memeorandum: Mitt hits 5 straight in Wash. (James Hohmann/Politico)

10:20 AM ET, March 4, 2012

Top Items:

A Statement from Rush — For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke. — I think it is absolutely absurd …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, The Moderate Voice, JustOneMinute, Runnin' Scared, New York Magazine, ABCNEWS, Babalú Blog, The Gateway Pundit, Los Angeles Times, blogs.forbes.com/johnmcquaid, Washington Post, Sad Hill News, ECHIDNE of the snakes, Sky Dancing, The Jane Dough, Whiskey Fire, American Power, Scholars and Rogues, No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Examiner, Little Green Footballs, Addicting Info, The Daily Caller, ThinkProgress, Mediaite, TalkLeft, The Daily Dish, Outside the Beltway, Hullabaloo, The Caucus, The Last Tradition, Business Insider, The Lonely Conservative, Weasel Zippers, American Spectator, Mock, Paper, Scissors, CBS News, KDVR.com is the website …, Don Surber, The Mahablog, Campaign 2012, The Page, The Daily What, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, msnbc.com, Althouse, Daily Kos, Wake up America, The Right Scoop, The Raw Story, Big Hollywood, Firedoglake and CNN, more at Mediagazer »

Faiz Shakir / ThinkProgress:

Sixth Advertiser — Carbonite — Drops Limbaugh Despite His ‘Apology’ Because He's Beyond The ‘Bounds Of Decency’ — Moments ago, Carbonite - a company providing backup software for computers - announced that it will no longer advertise on Rush Limbaugh's show.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Balloon Juice, Crooks and Liars, carbonite.com, NewsHounds blog, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and The Impolitic

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:

Rush: “I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke”; Update: Ironic tweet of the day — Rush Limbaugh has posted a statement on his website this afternoon, forwarded by his brother David (one of my friends on line), apologizing for calling Sandra Fluke an insulting name while discussing her claims.

Discussion: Balloon Juice, NO QUARTER, American Power, BuzzFeed, ECHIDNE of the snakes, The Daily Caller, Little Green Footballs and Michelle Malkin

Vinnie / The Jawa Report:

Rush Limbaugh Apologizes To Sandra “Not A Slut, I Just Like Having Sex Alot” Fluke — Why? I have no idea. — Well, I do have an idea. Major, long time advertisers started jumping ship. So I'm guessing his reasoning was purely financial. — In related news, I'm waiting for confirmation …

Discussion: The Last Tradition, Pirate's Cove, Little Green Footballs, Politico, The Moderate Voice and Sky Dancing

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Have You No Shame, Rush? — AS a woman who has been viciously slashed by Rush Limbaugh, I can tell you, it's no fun. — At first you think, if he objects to the substance of what you're saying, why can't he just object to the substance of what you're saying? Why go after you in the most personal and humiliating way?

Discussion: Prairie Weather and Althouse

The Right Scoop:
Levin to CNN, MSNBC, and other leftist media: You can go to hell

Discussion: RADAMISTO and iOwnTheWorld.com

James Hohmann / Politico:

Mitt hits 5 straight in Wash. — SEATTLE — Showing that organization does matter, Mitt Romney won Washington state's caucuses Saturday. — The victory gives the former Massachusetts governor another boost going into Super Tuesday, when ten states vote. — “The voters of Washington …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, msnbc.com, The Maddow Blog and Scared Monkeys

Fox News:

Romney notches fifth straight win with Washington state GOP caucuses — Mitt Romney heads into Super Tuesday with a five-state winning streak under his belt, after cruising to victory in the Washington state caucuses Saturday night. — The contest was a blip when compared …

Discussion: Hit & Run and The Daily Weekly

Katharine Q. Seelye / New York Times:

Romney Takes Washington Ahead of a Big Election Day — Mitt Romney won Saturday's nonbinding caucuses in Washington State, handing him a symbolic victory in his quest for the Republican nomination as he heads into the critical Super Tuesday contests just three days away.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Instapundit, FiveThirtyEight, Mediaite and The Caucus

Cincinnati.com:

Enquirer Endorsement: Romney deserves Ohio's support — Republican voters can no longer ignore the obvious: There is only one GOP candidate for president who has the temperament, character and discipline to lead the nation. One candidate with the business experience and management skills befitting a chief executive.

Discussion: Ballot Box and GOP 12

Aaron Gould Sheinin / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Gingrich carries double-digit lead into Georgia primary

Discussion: CNN, Washington Wire, Politico and msnbc.com

Vicki Needham / Ballot Box:
Cleveland Plain Dealer endorses Romney

Discussion: CNN, Plain Dealer and Politico

ABCNEWS:
Why Rick Santorum's Ohio Delegate Fiasco Could Get Messy

Discussion: The Caucus and 2012 Decoded

BBC:

Dublin patron saint's heart stolen from Christ Church Cathedral — The preserved heart of Dublin's patron saint has been stolen from the city's Christ Church Cathedral, officials say. — The thief would have needed metal cutters to prise open the iron bars protecting the wooden heart-shaped box holding St Laurence O'Toole's heart.

Inside Bay Area:

Three Occupy Oakland protesters arrested for robbery and a hate crime, both felonies — OAKLAND — Three Occupy Oakland protesters suspected of stealing an Oakland woman's wallet and making offensive remarks about her perceived sexuality were charged Friday with robbery and committing a hate crime, both felonies, authorities said.

Discussion: CBS San Francisco, Reuters, Scared Monkeys, The Gateway Pundit, KTVU-TV, Power Line and Moe Lane

Associated Press:

Edwards asks that sex tape not be destroyed — GREENSBORO, N.C. — Ahead of his federal trial involving alleged campaign finance violations, John Edwards is asking a judge to keep a sex tape involving him and his mistress from being destroyed. — In a request filed Friday in U.S. District Court …

Discussion: Washington Post, Mediaite, The Hill, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Business Insider

Fox News:
John Edwards asks judge not to destroy sex tape

Discussion: TalkLeft

Wall Street Journal:

The Export Subsidy Boomerang — Helping some U.S. companies at the expense of others. — If you thought Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Solyndra would teach Congress a lesson about politicized credit, think again. The federal Export-Import Bank is up for reauthorization …

Discussion: Hot Air

Mark Landler / New York Times:

Israel's Backers in Aipac Press Obama to Harden Iran Policy — WASHINGTON — On the eve of a crucial visit to the White House by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, that country's most powerful American advocates are mounting an extraordinary public campaign to pressure President Obama …

Discussion: American Spectator, Israpundit, Israel Matzav, americanthinker.com, The Huffington Post and The Enterprise Blog

Jamie Klatell / The Hill:
Obama's AIPAC speech will be pivotal for holding onto Jewish voters in 2012

Discussion: Politico, Power Line and Zandar Versus The Stupid

Joe Nocera / New York Times:

Rooting for Santorum — I'm rooting for Rick Santorum to win the Republican nomination. Seriously. — You probably think that is because it would be the best possible outcome for President Obama. No doubt it would be. If Santorum were the Republican nominee for president …

Discussion: Towleroad News #gay, Power Line, No More Mister Nice Blog and Outside the Beltway

Charles M. Blow / New York Times:
Santorum and the Sexual Revolution

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Prairie Weather

Associated Press:

Official: Mistakes led to Afghan Quran burnings — KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — At least five American military personnel could face a disciplinary review over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base in Afghanistan as conflicting accounts of what happened emerged Saturday, fueling more confusion …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch