memeorandum: Zimmerman's lawyer: I want a new judge (Rene Stutzman/Orlando Sentinel)

10:10 PM ET, April 16, 2012

Top Items:

Frank Newport / Gallup:

Romney, Obama in Tight Race as Gallup Daily Tracking Begins — Romney voters slightly more certain they will vote — PRINCETON, NJ — Mitt Romney is supported by 47% of national registered voters and Barack Obama by 45% in the inaugural Gallup Daily tracking results from April 11-15.

Roseanne Barr / The Daily Beast:

Roseanne Barr on Ann and Mitt Romney and the Mommy Wars — Let us not be dragged back into the “working mom versus stay-at-home mom” dialogue. By Roseanne Barr. — I almost got sick to my stomach when I heard Hilary Rosen's unfortunate words regarding Mrs. Mitt Romney.

Discussion: Politico, NewsBusters.org, Weasel Zippers and PopWatch

CNN:

CNN Poll: Gender gap and likeability keep Obama over Romney — (CNN) - President Barack Obama holds a nine-point lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney thanks in part to the perception that the president is more likeable and more in touch with the problems facing women and middle class Americans, according to a new national poll.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, The Caucus, Los Angeles Times, Ballot Box, Hot Air, Wake up America, The Mahablog and Politico

ABCNEWS:

Romney Tells Obama to ‘Start Packing’ in ABC News Exclusive Interview — Acting very much like the GOP nominee, Mitt Romney sent a curt message to President Obama today: “Start packing.” — The message, delivered with a chuckle, came in an exclusive interview with “World News” …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, CNN, Mediaite and Gothamist

BuzzFeed:

By Historic Standards, Obama Is In Trouble — Modern presidents who got re-elected were all leading in the polls at this point in their presidencies — as were some who lost anyway. Obama is in a statistical tie with Romney in the first Gallup daily tracking poll of the general election, and that might not be enough.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, A plain blog about politics, Campaign 2012, Indecision Forever and Business Insider

BuzzFeed:

Why Ann Stayed Home — It's not really about the money. Mrs. Romney's Mormon faith glorifies motherhood — and preaches the need for women to sacrifice their careers. — Mitt Romney listens to his wife Ann as she addresses the NRA. — (Getty Images / KAREN BLEIER)

Discussion: lds.org and Religion Dispatches

Russell Goldman / ABCNEWS:
Dog Seamus ‘Loved’ Trips Atop Family Car, Says Ann Romney

Discussion: Mediaite, Taegan Goddard's … and Gawker

Sara Murray / Wall Street Journal:
Romney Specifies Deductions He'd Cut

Geneva Sands / The Hill:
Former Obama adviser Barnes: Bill Maher's comments on Ann Romney ‘problematic’

Discussion: CNN, Wake up America, Weasel Zippers, Hot Air and The PJ Tatler

CNN:
Romney woos Red Sox Nation

Discussion: The Hill and Israel Matzav

Nile Gardiner / blogs.telegraph.co.uk:

Is Hillary Clinton becoming an embarrassment as Secretary of State? — The pictures of Hillary Clinton dancing the night away in Colombia during the Summit of the Americas are now all over Twitter, and were first reported by ABC News: … The overwhelmingly liberal US media is treating …

Discussion: New York Post, Hullabaloo, AMERICAN DIGEST, Fox News, Mediaite, Don Surber, newsfeed.time.com, nation.foxnews.com, ABCNEWS and TMZ.com

David A. Graham / The Atlantic Online:

Hillary Clinton Loses the Scrunchie in Colombia — The secretary of state lets her hair down in Cartagena — leading to the inevitable Drunk Texts from Hillary meme. — Hillary Clinton is seriously having a moment. Her approval ratings are sky-high. Her name is constantly floated as a vice presidential or presidential candidate.

Discussion: Hot Air, Guardian and The Confluence

Dylan Stableford / Yahoo! News:
Hillary Clinton parties in Colombia: Photos of dancing, beer-slugging secretary of state cause stir

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Mediaite, neo-neocon and TMZ.com

Lydia Saad / Gallup:

Less Than Half of Americans Consider Tax Bill Too High — Solid majority believe what they pay is fair, although low-income Americans are less satisfied — PRINCETON, NJ — As tax filing day looms, Americans fall into two closely matched camps: those who believe the amount they pay …

Discussion: Ezra Klein, ThinkProgress and Firedoglake

Jonathan Weisman / New York Times:
In Senate, Republicans Block Debate on ‘Buffett Rule’

Discussion: Truthdig

Warren Buffett / CNN:
CNN Poll: 7 out of 10 support ‘Buffett Rule’

Discussion: Reuters, ThinkProgress, Campaign 2012, Hot Air, The Raw Story and Politico

Katie Roiphe / The Daily Beast:

Spanking Goes Mainstream — From the steamy bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey to HBO's Girls, sexual domination is in vogue. Katie Roiphe on why women's power at work may be fueling the craze. Plus, Fifty Shades of Grey's naughtiest bits. — If every era gets the sadist it deserves …

Discussion: Guardian, Gawker, Feministing, Jezebel, Gothamist and Shakesville

David Weigel / Slate:

Herman Cain Rally at the Capitol Fails Spectacularly … - Vincent Kartheiser on What It's Like To Play Mad Men's Pete Campbell - Cocaine Is Unbelievably Cheap Now. Why? - Guys on Girls: What a Pack of Dudes Thought of the Premiere - Girls on Girls: What a Bunch of Ladies Thought …

Discussion: Indecision Forever

BuzzFeed: Herman Cain's Rally At The Capitol Is A Bust

Jonathan Gilbert / Telegraph:

