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The Draperizing of Mitt Romney — The Draperizing of Mitt Romney is under way. — He may not drink or cheat, and he lacks the fictional ad-maker's charisma, but Democrats, despite the potential perils of such a strategy, remain determined to paint Romney as a throwback to the “Mad Men” …
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Morning Jay: Obama's Troubled Reelection Strategy — Karl Rove had a spot-on column in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. He wrote, in part: … Exactly. If I had to offer a brief summary of Obama's campaign strategy this year, it would be this: — Clearly, this is not an ideal strategy, for any candidate.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Outside the Beltway, Mitt Romney Central and Wall Street Journal


The “War on Women” Is Over — The life cycle of a political talking point, from birth to adolescence to death. — A moment of silence, please, for a talking point that was taken too soon. The “war on women” began its life in a February 2011 House speech about abortion.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Washington Free Beacon, Politico, Daily Kos, The Agonist, ABCNEWS, Weasel Zippers, Reuters, National Review and The Caucus

Obama aides say Rosen shows president will take on friends — Senior Obama aides say President Obama's criticism of Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's comments show he's willing to stand up to his friends, unlike Mitt Romney. — The argument from the aides is an effort to find a bright spot …
Discussion:
Reuters, Hot Air, Weasel Zippers, JustOneMinute and The Hill

Does the 2012 Presidential Election Matter? — Matt Stoller is a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. You can follow him on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/matthewstoller — If you picked up a newspaper in DC this week, it would have been hard to avoid noticing that a bizarre …
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org blogs, A plain blog about politics, New York Times, The Agonist, Discourse.net and Firedoglake

Nasty comments toward Ann Romney cast light on haters who can't handle feminine role
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Towleroad News #gay and The New Civil Rights Movement

The flap over Hillary Rosen's comments disparaging stay-at-home-moms …
Discussion:
RedState, Politico and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

NOW president: Ann Romney lacks “life experience” and “imagination” to relate to most Americans
Discussion:
Mail Online, LifeNews.com, Althouse, The PJ Tatler, BuzzFeed and ABCNEWS

First Thoughts: The silly season
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Politico and The Daily Dish


Hilary Rosen flap a “win in every regard” for GOP, says Nicolle Wallace
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Slate and Gawker

NOW Prez: Ann Romney Lacks ‘Life Experience’ And ‘Imagination’
Discussion:
neo-neocon, americanthinker.com, Pundit & Pundette, Hot Air and GILL REPORT


Newark Mayor Cory Booker taken to hospital after rescuing woman from house fire — NEWARK — Newark Mayor Cory Booker was taken to a hospital tonight for treatment of smoke inhalation he suffered trying to rescue his next-door neighbors from their burning house.
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Newark Mayor Cory Booker: Race into home fire was a “come to Jesus moment” — PLAY CBS NEWS VIDEO — (CBS News) Newark Mayor Cory Booker called it his “come to Jesus moment” when he ran into a burning building to save a neighbor's life. — Booker arrived home last night to discover …
Discussion:
Business Insider, Human Rights Campaign, Newsy, The Raw Story, Joe. My. God., Colorlines, newsfeed.time.com and Gothamist

President Obama and Vice President Biden's 2011 Tax Returns — Today, the President released his 2011 federal income and gift tax returns. He and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported adjusted gross income of $789,674. About half of the first family's income …
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, Weekly Standard, ThinkProgress, Washington Post, Don Surber, CNN, Business Insider, Wonkette, Villainous Company and Politico
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Did Obama Pay a Lower Rate Than His Secretary?
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon and Weasel Zippers


Failed North Korean Launch a Setback for Kim Jong-un — SEOUL, South Korea — For the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, his government's failure to put a satellite into orbit on Friday was a $1 billion humiliation. — Mr. Kim wanted to mark his ascension to top political power …
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Ailes lectures young journalists — CHAPEL HILL - Fox News chief Roger Ailes offered more than a few words of advice Thursday in a room filled mostly with young journalists, starting with a recommendation that elicited at least a few eye rolls: “I think you ought to change your major.”
Discussion:
TVNewser, The Political Carnival and Real Clear Politics, more at Mediagazer »
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Roger Ailes: Soledad O'Brien Was ‘Named After A Prison’ … REACT: — FOLLOW: — Roger Ailes, Soledad O'Brien, Roger Ailes Soledad o'Brien, Soledad o'Brien Roger Ailes, Media News — Roger Ailes made a jaw-dropping comment about CNN's Soledad O'Brien during a college lecture on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Poynter and Hullabaloo

Obama order coordinates federal oversight of ‘fracking,’ gas development — President Obama signed an executive order Friday establishing a high-level task force charged with coordinating federal oversight of domestic natural gas development. — The task force is charged with ensuring …
Discussion:
Politico
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Harvard Prof. Alan Dershowitz: Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit ‘Irresponsible And Unethical’ — Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz appeared on MSNBC's Hardball where fill-in host Michel Smerconish asked him his opinions of the arrest warrant issued and carried out for alleged Trayvon Martin murderer, George Zimmerman.
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, Taylor Marsh, TalkLeft, msnbc.com, Macsmind, JustOneMinute, Orlando Sentinel and Trayvon Martin

The Myth of Sustainable Meat — THE industrial production of animal products is nasty business. From mad cow, E. coli and salmonella to soil erosion, manure runoff and pink slime, factory farming is the epitome of a broken food system. — There have been various responses to these horrors …
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Althouse


Vermont governor Peter Shumlin chased by 4 bears in backyard — MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says he was chased and nearly caught by four bears that were raiding his birdfeeders. — Shumlin says he was in bed in his rented Montpelier home late Wednesday night when he heard …
Discussion:
Vermont Public Radio News and Guardian


GOP-On-GOP Attacks Leave Orrin Hatch Fighting Mad — Utah Republican Orrin Hatch has spent 36 years in the U.S. Senate, including stints as chairman of the Judiciary and Labor committees. He's in line to become chairman of the Finance Committee if Republicans gain control of the Senate in November.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Hit & Run, The Daily Caller and The Spectacle Blog

Florida Dems release ‘Sh** Allen West Says’ video after ‘communist’ remarks — The Florida Democratic Party released a video Friday titled “Sh** Allen West Says,” in the style of the viral YouTube meme, slamming the Florida congressman for his controversial comments.


Obama Campaign Claims Romney Would “Outlaw Abortion” — It's a stretch, based on a single remark in 2007, and accompanied by the false claim that Romney wants to shut down Planned Parenthood. A silver bullet against the Republican — or Obama over-reaching to alarm female voters?
Discussion:
Daily Kos

Does it really matter who is elected to the presidency in November? — Regardless of who is elected the U. S. will continue to be interventionist in its foreign policy. — Regardless of who is elected the “Bush tax cuts” will be sustained. There may be some tweaking around the edges.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Ezra Klein