memeorandum: The Question That Needs Asking (Steven Hayward/Power Line)

10:35 AM ET, October 19, 2011

Top Items:

The dangers of accidental candor — After five debates in six weeks, these get-togethers for the Republican presidential candidates were quickly becoming sleep-inducing. Last night in Las Vegas, though, was at least lively — with time running out, someone lit a fire under the candidates' feet.

Discussion: 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, FrumForum and Balloon Juice

The Politico:

Why Perry went there — The Texas governor went into Tuesday night's debate looking for a reaction — and he got one.

Discussion: National Review, Hot Air, Taegan Goddard's …, Pat Dollard and Michelle Malkin

New York Times:

Republican Presidential Candidates Debate in Las Vegas — LAS VEGAS — Mitt Romney came under withering attack from his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination at a debate here Tuesday night, with Gov. Rick Perry leading an intense and sometimes personal barrage …

Discussion: Boston Globe, Washington Post, msnbc.com, FiveThirtyEight, Ballot Box, The Atlantic Online, The Caucus, Outside the Beltway, p m carpenter's commentary, Wall Street Journal, ABCNEWS, Los Angeles Times, The Daily Beast, Prairie Weather, The Huffington Post, AlterNet and Las Vegas Review-Journal

E.J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:

The Republican Bickersons — That was fun tonight. Attack, defend, attack and attack some more. Texas Gov. Rick Perry had some problems in tonight's Republican presidential debate, as he's had before — do we really want to “defund the United Nations”? — but he was a real presence this time …

Discussion: Northern Reflections, p m carpenter's commentary, National Review and Daily Kos

Mark Murray / msnbc.com:

NBC Poll: Cain leads in S.C.; tight Fla. race with Romney — ‘The road to the convention is going to go through these two states’ — Below: — Deputy political director — updated 2011-10-19T10:19:11 — Former businessman Herman Cain holds a narrow lead in South Carolina's Republican primary …

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, The Other McCain, Hotline On Call, Taegan Goddard's …, The Politico and Reuters

Washington Examiner:

In fifth debate, Perry finally shows up — Twenty-four hours before the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, an adviser to Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Perry would try a new strategy after a series of lackluster debate performances. “We're going to pay a little less attention to the rules …

Discussion: Washington Post, Campaign 2012, Riehl World View, Hot Air, The Spectacle Blog, Betsy's Page, Pundit & Pundette and Daily Kos

Stephen Green / Pajamas Media:
Drunkblogging Tonight's GOP Debate

Discussion: the first casualty, The Huffington Post, Vox Popoli and FrumForum

Cameron Joseph / Ballot Box:
Immigration sparks war of words between Romney, Perry at GOP debate

Discussion: Telegraph, Don Surber, The Politico and Ben Smith's Blog

CNN:
Five things we learned from Tuesday's GOP debate

Discussion: Washington Wire, The Atlantic Online and The Moderate Voice

Alexander Burns / The Politico:
Debate rivals pile on Romney in Vegas

Discussion: Washington Post, The Page, Mediaite, RedState, American Spectator and The Moderate Voice

The Politico:
Rick Perry vs. Mitt Romney: Now it's personal

Discussion: ABCNEWS, National Review and Pajamas Media

Christian Heinze / Ballot Box:
Tea Party's ‘anybody but Obama’ attitude benefits Mitt Romney in general election

Discussion: The Politico and GOP 12

Kevinliptak / CNN:
New Herman Cain Super PAC launched during debate

Discussion: The Politico, Washington Wire and Fire Andrea Mitchell!

CNN:
CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Kevinliptak / CNN:
Candidates go all-in for Las Vegas debate

Discussion: The Politico, Ben Smith's Blog, RealClearPolitics Video Log, Connecting.the.Dots and The Other McCain

Adrianne Jeffries / The New York Observer:

Real World: Occupy Wall Street? MTV Issues Casting Call for Protesters — Is Occupy Wall Street ready to start being real? Bunim/Murray Productions, the agency casting for MTV's Real World 27, appears to think the show Real World needs some real world drama: an ad appeared …

Discussion: City Room, Shakesville, Althouse, Deadline.com, Gothamist, New York Magazine, Runnin' Scared and The Informer

Alex Klein / New York Magazine:

Are You Smarter Than a Wall Street Occupier? — Over the past month, the crusaders at Zuccotti Park have braved the elements, tussled with police, and stood their ground against Mayor Bloomberg. But how much do the protesters actually know about the economic system that they're fighting to change?

Discussion: Power Line, americanthinker.com, Pirate's Cove, Instapundit, Mogulite and iOwnTheWorld.com

Fars News Agency:
Occupy Wall Street Protesters Condemn Zionists for Economic Crisis in US

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and The Gateway Pundit

Susanne Craig / DealBook:
Goldman Loss Offers a Bad Omen for Wall Street

Discussion: ThinkProgress and The 1600 Report

Devin Dwyer / ABCNEWS:
Obama: Occupy Wall Street ‘Not That Different’ From Tea Party Protests

Steve Zeitchik / 24 Frames:
Will Nolan's ‘Dark Knight Rises’ occupy Wall Street?

Discussion: Guardian, Big Hollywood, Deadline.com, Mogulite, New York Magazine, Business Insider, Gawker and Gothamist

Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:
BREAKING: Doug Schoen Grossly Misrepresents His Own Poll Results To Smear Occupy Wall Street

Discussion: Mediaite, The Daily Dish, DownWithTyranny!, The Other McCain, ProfessorBainbridge.com, Hit & Run, Outside the Beltway, The Moderate Voice, City Room, The New Republic, The Enterprise Blog, The Lonely Conservative, Washington Monthly, Capital New York, US Politics, Ben Smith's Blog and Booman Tribune

The Politico:
Wall Street to Dems: you can't have it both ways

Discussion: Hot Air, Wizbang, Campaign 2012, Vox Tablet, The Confluence, Washington Times, Gawker, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Pajamas Media, Pat Dollard, Weasel Zippers, Washington Post, ThinkProgress and Balloon Juice

Steven Hayward / Power Line:

The Question That Needs Asking — I only caught a little of the GOP debate last night, but I came away with two thoughts: first, the distinct impression that New Gingrich's “it's-so-crazy-it-just-might- work” strategy for this race is looking a little less crazy with every debate.

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and National Review

Jeffrey Lord / American Spectator:
Clark Clifford Republicans

Discussion: Outside the Beltway

Sam Youngman / Ballot Box:

President Obama's strategy on jobs is working — even if Americans aren't — It's certainly not pretty, but darn if it doesn't appear to be working. — President Obama's newfound message discipline on jobs and his two-pronged attack on the GOP are providing the beleaguered president …

Discussion: Don Surber

NY Daily News:

Occupy Wall St. pepper-spray cop Anthony Bologna loses 10 vacation days for violating NYPD rules — NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna was disciplined Tuesday for pepper-spraying two female protesters in the notorious YouTube video seen around the world.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Gawker and iOwnTheWorld.com

Al Baker / New York Times:
Commander Who Pepper-Sprayed Protesters Faces Disciplinary Charge

Discussion: Runnin' Scared

Dennis Cauchon / USA Today:

Student loan debt hits record levels — Students and workers seeking retraining are borrowing extraordinary amounts of money through federal loan programs, potentially putting a huge burden on the backs of young people looking for jobs and trying to start careers.

Discussion: The Politico

Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:

Reid looks to move Obama's $35 billion teacher, first-responder jobs measure — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) signaled on Tuesday that he and other Senate Democrats are looking to advance President Obama's proposal to spend $35 billion to shore up jobs for teachers, police and firefighters in the coming weeks.

Discussion: National Review, Michelle Malkin, USA Today, americanthinker.com and Washington Wire

Rebecca Rosenberg / New York Post:

Protest mob is enjoying rich diet — They may sleep in the park, but they eat like kings. — Hundreds of grimy protesters laying siege to Wall Street and stuffed into the now-smelly Zuccotti Park dine each night on gourmet meals prepared by a former hotel chef using only the finest organic ingredients.

Discussion: New York Magazine and JammieWearingFool

Charles P. Pierce / Esquire:

David Brooks Does Not Get the Moral Norm of Being Broke — It's Tuesday, and David Brooks is happy — nay, ecstatic — that all of you out there are using your encroaching poverty to rediscover your moral compass. He calls it — and I am not kidding here — The Great Restoration …

Discussion: p m carpenter's commentary, The Impolitic, ECHIDNE of the snakes, TBogg, driftglass and New York Times

Latest from Crain's New York Business:

Protesters get personal to embarrass city's titans — Advocates are making scenes at the restaurants and doorsteps of the rich and famous in increasingly edgy attempts to change policies or win labor disputes. — By Daniel Massey @masseydaniel — It's been a rough few weeks …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Gawker, Spocko's Brain and Mogulite

CBS Cleveland:

‘Occupy Cleveland’ Protester Alleges She Was Raped — CLEVELAND, Ohio (CBS Cleveland) - An “Occupy Cleveland” protester tells police she was raped in her tent over the weekend. — Cleveland police are investigating an alleged sexual assault incident Saturday at the “Occupy Cleveland” …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit and iOwnTheWorld.com

James Oliphant / Los Angeles Times:

Herman Cain says he ‘misspoke’ on considering prisoner transfer — It was a rough night at the GOP debate in Las Vegas for Herman Cain — and after the debate it got rougher still. — Cain was asked about remarks he made earlier in the day during a CNN interview about whether he would consider …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Washington Post and ABCNEWS