Barack Obama makes Falklands gaffe by calling Malvinas the Maldives — Barack Obama made an uncharacteristic error, more akin to those of his predecessor George W Bush, by referring to the Falkland Islands as the Maldives. — Barack Obama made a gaffe more associated with predecessor George W Bush

Discussion: nation.foxnews.com, The PJ Tatler, The American Conservative, Weasel Zippers, Pat Dollard and Jammie Wearing Fools

Memet Walker / The Daily Tar Heel:

Column: GOP hopeful Newt Gingrich cuts interview short with UNC student — As a reporter, I'm rarely at a loss for words when it comes to interviewing almost anyone. By now, I've heard and seen a lot. — But there I was Saturday, standing alone with my recorder in a quiet stupor, as my subject, Newt Gingrich, rushed away.

Discussion: Politico, Mediaite, Indecision Forever, The Daily Caller, The Hill, Business Insider and The Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »

Joe Hagan / Texas Monthly:

Truth or Consequences — Eight years ago, Dan Rather broadcast an explosive report on the Air National Guard service of President George W. Bush. It was supposed to be the legendary newsman's finest hour. Instead, it blew up in his face, tarnishing his career forever and casting a dark cloud …

Discussion: iOwnTheWorld.com, Taylor Marsh, Politico, The Other McCain, Liberty Street, Poynter, The PJ Tatler, Jammie Wearing Fools, TVNewser, neo-neocon, Washington Monthly and New York Magazine, more at Mediagazer »

David Nir / Daily Kos:

WI-Gov: Scott Walker takes leads, but sits right at the 50% mark — Public Policy Polling for Daily Kos. 4/13-15. Likely voters. MoE: ±2.9% (2/23-26 results): … These numbers show a drop for Democrats from PPP's last survey of the race, which of course makes you ask, why? What's changed?

Discussion: Power Line, National Review, Firedoglake, Politico, BuzzFeed, Tom Barrett for Governor, Weekly Standard and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Jason Zengerle / New York Magazine:

In Conversation: Barney Frank — On the eve of his departure from Washington, the candid, caustic Massachusetts congressman talks with Jason Zengerle about Jon Stewart, Newt Gingrich, Tip O'Neill, Hillary Clinton, Fannie and Freddie ... Think back a little bit to 1981, when you arrived here in Washington.

Discussion: Hot Air, Hit & Run, Weasel Zippers, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Hill and Conservatives4Palin

Julian Pecquet / The Hill:
Rep. Frank says he urged Obama to back off healthcare reform

Discussion: Michelle Malkin

Rene Stutzman / Orlando Sentinel:

Zimmerman's lawyer: I want a new judge — George Zimmerman's attorney on Monday asked the judge in the case to step down because of a possible conflict of interest. — On Friday, O'Mara told Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler he was on the verge of asking her to step aside.

Discussion: JustOneMinute, New York Times, msnbc.com, Scared Monkeys and The Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »

Henry Paul Monaghan / The New Republic:

A Conservative Law Professor on the Obvious Constitutionality of Obamacare — The Constitution of the United States creates a national government of enumerated and therefore limited powers. Accordingly, troubled members of the Court should be applauded for their efforts to search for the limits …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, ACS Blog, The Maddow Blog and theGrio

The Huffington Post:

Newt Gingrich Bitten By Penguin At St. Louis Zoo … REACT: — FOLLOW: — Elections 2012, Elections 2012, Gingrich 2012, Gingrich 2012, Elections 2012, Newt Gingrich, Video, Election 2012, Gingrich, Gingrich Penguin, Gingrich St. Louis Zoo, Newt Gingrich Penguin, Newt Gingrich St. Louis Zoo …

Discussion: The Hill, Jezebel and The New Civil Rights Movement

Atrios / Eschaton:

WANKER OF THE DECADE - 1st Runner Up — Fred Hiatt. — As editorial page editor of the Washington Post, Fred Hiatt has presided over what is perhaps the world greatest gaggle of wankers. Fred's a true wanker connoissuer, a collector of fine wankers. Whenever a new wanker appears on the market …

Discussion: TalkLeft, US Politics and The Agonist

James Pethokoukis / The Enterprise Blog:

Here's how big the potential 2013 tax hikes would be — If you combine all the other tax increases from 1980-1993, they add up to 3.3% of GDP, according to the brilliant budget team at Strategas Research. The coming “taxmageddon” of 2013 surpasses all those tax hikes combined!

Discussion: Doug Ross and Business Insider

ABCNEWS:

Transcript: Mitt and Ann Romney's Interview With Diane Sawyer — DIANE SAWYER: Is it finally sinking in? — MITT ROMNEY: Well— DIANE SAWYER: It had — this is it? — MITT ROMNEY: We're getting— we're getting very close at this point. And — and so we're beginning to do the things …

Discussion: Ballot Box

Kirk Semple / New York Times:

More U.S. Children of Immigrants Are Leaving U.S. — Samir N. Kapadia seemed to be on the rise in Washington, moving from an internship on Capitol Hill to jobs at a major foundation and a consulting firm. Yet his days, he felt, had become routine. — By contrast, friends and relatives in India …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and Univision News Tumblr

Ross Douthat:

The Palin Counterfactual — After Rick Santorum's exit from the race last week, Philip Klein and HotAir's Allahpundit considered what would have happened if Sarah Palin rather than Santorum had been Mitt Romney's right-wing foil. I think that this point from Klein is interesting ...

Discussion: A plain blog about politics, Eunomia and The Daily Dish