memeorandum: In Prop. 8 Ruling, a Liberal Lion Coos (American Prospect)

7:05 PM ET, February 7, 2012

Top Items:

Kimi Yoshino / L.A. NOW:

Prop. 8: Gay-marriage ban unconstitutional, court rules — A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage, clearing the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year. — The 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court …

Maggie Gallagher / National Review:

Ninth Circuit to 7 Million California Voters: You Are Irrational Bigots — In a breathtaking exercise in ill-natured illogic, a divided Ninth Circuit ruled 2-1 that because Prop 8 does not take away civil-union benefits for same-sex couples, it's an unconstitutional exercise in irrational animus towards gay people.

Discussion: NOM Blog

NOM Blog:

NOM Condemns Ninth Circuit Ruling Finding Prop 8 Unconstitutional, Imperiling the Marriage Laws of 43 states — CONTACT: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004) — Group will support efforts to take the issue to the US Supreme Court — WASHINGTON, D.C. — “As sweeping and wrong-headed …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Right Wing Watch, Good As You, The American Independent, Alas, a Blog and Mitt Romney for President …

American Prospect:

In Prop. 8 Ruling, a Liberal Lion Coos — Senior Circuit Judge Michael Daly Hawkins, left, Circuit Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt, center, and Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith hear arguments during a hearing in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Marriage Ban Violates Constitution, Court Rules

Discussion: Washington Post, Capital New York, The Maddow Blog, Outside the Beltway, Wonkette and Prairie Weather

Lyle Denniston / SCOTUSblog:
Ban on gay marriage struck down (FINAL UPDATE)

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Reuters, Angry Black Lady Chronicles and How Appealing

Associated Press:
Court: CA Gay Marriage Ban Is Unconstitutional

Discussion: Prop 8 Trial Tracker, Towleroad News #gay, ThinkProgress, DownWithTyranny!, Washington Monthly, The American Independent, Lez Get Real, Feministe, The Colorado Independent and neo-neocon

Robert Barnes / Washington Post:
Calif. same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional

Discussion: THEROOT.COM, Daily Pundit and Althouse

Public Religion Research Institute:

February PRRI Religion and Politics Tracking Poll — ▶ Read the news release here. — ▶ Read the Topline Questionnaire including the survey methodology here. — Majority Support Requirement that Employer Health Care Plans Include Contraception Coverage

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Daily Kos, The Raw Story, Naked Politics, ThinkProgress and Taylor Marsh

Michael D. Shear / The Caucus:

White House May Look to Compromise on Contraception Decision — The White House may be open to compromising on a new rule that requires religious schools and hospitals to provide employees with access to free birth control, a senior strategist for President Obama said on Tuesday morning.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, National Review, Jezebel, Daily Kos, LifeNews.com, Hot Air, Live Action News & Opinion, The Huffington Post, The Maddow Blog and Outside the Beltway

Maggie Haberman / Politico:
Santorum: Romney contraceptive decision ‘trumped employees’ religious consciences'

Discussion: Political Watch and National Review

Mike Brownfield / The Heritage Foundation:
Morning Bell: Obamacare Awakens a Sleeping Giant

Discussion: CBS New York, Campaign 2012, Shakesville and Wake up America

Kirsten Powers / The Daily Beast:
Obama's Baffling Catholic Decision: Birth Control Trumps Religious Freedom

Discussion: Washington Post, Firedoglake, National Review, Pundit & Pundette, Hot Air, Politico, The Daily Caller and The PJ Tatler

Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Poll: Majority of Catholics support contraception coverage

Discussion: Firedoglake and The Maddow Blog

Patricia Zengerle / Reuters:

Romney's lead dips despite wins: Reuters/Ipsos poll — (Reuters) - Despite his strong showing in early state contests in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney's support nationwide has dipped slightly during the past month, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Hit & Run and Saint Petersblog

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:

Big Day for Santorum? — Rick Santorum could be headed for a big day in today's contests in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri. Missouri looks like a probable win for Santorum. He's at 45% there to 32% for Mitt Romney and 19% for Paul. Minnesota provides an opportunity for a win as well.

Chris Good / ABCNEWS:

Why Missouri Is Holding a ‘Meaningless’ Primary — Thanks to in-state political disputes and a slow-moving legislature, today's Missouri presidential primary has been reduced to an afterthought. — Most presidential candidates have ignored the contest, which will not affect any of the state's 52 GOP delegates.

Discussion: Firedoglake, msnbc.com, Washington Post, Washington Monthly, Taegan Goddard's …, Booman Tribune and The Daily Dish

Rasmussen Reports:
National GOP: Romney 34%, Gingrich 27%, Santorum 18%, Paul 11%

Discussion: GOP 12 and Taegan Goddard's …

Jessica Lussenhop / The Blotter:
Ron Paul glitterbombed at Minneapolis Convention Center [VIDEO]

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, ThinkProgress, New York Magazine, The Raw Story and Towleroad News #gay

Jgalloway / Political Insider:

Karen Handel resigns from Komen for the Cure — Karen Handel, the former GOP candidate for governor, just announced her resignation as a senior vice president for public of Susan G. Komen for the Cure - one week after the breast cancer charity reversed itself on a decision to sever financial ties with Planned Parenthood.

Ray Henry / Associated Press:
APNewsBreak: Komen exec quits after funding flap

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Taylor Marsh, Feministing, Business Insider, The Maddow Blog, Jezebel and Althouse

Laura Bassett / The Huffington Post:
Mitt Romney: Susan G. Komen Was Right to Cut Planned Parenthood

Discussion: Hot Air, Jezebel, Daily Kos, PERRspectives, Speakeasy and US Politics

Karen Handel:
Karen Handel Susan G. Komen Resignation Letter

Discussion: TBogg

Jim Messina / Barack Obama:

We Will Not Play by Two Sets of Rules — In 2010, the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case opened the door to a new wave of so-called Super PACs—non-candidate political committees that can receive and spend unlimited money from special interests.

Daniel Strauss / The Hill:
Feingold: Obama super-PAC decision is ‘dancing with the devil’

Discussion: Big Government and Weasel Zippers

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
Obama's Super PAC: Using the System to Fight the System

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Guardian, Business Insider, Politico, A plain blog about politics, Prairie Weather and msnbc.com

Occupy DC:

This Friday and Saturday, Occupy CPAC: Liberate Discourse — On February 9th through February 11th, a who's who of dastardly politicians will be holding the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel at 2660 Woodley Road, NW.

Discussion: Politico, 24Ahead, Jihad Watch, Hit & Run, The PJ Tatler, Atlas Shrugs and Weasel Zippers

Lachlan Markay / The Heritage Foundation:

Exclusive: Occupy DC Plans Mayhem for Major Conservative Conference — The “Occupy DC” protest group is planning to disrupt the upcoming Conservative Political Action Conference using a range of potentially illegal tactics that could even include violence against participants, Scribe has learned.

Discussion: Wonkette, Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, Verum Serum, Big Government, The Lonely Conservative, Campaign 2012 and Datechguy's Blog

Emily Goodin / Ballot Box:

Rep. Myrick announces she'll retire this year — Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) will not run for reelection in November, the nine-term congresswoman announced Tuesday. — First elected in 1994, Myrick was one of the first Republicans to join the Tea Party Caucus in the House …

Discussion: Politico and CNN

Russell Berman / The Hill:
House GOP raises pressure on Democrats in payroll tax fight

Discussion: Politico

Seung Min Kim / Politico:
Lawmakers quarrel over payroll tax

Discussion: The New Republic

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Just Gets Better — What's the latest on the Pete Hoekstra “Chinese” ad that's been generating all the controversy? A follower on Twitter points out that in the html code on Hoekstra's site the woman in the ad is identified as “yellowgirl.” I checked and sure enough he's right.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Politico, News Desk, The Atlantic Online, Colorlines, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Gawker and Pete Hoekstra .com

James Fallows / The Atlantic Online:
This Is So Classy: ‘Yellow Girl’

Discussion: Balloon Juice, Politico, Wonkette and No More Mister Nice Blog

David A. Graham / The Atlantic Online:

Photo of the Day: Shock and Awe at the White House — President Obama gets a thrill after inviting young scientists and inventors to his home. — Playing with your food? Shooting things at the White House? It seems like a recipe for disaster and/or arrest, but somehow Joey Hudy managed …

Discussion: BuzzFeed and The Daily What

John McCormack / Weekly Standard:

Dem Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper: I Wouldn't Have Voted for Obamacare If I'd Known About HHS Regulation — Former Democratic congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, a Catholic from Erie, Pennsylvania, cast a crucial vote in favor of Obamacare in 2010. She lost her seat that November in part because of her controversial support of Obamacare.

Discussion: Rush Limbaugh, Don Surber, Weasel Zippers, Michelle Malkin, Wake up America and National Review

Roger L Simon / Roger L. Simon:

BREAKING VIDEO: Tim Tebow and Tom Brady Register to Vote in Minnesota — On the day of the Minnesota caucus, shocking video from James O'Keefe's Project Veritas - broken here first at PJ Media - shows how easy it is to register NFL stars Tim Tebow, Tom Brady and practically anybody else to vote in that state.