memeorandum: GOP strategists: Puerto Rico Gov. Fortuno is a sleeper vice presidential pick (Daniel Strauss/Ballot Box)

3:05 AM ET, April 15, 2012

Top Items:

Secret Service agents busted because they refused to pay hooker: source — Scandal was revealed Friday before President Obama arrived in Colombia for Summit of the Americas — President Barack Obama waves upon arrival to Cartagena, Colombia, Friday April 13, 2012.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Fox News, Weasel Zippers, The Hill, Michelle Malkin, Scared Monkeys, Outside the Beltway, White House Dossier and CNN

Politico:

Military ensnared in Colombia Secret Service scandal — CARTAGENA, Colombia — Five U.S. military members have been ordered confined to quarters over possible involvement in inappropriate conduct at the same hotel here as the 11 Secret Service personnel sent home in an unfolding scandal involving local prostitutes.

New York Times:
Secret Service Agents Accused of Misconduct

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and New York Magazine

CNN:
Secret Service agents relieved of duty in Colombia amid alleged misconduct

Discussion: Towleroad News #gay, Business Insider, Fox News and Newsy

Yusuf / Somaliland Sun:

Al-Shabaab execute al-Amriki — The al-Qaeda-allied group al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami on April 5th, according to unconfirmed Somali media reports. — Hammami, known as Abu Mansour al-Amriki, said he feared for his life from other al-Shabaab leaders because of strategic …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and The Jawa Report

ABCNEWS:

Obama Calls Romney's Stance on Immigration ‘Very Troublesome’ — CARTAGENA, Colombia — President Obama, on a three-day trip to South America, attacked GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney's stance on immigration reform today, saying his support for Arizona's tough immigration law is “very troublesome.”

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Alberto Gonzales / CNN:

Former AG Gonzales: Rubio not a wise VP pick — Boston (CNN) - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio would not be a wise pick for number two on the GOP ticket this year, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told CNN Saturday. — Rubio is not ready to be president, Gonzales said, and the vice president “must be ready on day one.”

Discussion: Univision News Tumblr

Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Obama pledges to pursue immigration reform in second term

Discussion: Hot Air and Weasel Zippers

Univision News Tumblr:
Obama promises to tackle immigration reform in second term

Discussion: 24Ahead and Hit & Run

Linda Hirshman / Washington Post:

Hilary Rosen was right: Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. — Beltway pundit Hilary Rosen committed a mortal sin of American politics: She spoke the truth with a microphone on. — “What you have,” she told Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night, “is Mitt Romney running around the country saying …

Discussion: his vorpal sword, Mediaite, The Agonist, Feministe, BuzzFeed, US Politics, Democracy in America and Crooks and Liars

Wall Street Journal:

Winning the War Against Women — The marriage tax and other obstacles to economic progress. — The Democrats have found their kind of war. It's the “war against women” they have conjured for the Obama Presidential campaign run. Should be fun, but don't look for any of the combatants to speak for the realities of today's women.

Discussion: ECHIDNE of the snakes

Daniel Strauss / Ballot Box:

GOP strategists: Puerto Rico Gov. Fortuno is a sleeper vice presidential pick — Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno (R) is a sleeper pick for the No. 2 spot on the 2012 presidential ticket, according to GOP strategists. — Republican front-runner Mitt Romney has kept his cards close to his chest …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Associated Press:
Obama 2008 Gains Key to Presidential Battleground

Discussion: Reuters and Politico

Sara Mead / Washington Monthly:

The Real War on Moms Has a Mortality Rate — Despite what Dave Weigel says, the fates seem determined to drag the Ann Romney/Hilary Rosen/war on women/war on moms debate into the weekend, so I guess I might as well, too. One response to the War on Moms claims—well-made by Salon's Irin Carmon here …

Discussion: The Mahablog

Phil Gast / CNN:

Storm hits Iowa hospital; tornadoes roll across Plains — (CNN) — A possible tornado struck a hospital Saturday evening in Creston, Iowa, according to a dispatcher with the Union County Sheriff's Department. A search-and-rescue operation was under way. — “We have been hit.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and Scared Monkeys

New York Times:

White House Opens Door to Big Donors, and Lobbyists Slip In — Last May, as a battle was heating up between Internet companies and Hollywood over how to stop online piracy, a top entertainment industry lobbyist landed a meeting at the White House with one of President Obama's technology advisers.

Los Angeles Times:

At Latin America summit, Obama to face push for drug legalization — Latin American leaders at the Summit of the Americas, in their attempt to curb regional drug violence, are expected to call for legalizing marijuana and other drugs, a move Obama opposes. — An indigenous Bolivian woman …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, JustOneMinute and Dean's World