memeorandum: Palin shines brightest at CPAC conference (Josh Lederman/Ballot Box)

9:25 AM ET, February 12, 2012

Top Items:

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

Palin shines brightest at CPAC conference — If Sarah Palin had been on the ballot for the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference, there is little doubt she would have won. — The former Alaska governor received far-and-away the most spirited and enthusiastic reception …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Washington Monthly, CNN and Wake up America

Stephen Dinan / Washington Times:

Romney wins The Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll — Returns to top after two years on the outs — Mitt Romney won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll on Saturday, and also nipped Rick Santorum as the top choice of conservatives nationwide, according to a new version …

Discussion: Guardian, Outside the Beltway, The Caucus, The Hinterland Gazette, Connecting.the.Dots, BuzzFeed, The Lonely Conservative, Weasel Zippers, Balloon Juice, The Moderate Voice, National Review, Daily Kos and The Other McCain

Washington Examiner:

Did Romney quell conservative doubts? — For many observers, the key question of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington was: How would Mitt Romney be received? Would the conservative crowd embrace him enthusiastically, or hold him at a distance?

Discussion: Riehl World View, Power Line, Campaign 2012 and The Spectacle Blog

James Hohmann / Politico:

Romney doubles down, wins CPAC, Maine caucuses — Mitt Romney landed a much-needed one-two punch Saturday, reasserting himself in the GOP presidential race with a win in the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference and later emerging triumphant in the Maine caucuses.

Discussion: Mediaite, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Sarah Palin / CNN:
TRENDING: Palin calls on Romney to work harder for the conservative vote

Discussion: Politico, 2012 Decoded, The PJ Tatler, The Page and Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Jeff Zeleny / The Caucus:
Palin Says Brokered Convention Would Not Hurt G.O.P.

Discussion: New York Times, ABCNEWS, The Hinterland Gazette and Conservatives4Palin

Tim Mak / Politico:
Romney tops Paul in Maine

Discussion: LifeNews.com

Beth Fouhy / Associated Press:
Maine GOP chairman say Romney wins caucuses

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Politico and Hot Air

Tim Mak / Politico:
Paul could be Maine event

Discussion: Mediaite, Washington Post, CNN and Ron Paul 2012 Presidential …

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Breaking: Romney wins CPAC straw poll

Discussion: Big Government, Wizbang and The Moderate Voice

Jonathan Martin / Politico:
CPAC ‘severely’ conflicted over Mitt Romney

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, AlterNet, iOwnTheWorld.com, Wake up America, Outside the Beltway and Campaign 2012

Alexander Burns / Politico:
Romney wins CPAC straw poll, barely edges Santorum nationally

Discussion: CNN and The Raw Story

CNN:
Romney wins prized straw poll at conservative gathering

Discussion: The Raw Story

Shannon Travis / CNN:
Romney wins Maine caucuses

Discussion: THEROOT.COM, The Moderate Voice and Scared Monkeys

Nekesa Mumbi Moody / Associated Press:

Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Discussion: CNN, Hit & Run, L.A. NOW, Towleroad News #gay, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Riehl World View, Taylor Marsh, Little Green Footballs, Gothamist, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Outside the Beltway

Shelby Grad / L.A. NOW:

Whitney Houston's death: Medics performed CPR for about 20 minutes — Beverly Hills paramedics found singer Whitney Houston unresponsive at a room at the Beverly Hilton hotel and declared her dead after performing CPR on her for about 20 minutes, officials said.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Runnin' Scared, Towleroad News #gay, The Democratic Daily and TalkLeft

Wall Street Journal:

Immaculate Contraception — An ‘accommodation’ that makes the birth-control mandate worse. — Here's a conundrum: The White House wants to impose its birth-control ideology on all Americans, including those for whom sponsoring or subsidizing such services violates their moral conscience.

Discussion: Don Surber, Zandar Versus The Stupid, CNN, Grim's Hall, Big Government, Ricochet Conversations Feed and National Review

New York Times:

Even Critics of Safety Net Increasingly Depend on It — LINDSTROM, Minn. — Ki Gulbranson owns a logo apparel shop, deals in jewelry on the side and referees youth soccer games. He makes about $39,000 a year and wants you to know that he does not need any help from the federal government.

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Balloon Juice

ABCNEWS:

Which Republican Presidential Candidate Supported Sotomayor? — Pop quiz: Which Republican presidential candidate supported the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor? — Hint: It's the same one who endorsed a pro-abortion-rights presidential candidate in an earlier campaign. — Give up?

Discussion: National Review

Carla Marinucci / San Francisco Chronicle:

Democrats' star speaker Van Jones fires up crowd — and emerges party “leader of the future”? — San Diego - Van Jones, the former Obama Administration green czar who resigned in controversy, appears on the fast track to a political comeback — emerging as a star at this weekend's California …

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

Anita Singh / Telegraph:

BBC ‘buried Savile sex abuse claims to save its reputation’ — The BBC shelved a Newsnight investigation into allegations that Sir Jimmy Savile sexually abused a teenage girl in his dressing room at Television Centre, it has emerged. — Sir Jimmy Savile was accused of using his role as a BBC presenter to groom girls

Discussion: Biased BBC