memeorandum: Israel's Backers in Aipac Press Obama to Harden Iran Policy (Mark Landler/New York Times)

8:15 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, JustOneMinute, New York Times, New York Magazine, ABCNEWS, Los Angeles Times, The Gateway Pundit, Sky Dancing, Prairie Weather, Washington Post, blogs.forbes.com/johnmcquaid, American Power, Sad Hill News, ECHIDNE of the snakes, Whiskey Fire, The Jane Dough, No More Mister Nice Blog, Politico, Little Green Footballs, Scholars and Rogues, ThinkProgress, Addicting Info, Washington Examiner, The Moderate Voice, The Daily Caller, TalkLeft, Mediaite, The Daily Dish, Outside the Beltway, The Last Tradition, Business Insider, Weasel Zippers, The Caucus, The Lonely Conservative, Mock, Paper, Scissors, Hullabaloo, American Spectator, KDVR.com is the website …, CBS News, Campaign 2012, The Daily What, msnbc.com, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Mahablog, The Page, Althouse, Don Surber, Daily Kos, Wake up America, The Right Scoop, Big Hollywood, Firedoglake, The Raw Story 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, Crooks and Liars, carbonite.com, NewsHounds blog, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Impolitic and Booman Tribune

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: Little Green Footballs, Sky Dancing, Don Surber and American Power

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, BuzzFeed, ECHIDNE of the snakes, Little Green Footballs, Michelle Malkin and The Daily Caller

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

Discussion: RADAMISTO and iOwnTheWorld.com

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: Instapundit and FiveThirtyEight

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 …

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

CNN:
CNN projects Romney will win Washington state caucuses

Discussion: Los Angeles Times and Scared Monkeys

Vicki Needham / Ballot Box:
Cleveland Plain Dealer endorses Romney

Discussion: Plain Dealer, Politico and CNN

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

Discussion: The Caucus and 2012 Decoded

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: Mediaite, Washington Post, The Hill and Business Insider

Fox News:

John Edwards asks judge not to destroy sex tape — GREENSBORO, N.C. - John Edwards has asked a judge not to destroy a sex tape he made with his former mistress Rielle Hunter that was slated for destruction under a settlement reached last week, WRAL-TV reported.

Discussion: TalkLeft

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: CNN, Israel Matzav, The Enterprise Blog, The Huffington Post and Salon

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

Discussion: Power Line and Zandar Versus The Stupid

Josh Rogin / Foreign Policy:
Daylight: New film blasts Obama's Israel record

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Nice Deb, Israel Matzav, Power Line and Washington Free Beacon

Scott Wilson / Washington Post:
In meeting, Obama to warn Netanyahu against military strikes on Iran

Discussion: Israpundit, americanthinker.com, The Huffington Post, Weasel Zippers, Israel Matzav, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Gateway Pundit

Michelle Dupler / Tri-City Herald:

POLITICS: Local GOP apologizes for turning 1,500 away from caucuses in Kennewick — Kennewick About 1,500 people were turned away from pooled Benton County caucuses in Kennewick by event organizers after rooms at the Three Rivers Convention Center reached capacity this morning.

Discussion: Politico, The Impolitic and Patterico's Pontifications

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: 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

Wall Street Journal:

How to Dress Like You Just Might Win — I was watching the Georgetown-Notre Dame basketball game Monday night and was struck by how dapper the coaches looked. And not just the coaches, but the assistant coaches. And the assistant-assistant coaches. Fancy shirts. Classy ties. Elegant suits.

BigFurHat / iOwnTheWorld.com:

(bumped and sticky) Breitbart Is Here — HERE IS THE LINK TO “THE SHIRT” — ALL MONEY LEFT AFTER THE COST OF MATERIALS, SHIPPING AND HANDLING WILL BE GIVEN TO THE ANDREW BREITBART FAMILY. — UPDATE 4: Here is the graphic that will go to the shop. I updated it with the classic Breitbart coif.

Discussion: Big Government, Doug Ross and Atlas Shrugs

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