memeorandum: Four Nations, Four Lessons (N. Gregory Mankiw/New York Times)

4:45 PM ET, October 23, 2011

Top Items:

Rick Perry Hates to Lose … Sign up for our free online newsletter!

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Little Green Footballs, The Atlantic Online, The Hill, Taegan Goddard's …, New York Magazine, The Raw Story and Business Insider

Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:

Rick Perry Goes Birther: After Meeting With Trump, 'I Don't Know' If Obama's Birth Certificate Is Real — In April, in an effort to appease a vocal group of conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama was not born in the United States, Obama released his “long-form” birth certificate from Hawaii.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Gawker

N. Gregory Mankiw / New York Times:

Four Nations, Four Lessons — AS the economy languishes, politicians and pundits are debating what to do next. When we look around the world, it's hard to find positive role models. But as we search for answers, it is useful to keep in mind those fates that we would like to avoid.

Discussion: Modeled Behavior, EconLog and Greg Mankiw's Blog

Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:

Abortion Takes Center Stage at Iowa G.O.P. Forum — DES MOINES — Gov. Rick Perry of Texas sought to win over social conservative voters in Iowa on Saturday night as he drew a distinction between his opposition to abortion with the views of his leading Republican rivals and declared …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, TalkLeft, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Other McCain, Washington Monthly, Althouse, The Page and National Review

David Brody / The Brody File:

Herman Cain Exclusive: Tells Brody File He Will Support Constitutional Amendments on Life and Marriage — In an exclusive interview with The Brody File, GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain says he would support a pro-life amendment to the constitution and would use the bully pulpit to push pro-life legislation.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Don Surber, Race 4 2012 and Joe. My. God.

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog: Cain would autograph life amendment

David Brody / The Brody File: Brody File Exclusive: Newt Gingrich Calls Herman Cain The “Psychological Frontrunner” for GOP Nomination

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:
Rick Perry challenges opponents' abortion stances at Iowa Faith & Freedom dinner

Discussion: Hot Air, Caffeinated Thoughts and Radio Iowa

Jamie Klatell / Ballot Box:
In Iowa, Perry dings Romney, Cain on abortion stances

Discussion: CNN, Hot Air, National Review and New York Magazine

Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:

Graham: Obama's Iraq, Afghan policies ‘being run out of Chicago’ — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that key foreign policy decisions by the Obama administration are being made for political reasons. — “I would argue Iraq and Afghanistan is being run out of Chicago, not Washington …

Discussion: The Politico and ABCNEWS

Lucy Madison / CBS News:
Michele Bachmann: U.S. got “kicked out” of Iraq

Discussion: nation.foxnews.com and The Spectacle Blog

Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:
Clinton warns Iran not to ‘miscalculate’ U.S. post-withdrawal commitment to Iraq

Discussion: ABCNEWS

Glenn Thrush / The Politico:

McConnell: Layoffs a ‘local’ problem — In an interesting policy-political joust Sunday with CNN “State of the Union” host Candy Crowley, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stuck by his assertion that stopping federal funding to stave off local police, teacher and firefighter layoffs …

Discussion: ThinkProgress

Merrill Matthews / Right Directions:

The Red State in Your Future — Voters around the country are concluding it's better to be red than dead—applying a whole meaning to an old phrase. If you do not currently live in a red state, there's a good chance you will be in the near future. Either you will flee to a red state …

Discussion: Wake up America, Maggie's Farm and americanthinker.com

Declan Walsh / Guardian:

Afghanistan would side with Pakistan in war with US, says Hamid Karzai — President says Afghans ‘will never betray their brother’ in TV interview aired days after Kabul visit by Hillary Clinton — The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has said he would side with Pakistan in the event of war …

Discussion: Hot Air, Connecting.the.Dots, Outside the Beltway, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and americanthinker.com

Reuters:

Huge turnout in Tunisia's Arab Spring election — * Tunisians vote after uprising removed Ben Ali — * Eyes of region on first post-Arab Spring election — * Islamists expected to win but coalitions expected — * Secularists heckle Islamist leader at polling station (Adds quotes, details on voter turnout)

Discussion: Voice of America, The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers, Jihad Watch and americanthinker.com

BBC:
Tunisia voters go to polls in historic free election

Discussion: Pat Dollard

John DiStaso / unionleader.com:

Sununu to endorse Romney for President — MANCHESTER — Former Gov. John H. Sununu on Monday will throw his considerable political influence behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. — “I'm viewed as a good, solid conservative Republican and I'm supporting a good …

Discussion: msnbc.com, Mitt Romney Central, CNN, Ballot Box and National Review

Associated Press:

Autopsy: Qaddafi was killed by shot to head — Col. Muammar Qaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years before he was driven from power by revolutionaries. This week he was captured by rebels; an autopsy reveals he died by a gunshot to the head. — Anger In The Arab World

Discussion: Michelle Malkin and FP Passport

Ginger Adams Otis / New York Post:

They want $lice of the occu-pie — Even in Zuccotti Park, greed is good. — Occupy Wall Street's Finance Committee has nearly $500,000 in the bank, and donations continue to pour in — but its reluctance to share the wealth with other protestErs is fraying tempers.

Discussion: The Strata-Sphere and UrbanGrounds

Clare O'Connor / Filthy Rich:

Protesters Occupy GE CEO Jeff Immelt's Connecticut Front Lawn — Occupy Wall Street protesters took a field trip from Zuccotti Park on Saturday morning, all the way to the wealthy suburban enclave of New Canaan, Conn., where they took their anger at income and tax disparity to GE CEO Jeff Immelt's front lawn.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Doug Ross and Pajamas Media