams' son. So, if she makes another 1,000 misstatements, only then will she come close …

Discussion: Fox News, Don Surber and Riehl World View

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:

More Bachmann Surge — We've never found her leading one of our state polls until now but Michele Bachmann's been on fire for the last two weeks and we find her at the top of the GOP field in both Oregon and Montana when Sarah Palin's not included. That's just more indication that if Palin ends …

Discussion: Weigel, The New Republic, Daily Kos, Conservatives4Palin, GOP 12 and Outside the Beltway

Jeffrey Lord / AmSpecBlog:

Levin: Stephanopoulos Is Foolish in Lecturing Bachmann — Sigh. — You'd think liberals would learn. — Of course not. — George Stephanopoulos made the mistake of going after Michele Bachmann on history — and promptly proceeded to get his history foolishly wrong. Said George:

Discussion: Moe Lane, National Review and Roger Ailes

Tanya Somanader / ThinkProgress:

John Quincy Adams Wikipedia Page Edited To Describe Him As A ‘Founding Father’ — GOP presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann is now getting the Sarah Palin treatment on Wikipedia. In light of Bachmann's latest historical hiccup, people are trying to edit John Quincy Adam's Wikipedia page to reflect her recent gaffe.

Discussion: The Daily Dish and Prairie Weather

The Politico:

Michele Bachmann's thin legislative résumé — Rep. Michele Bachmann is surging in the GOP presidential polls and barnstorming Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, but as she sprints toward the front of the Republican pack, there's a major hole in her political résumé: legislation.

Discussion: New York Times, JustOneMinute, Taylor Marsh, Verum Serum, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Hot Air, Outside the Beltway, The TrogloPundit, CNN, Weigel, The Brody File, Pirate's Cove, The Moderate Voice, msnbc.com, JammieWearingFool and Smart Politics

Reid J. Epstein / The Politico:

N.Y. town clerk: I won't sign gay wedding license — New York's gay weddings victory lap has not extended to all parts of the Empire State, with a rural town clerk determined to not sign any same-sex marriage licenses. — Barbara MacEwen, the town clerk in upstate Volney who is responsible …

Discussion: An Enduring Vision, Daily Kos, Balloon Juice, The Daily Caller and City Room

Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Michelle Obama denies supporting gay marriage

Discussion: The Huffington Post, AMERICAblog Gay and Towleroad News #gay

Christian Schneider / National Review:

More Details Emerge in Wisconsin's ‘Chokegate’ — With the Wisconsin Supreme Court devolving into a storyline only Vince McMahon could love, rumors are still swirling about what actually happened when two justices engaged in a physical confrontation behind closed doors on June 13.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, The Atlantic Online, JSOnline, No Runny Eggs, Hot Air, Althouse, Pajamas Media and The Volokh Conspiracy

CNN:

Bombers attack luxury hotel in Kabul — Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — A group of people using bombs and small arms attacked the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul Tuesday, and fighting was ongoing with Afghan security forces, Chief of Criminal Investigation Mohammed Zahir told CNN.

Discussion: Hot Air, Aljazeera, The Long War Journal, The Moderate Voice, ABCNEWS, FP Passport, Pajamas Media, msnbc.com, Taylor Marsh and Patterico's Pontifications

Alissa J. Rubin / New York Times:
Group of Attackers Storms Hotel in Afghan Capital

Discussion: Guardian, Sky Dancing, Atlas Shrugs and FrumForum

Fox News:
Afghanistan's Intercontinental Hotel Under Attack by Suicide Bombers

Discussion: The Jawa Report, Weasel Zippers, National Review and Jihad Watch

Walter Russell Mead / Via Meadia:

The Failure of Al Gore: Part Deux — That Al Gore's definitive statement on the crisis of the climate change movement appeared in the back pages of Rolling Stone magazine rather than in a more prominent and prestigious location is one sign of the decline in his reputation.

Discussion: Maggie's Farm, Guardian, AMERICAN DIGEST, Instapundit and Transterrestrial Musings

New York Post:
Al Gore's next crusade: in your bed

Discussion: National Review

David Edwards / The Raw Story:

Tom Petty reportedly issuing cease and desist letter to Bachmann — Tom Petty may be taking legal action to make sure Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann stops using his songs at her campaign events. — “NBC News: @TomPetty unhappy with Michele Bachmann's use of 'American Girl …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, NewsBusters.org blogs, Pam's House Blend, Gawker and TPMDC

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Petty's heartbreaker for Bachmann

Discussion: GOP 12 and New York Magazine

Bryan Preston / Pajamas Media:

Stephanopolous to Bachmann: We'll investigate your foster kids — Proving what the clear-eyed could already see: If you're a Republican, the media will hound you for every last scrap of anything, no matter how unfair or trivial. … George Stephanopolous was deep in the Clinton administration …

Discussion: Pundit Press and Simply Left BehindThe …

Brobinson / Fox Nation:
Stephanopoulos Tries Savaging Bachmann

Discussion: Don Surber and Pajamas Media

Jon Bershad / Mediaite:

Tearful Glenn Beck Describes How He And His Family Were Attacked In New York Park — “These people were some of the most hateful people I have ever seen,” said a distraught Glenn Beck this morning as he described an altercation he and his family had last night while watching a screening …

Discussion: Gawker, Speakeasy, Wonkette, Gothamist, New York Magazine and iOwnTheWorld.com

Lee Fang / ThinkProgress:

Herman Cain: 'I Don't Think The Current Minimum Wage Is Necessary' — ThinkProgress filed this report from Story City, IA. — Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain likes to cast himself as the only GOP presidential contender who has not held public office.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Washington Post and Booman Tribune

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
The Morning Plum — * Michele Bachmann says we should look …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Daily Kos and Taylor Marsh

The Daily Beast:

Obama Gun-Sting Breakthrough — Thanks to a clever bipartisan deal, embattled ATF chief Kenneth Melson will testify before Congress about his role in the bungled Fast and Furious gun sting—possibly revealing who on Obama's team was in on the scheme. — The head of the embattled federal agency …

Discussion: Pajamas Media, Sister Toldjah and NewsBusters.org blogs

Bob Owens / Pajamas Media:
Gunwalker: What Will Happen When Ken Melson Testifies?

Discussion: Hot Air

Karen Spears Zacharias / CNN:

“Go the F*** to Sleep” not funny — Editor's note: Karen Spears Zacharias is the author of the forthcoming memoir, “The Shelter of Mockingbirds: The Murder of 3-Year-Old Karly Sheehan.” Follow her on Twitter. — (CNN) — “Go the F*** to Sleep” is being hailed as a cathartic children's book for parents.

Discussion: This Just In, Outside the Beltway, Feministe, Deadspin, Hit & Run, Gawker, The Awl and Unfogged

Frank Newport / Gallup:

Bachmann in Strong Position as She Enters 2012 Race — Bachmann's name recognition is 69%, with highest Positive Intensity Score — PRINCETON, NJ — Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who formally announced her presidential candidacy Monday in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa …

Discussion: Daily Kos, CNN, GOP 12 and Weigel

Reuters:

Special Report: A little house of secrets on the Great Plains — (Reuters) - The secretive business havens of Cyprus and the Cayman Islands face a potent rival: Cheyenne, Wyoming. — At a single address in this sleepy city of 60,000 people, more than 2,000 companies are registered.

Discussion: naked capitalism and War in Context

timpawlenty.com:

“No Retreat From Freedom's Rise” Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Remarks at Council on Foreign Relations — I want to speak plainly this morning about the opportunities and the dangers we face today in the Middle East. The revolutions now roiling that region offer the promise of a more democratic, more open, and a more prosperous Arab world.

