memeorandum: Barbara Walters tried to get Assad aide CNN job, spot at Columbia University (Chuck Bennett/New York Post)

2:15 PM ET, June 6, 2012

Top Items:

A wake-up call for Dems, labor, and the left — Scott Walker's victory in tonight's recall battle is a major wake-up call for the left, Democrats, and unions about the true nature of the new, post-Citizens United political landscape, and it should force a major reckoning among liberals …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Hit & Run, Firedoglake, Campaign 2012, Politico, DownWithTyranny!, Outside the Beltway, The Daily Caller and National Review

Politico:

Wisconsin recall: The biggest losers — Vince Lombardi, the man who taught Cheeseheads to think with clarity about the severe consequences of victory and defeat, once offered this gem about life: “Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser.” — Scott Walker last night showed Wisconsin …

Discussion: CNSNews, Wake up America and Washington Post

Lee Bergquist / JSOnline:

Democrats appear to take Senate with narrow Lehman win — Race in Racine County still out — By Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel — Democrats appeared to have assumed control of the state Senate with results posted early Wednesday showing former Sen. John Lehman (D-Racine) defeating incumbent Van Wanggaard in a tight race.

Discussion: msnbc.com, Local, CNN, Fox News, Hot Air, Washington Post, Business Insider, Sister Toldjah and americanthinker.com

New York Times:

Walker Survives Wisconsin Recall Vote — WAUKESHA, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker, whose decision to cut collective bargaining rights for most public workers set off a firestorm in a state usually known for its political civility, held on to his job on Tuesday, becoming the first governor …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, The Moderate Voice, Washington Examiner, JSOnline, Washington Post, Reuters, Prairie Weather, New York Magazine, Mish's Global Economic …, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Wall Street Journal, Booman Tribune, The Week, Cato @ Liberty and alicublog

Wesley Lam / Twitchy:

“Kill Scott Walker”: Angry libs flood Twitter with death threats after Wisconsin recall defeat … Tonight, liberal Twitter users are openly advocating the assassination of Gov. Scott Walker:

Discussion: RedState, American Power, Weasel Zippers, Examiner, protein wisdom, Power Line and Wake up America

Harold Meyerson / American Prospect:

A Wisconsin Domino Effect? — (AP/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) — Supporters of a recall effort against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker continue to sing a union solidarity song outside the State Capitol Building after polling results begin show a victory for Walker in statewide recall elections Tuesday, June 5, 2012.

Discussion: Washington Post

Molly Ball / The Atlantic Online:

In Wisconsin, the Left Picked a Fight — and Lost — It doesn't mean Obama is going to lose, but the failed attempt to recall Scott Walker gives Democrats and organized labor reason to fear an emboldened conservative agenda. — It's important to remember, as Democrats cope with their failure …

Discussion: 2012 Decoded, New York Magazine, News Desk, New York Times, The Spectacle Blog, CNSNews, Balloon Juice, Washington Post, Grist and nation.foxnews.com

Chris Cillizza / Washington Post:
Why Scott Walker won the Wisconsin recall

Discussion: CBS News, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, RealClearPolitics Video Log, Mother Jones, Talking Points Memo, Michelle Malkin, The Huffington Post, Slate, JSOnline, Jammie Wearing Fools, Washington Monthly, Betsy's Page, Villainous Company, Pirate's Cove and Taylor Marsh

Thomas Grier / The Daily Caller:
Ignore the spin: Wisconsin was a disaster for Democrats and President Obama

Discussion: Wake up America, RedState, Via Meadia, Althouse, MacIver Institute, The Gateway Pundit, The Lonely Conservative, Politico and The Raw Story

Ross Douthat / Campaign Stops:
No Recall — For disappointed Democrats, seduced by early exit polls …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, The Daily Beast, The Daily Dish, Washington Post, Real Clear Politics, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/* and Ricochet Conversations Feed

Mj Lee / Politico:
Sarah Palin: 'Obama's goose is cooked'

Discussion: Ballot Box, The Hill, The New Civil Rights Movement, Guardian and Truthdig

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
What It All Means, Initial Thoughts

Discussion: The Daily Beast, JSOnline and The Daily Dish

Dylan Byers / Politico:
Cable news takes sides in Wis.

Discussion: Guardian, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway, Crooks and Liars, Conservatives4Palin and CNN

Cameron Joseph / The Hill:
Unions suffer blow in recall defeat

Discussion: Politico, CBS News, BuzzFeed, Associated Press, Towleroad News #gay, Questions and Observations and Scared Monkeys

John Nichols / thenation.com/blogs/117:
Recall Campaign Against Scott Walker Fails

Discussion: 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, Washington Monthly, neo-neocon, Hotline On Call and The Daily Caller

Jim Geraghty / National Review:
How Scott Walker Helped Unions and Democrats Tonight

Discussion: Political Capital, Weekly Standard, The Conservatory, TheBlaze.com, GayPatriot and Washington Wire

Rosie Gray / BuzzFeed:
Anger And Denial — And A Slap To The Democrat's Face — In Wisconsin

Discussion: Washington Post, CNN and Guardian

Glenn Thrush / Politico:
Only one takeaway from Wisconsin: Money shouts

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, iWatch News Latest Stories and Hit & Run

Mic Network Inc / PolicyMic:
Wisconsin Recall Election Scandal: Scott Walker at Center of Massive Cover-Up John Doe Investigation

Discussion: Journal Times, Crooks and Liars, The Daily Beast, Mediaite, Suburban Guerrilla and NewsBusters.org

Mackenzie Weinger / Politico:

Supporter slaps Tom Barrett after loss — Talk about hitting a man when he's down. — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett not only lost to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in Tuesday's recall election, but he was also slapped by a supporter after his concession speech.

Discussion: msnbc.com

Kerry Picket / Washington Times:

Report - Woman slaps Mayor Barrett for conceding too early — Mayor Tom Barrett's concession speech, following his loss to Republican Governor Scott Walker, did not make one local Wisconsin woman happy with the Milwaukee Democrat. According to WISN 12 News, a woman “slapped” …

Discussion: The Jawa Report, The Hope For America, New York Magazine, Weasel Zippers and The Daily Caller

ABCNEWS:
Barrett Slapped In Face After Conceding Recall To Walker

Discussion: The Rightnewz

Meredith Woerner / io9:

R.I.P. Ray Bradbury, Author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles — Ray Bradbury — author of The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and many more literary classics — died this morning in Los Angeles, at the age of 91.

Discussion: Guardian, Hit & Run, BuzzFeed, Dean's World, Towleroad News #gay, Capital New York and Gawker

Gerald Jonas / New York Times:
Ray Bradbury, Master of Science Fiction, Dies at 91

Discussion: Cato @ Liberty and Balloon Juice

John Rogers / Associated Press:
Author Ray Bradbury has died in California

Discussion: American Spectator

Zack Ford / ThinkProgress:

Miss Pennsylvania USA Resigns In Protest Of Transgender Candidates — Before Miss Rhode Island Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss USA last week, she answered a question about transgender contestants in the pageant, openly embracing their inclusion. But Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Associated Press and The New Civil Rights Movement

Natalie Finn / E! Online:

Miss Pennsylvania USA Resigns: Inclusion of Transgender Contestant “Goes Against Every Moral Fiber of My Being” — Shocker: Donald Trump has more beauty pageant controversy on his hands. — Sheena Monnin, the reigning Miss Pennsylvania USA, resigned from her post this week …

Discussion: GLAAD and Towleroad News #gay

Vanity Fair:

Team of Mascots — Four years ago, Barack Obama said he wanted a Lincoln-esque “team of rivals” in his Cabinet. Thanks to his own temperament, the modern White House, and the 24-hour news cycle, what the president has created is something that doesn't look Lincoln-esque at all.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Taegan Goddard's …

Byron Tau / Politico:
Clinton again splits with Obama

Discussion: Business Insider, msnbc.com, The Huffington Post, Power Line, The Maddow Blog, Hotline On Call, Outside the Beltway, CNN, New York Magazine and CNBC

