memeorandum: Bachmann in Strong Position as She Enters 2012 Race (Frank Newport/Gallup)

6:05 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, Washington Monthly, Top of the Ticket, AmSpecBlog, Betsy's Page, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, Outside the Beltway, American Power, ABCNEWS, Wonkette, Taegan Goddard's …, Hullabaloo, blogs.abcnews.com and National Review

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, Ballot Box, CNN, Washington Post, Feministing, Washington Wire, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway, ThinkProgress, 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 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: The New Republic, GOP 12, Daily Kos, Conservatives4Palin and Outside the Beltway

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

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: National Review

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

Glenn Kessler / Washington Post:
Fact-checking Michele Bachmann's announcement speech and Sunday interviews

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

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

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

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, ThinkProgress, 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

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: GOP 12, Daily Kos, CNN, Taegan Goddard's … and Weigel

The Daily Beast:
Huntsman's Big Daddy

Discussion: GOP 12, Washington Post, Opinionator and Balloon Juice

Robert Gehrke / Salt Lake Tribune:
Romney pushes early Utah primary that could cost state $3M

Discussion: NPR, The Atlantic Online, Indecision Forever, The Note, Swampland, Daily Kos and GOP 12

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, ABCNEWS, Pajamas Media, FP Passport, msnbc.com, The Long War Journal, Taylor Marsh and Patterico's Pontifications

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

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

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

Discussion: FrumForum

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

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

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:

Pawlenty: War Powers Act ‘does not apply’ to Libyan mission — NEW YORK — GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday that the War Powers Act “does not apply” to the U.S. intervention in Libya, but that he would have consulted with Congress anyway if he had launched the mission as president.

Discussion: Hit & Run and Weasel Zippers

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
Obama Adviser Defends Libya Policy to Senate

Discussion: Swampland and FrumForum

Kirit Radia / ABCNEWS:
War Powers Showdown Heats Up in the Senate Over Libya Operations

Discussion: The Politico and CNN

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

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, Hit & Run, Deadspin, Gawker, Unfogged and The Awl

Mike Lillis / The Hill:

House Democrats feel jilted by the president in budget, debt talks — House Democrats feel like jilted lovers. — They're looking down Pennsylvania Avenue for some sign of affection from President Obama in the White House. But all they feel they're getting in return is the back of his hand.

Discussion: Hot Air, Wall Street Journal, Outside the Beltway, Firedoglake, Washington Post, The Politico, Emptywheel, Prairie Weather, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Moe Lane and FrumForum

Seung Min Kim / The Politico:
Mitch McConnell holds ground on taxes

Discussion: CNN and Washington Wire

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: NewsBusters.org blogs and Sister Toldjah

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

Discussion: Hot Air

Michael O'Brien / The Hill:

Bristol Palin says her mom has decided whether to run for president — The daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) said Tuesday that her mother had made up her mind already about whether to run for president in 2012. — Bristol Palin, the eldest daughter of the 2008 Republican vice …

Discussion: The Note, Weigel, CBS News, Salon, CNN and Simply Left BehindThe …

Craig Robinson / The Iowa Republican:
More Than A Movie Debut? — When Sarah Palin steps foot …

Discussion: Washington Post, Conservatives4Palin and Victory Film Group

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

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

David Brooks / New York Times:
Convener in Chief — This is a column about management styles.

Discussion: Booman Tribune and Prairie Weather

Scott Keyes / ThinkProgress:

After Taking A $10 Billion Bailout, Goldman Sachs Announces It Will Outsource 1,000 Jobs To Singapore — Less than three years after receiving $10 billion in bailout money from American taxpayers, Goldman Sachs informed its employees recently that it will fire 1,000 workers in the United States …

Discussion: Shakesville

Courtney Comstock / The Business Insider:
Goldman Sachs Is Firing Employees In The US So It Can Hire 1,000 In Singapore

Discussion: FoxBusiness.com, Gawker, The Atlantic Online and AMERICAblog News

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

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