David Frum / FrumForum:

Obama is His Own Worst Enemy — David Brooks wrote a perceptive column today about the deficiencies in President Obama's leadership style. — He can expect a barrage of negative comment from conservatives who will reject Brooks' criticisms as insufficiently spicy.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, New York Times, Grasping Reality …, Booman Tribune and Prairie Weather

Katherine T. Phan / Christian News, The Christian Post:

Diaz, Lone Democrat Who Voted ‘No’ on Gay Marriage Bill, Reflects on Defeat — NEW YORK - Bronx state Senator Ruben Diaz, the lone Democrat to vote against the landmark gay marriage bill in New York, reflected on the defeat Monday, saying Christians need to organize better against gay marriage …

Discussion: Runnin' Scared, Towleroad News #gay and Joe. My. God.

sana.sy:

Kucinich: There Are Some Who Want to Give a Wrong Picture about Syria — DAMASCUS, (SANA)- U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich called on international media not to engage in exaggerating the events in Syria and jumping to conclusions without talking to people and listening to what they want.

Discussion: FP Passport, AmSpecBlog, Salon and The Daily Caller

The Economist online / Daily chart:

Two thousand years in one chart — An alternative timeline for the past two millennia — SOME people recite history from above, recording the grand deeds of great men. Others tell history from below, arguing that one person's life is just as much a part of mankind's story as another's.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Free exchange and FT Alphaville

Bruce Bartlett / Economix:

Who Doesn't Pay Federal Income Taxes (Legally) — Bruce Bartlett held senior policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and served on the staffs of Representatives Jack Kemp and Ron Paul. — Conservatives are fond of railing against those who are able to legally avoid paying federal income taxes.

Discussion: Economist's View, The Daily Dish and FrumForum

New York Post:

Weiner horning in on successor race — His ego has no bounds. — In a dazzling display of arrogance, disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner is trying to insert himself back into politics — calling power brokers and would-be candidates for his old seat, hoping they'll let him play …

Discussion: City Room, The Daily Caller, Runnin' Scared, Mediaite, The Politico, New York Magazine, Pundit & Pundette, JammieWearingFool and FrumForum

Glenn Kessler / Washington Post:

Fact-checking Michele Bachmann's announcement speech and Sunday interviews — (CHARLIE RIEDEL/ASSOCIATED PRESS) “Of course a person has to be careful with statements that they make. … — Rep. Michele Bachmann, responding to a question about being “a flake” on “Fox News Sunday,” June 26, 2011

Discussion: Booman Tribune, Don Surber and Connecting.the.Dots

The Hill:

Baucus announces grand bargain to clear three pending trade deals — Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced a deal Tuesday that should clear the path for congressional approval of three pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. — Baucus said he had secured an agreement …

Discussion: The Note, The Politico, Cato @ Liberty and Emptywheel

Erik Wasson / The Hill:

Report: Treasury must cut spending 44 percent in default — New analysis by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) which has been shared extensively with members of Congress estimates that the Treasury Department would not be able to pay all its bills and would need to implement an immediate 44 percent cut …

Discussion: TPMDC, Outside the Beltway and FrumForum

Lenora Jane Estes / Vanity Fair:

Lisa Baron Reads from Life of the Party — For a decade-plus, Lisa Baron—a political communications advisor and sometime sex columnist—hit the campaign trail with Republican candidates. In her new political memoir, Life of the Party: A Political Press Tart Bares All (Citadel Press) …

Discussion: FishbowlDC and The Other McCain

Sarah Kliff / The Politico:

White House dumps ‘secret shopper’ survey of doctors — The Obama administration will not move forward on a controversial proposal to have “secret shoppers” pose as patients to investigate how difficult it is for patients to receive primary care. — “On April 28th, the U.S. Department …

Discussion: Weigel and Political Punch

Bryan Fischer / afa.net:

Libs: not smart to remind us of homosexual pedophile John Wayne Gacy — Follow me on Twitter: @ BryanJFischer, on Facebook at “Focal Point” — The Old Media and others on the winger-left have been in full titter-mode over Michele Bachmann saying that John Wayne was from her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs

Aaron Worthing / Patterico's Pontifications:

Thirteen Clear Factual Errors in Richard Stengel's Essay on the Constitution (And I Am Looking for Your Help) (Update: My Letter to the Editor) — [Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here. Or by Twitter @AaronWorthing.] — Late last week, I fisked Richard Stengel's …