Quinnipiac University:

McMahon, Murphy Open Big Leads In Connecticut Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Two Front-Runners Neck-And-Neck In General Election — Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon leads former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays 59 - 30 percent in the Republican primary for Connecticut's U.S. Senate seat …

Discussion: CNN, Politico, Washington Wire and Hotline On Call

Quinnipiac University:
Cuccinelli Has 3-1 Lead In 2013 Virginia GOP Gov Primary, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, CNN, Reuters, Hotline On Call and GOP 12

Raf Sanchez / Telegraph:

Barbara Walters apologises over links to Syrian aide of Bashar al-Assad — Barbara Walters, the grande dame of American television news, has been forced to apologise after it emerged that she had tried to use her influence to further the career of a former leading aide of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Discussion: Capital New York, Media Decoder, Guardian, Wonkette, iOwnTheWorld.com, Gawker, Deadline.com, Mediaite and Riehl World View, more at Mediagazer »

Martin Wolf / Financial Times:

Panic has become all too rational — Suppose that in June 2007 you had been told that the UK 10-year bond would be yielding 1.54 per cent, the US Treasury 10-year 1.47 per cent and the German 10-year 1.17 per cent on June 1 2012. Suppose, too, you had been told that official short rates varied …

Discussion: Firedoglake, Marginal Revolution, Bloomberg, JustOneMinute, Business Insider, Paul Krugman, New York Times, FT Alphaville, Real Time Economics and AMERICAN FUTURE

Denise Smith Amos / Cincinnati.com:

Teacher claims he didn't get job because he's gay — A music teacher said Tuesday that Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy changed its mind about hiring him because he is gay. — The case is the latest in a string of local and national conflicts involving religious institutions firing employees based …

Discussion: ThinkProgress

Andy Towle / Towleroad News #gay:
Cincinnati Christian School Asks Teacher if He's Gay, Fires Him: VIDEO

Discussion: The Raw Story and The New Civil Rights Movement

John Woolfolk / Mercury News:

All precincts counted: San Jose passes pension reform — San Jose voters Tuesday handed Mayor Chuck Reed a crucial victory with his nationally watched pension reform measure passing by a decisive margin. — It was a big night for pension reform, with a San Diego measure also winning by a wide margin.

Discussion: utsandiego.com, The PJ Tatler, Eduwonk, americanthinker.com and Hit & Run

David Harsanyi / Human Events:
Not just Wisconsin: California portends bad news for public-sector unions

Discussion: The Conservatory, Hot Air, Vodkapundit, Datechguy's Blog and Joanne Jacobs

Jordy Yager / The Hill:

Ethics announces case against Rep. Waters will move forward — The House Ethics Committee announced on Wednesday that Rep. Maxine Waters's (D-Calif.) rights were not violated in its investigation of her and its case will proceed. — Waters is next in line to fill Rep. Barney Frank's …

Discussion: nation.foxnews.com, “The Lid” and Weasel Zippers

Jeremy Herb / The Hill:

Senate Democrats blast national security leak about cyberattack against Iran — Senate Democrats on Tuesday blasted leaks to the press about a cyberattack against Iran and warned the disclosure of President Obama's order could put the United States at risk of a retaliatory strike.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Wired, Hot Air and americanthinker.com

Ilya Shapiro / Wall Street Journal:
Why Obama Strikes Out In Court

Discussion: New York Post, National Review, Betsy's Page and Hit & Run

Karoli / Crooks and Liars:

Mike Huckabee Accidentally Tells The Truth About Fox News — Oops! This slipup by Mike Huckabee accidentally reveals the truth about our favorite non-news channel. In this clip, he declares that the nation would think Barack Obama was doing just fine if it weren't for Fox News.

Discussion: Mediaite and Indecision Forever

CNN:

CNN Poll: Americans' attitudes toward gay community changing — Washington (CNN) - A majority of Americans say they support legally recognizing same-sex marriage amid growing evidence that the public's become more comfortable with gays and lesbians, according to a new national poll.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Advocate and Reuters