memeorandum: Court challenge holds high stakes for Obama (CNN)

9:10 AM ET, March 26, 2012

Top Items:

Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:

President Obama Asks Medvedev for ‘Space’ on Missile Defense — ‘After My Election I Have More Flexibility’ — SEOUL, South Korea — At the tail end of his 90 minute meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Monday, President Obama said that he would have “more flexibility” …

Discussion: Power Line, Taegan Goddard's …, Hot Air, White House Dossier and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Jennifer Epstein / Politico:

Obama asks Russia for ‘space’ through election — SEOUL - President Barack Obama offered a private request Monday to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for some “space” on missile defense ahead of November's elections. — “On all these issues, particularly on missile defense, this …

Discussion: CNN, Weasel Zippers and Betsy's Page

Sam Baker / The Hill:

Supreme Court weighs the fate of Obama's landmark healthcare law — President Obama's signature domestic achievement — and, with it, a big part of his political legacy — is now in the hands of the Supreme Court. — The nine justices on Monday will begin hearing three consecutive days …

Discussion: Politico and americanthinker.com

Adam Liptak / New York Times:

Health Act Arguments Open With Obstacle From 1867 — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday starts three days of hearings on the constitutionality of the 2010 health care overhaul law, an epic clash that could recast the very structure of American government.

Discussion: The Caucus and The Stranger …

CNN:

Court challenge holds high stakes for Obama — Jeffrey Toobin says a court challenge to Obama's signature domestic achievement is risky for his reelection bid … (CNN) — When the Supreme Court hears an extraordinary three days of arguments this week about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice

Lucy Madison / CBS News:

Plouffe: GOP will “regret” branding health care “Obamacare” — (CBS News) Senior White House adviser David Plouffe said Sunday that the White House is “confident” its health care overhaul will be upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court - and that, ultimately, Republicans are going to regret having branded it “Obamacare.”

Discussion: The New Republic, Bloomberg, Taylor Marsh, Politico and Washington Post

Thomas Burr / Salt Lake Tribune:

Utah's Senator Mike Lee urges GOP to back Romney — • Conservatives will start flocking to presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Sen. Mike Lee predicted Sunday as he offered his endorsement to the man he believes will be the best Republican to take on President Barack Obama.

Discussion: The Hill and About.com Conservative …

Jonathan Martin / Politico:

GOP race nears tipping point — The Republican primary is transitioning from hard-fought campaign to its next stage, a reckoning that Mitt Romney will be the nominee. — Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have also moved to their next act: hecklers, rather than competitors …

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's … and ThinkProgress

Lindsey Boerma / CBS News:
Santorum: Romney “worst Republican” to face Obama

Discussion: americanthinker.com and NO QUARTER

Patrick O'Connor / Washington Wire:
A Top House Leader Backs Romney

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, GOP 12, Los Angeles Times and The Political Carnival

Rick Santorum / Associated Press:
After Louisiana Win, Santorum Eyes Wisconsin

Discussion: Dean's World and Fox News

Ker Than / National Geographic:

James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive — Solo sub dive is deepest ever. — The explorer-filmmaker emerges from his sub after returning from Challenger Deep. — Ker Than — At noon, local time (10 p.m. ET), James Cameron's “vertical torpedo” …

Discussion: Guardian, ABCNEWS, Towleroad News #gay, Associated Press and Deadline.com

Sahil Kapur / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:

TPMDC — Ryan Promises To Close Tax Loopholes, But Won't Say Which — Appearing on two Sunday talk shows, the GOP's top budget guru Rep. Paul Ryan promised to close enough loopholes to pay for the large tax cuts in his budget blueprint unveiled last week — but he repeatedly refused to specify any.

Discussion: Washington Post and The Maddow Blog

Vicki Needham / The Hill:

Slower jobs growth for women voters could cost Obama in election — Women aren't faring as well as other groups in the job market's recovery and that could put a dent into their support for President Obama. — While female workers largely held their own through the recession …

Walter Shapiro / The New Republic:

The Sad End of the Gingrich Campaign — “At an age when most young men are focused on playing sports and meeting girls, Newt was fantasizing about saving the world.” —Steven M. Gillon, The Pact, 2008 — Despite Newt Gingrich's best efforts, it looks like the world is going to have to save itself.