memeorandum: Globe asks Biden for ‘chains’ apology (Dylan Byers/Politico)

3:15 AM ET, August 19, 2012

Top Items:

Juana Summers / Politico:

Ryan's mom is new face in Medicare wars — THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Meet Paul Ryan's mom. — Betty Ryan Douglas, 78, is the newest face of the Medicare wars that have abruptly taken center stage in the 2012 contest, joining her son here Saturday in the town square of a sprawling retirement community …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Talking Points Memo, National Review, The Hinterland Gazette and New York Magazine

CNN:

Ryan stands by $716 billion Medicare criticism — (CNN) - In an interview on Saturday, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan said his Medicare proposal had “evolved” - with, among other influences, input from Democrats. — “As we got into looking at this issue, talking with Democrats …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs

Mandy / Deep Fried Manatees:

Paul Ryan draws a crowd at The Villages — Lee Greenwood warms up the crowd for Paul Ryan — I got up at 4 a.m. this morning to drive to The Villages to see Paul Ryan. I stood for three hours in unbelievable heat waiting for Ryan to arrive and I can tell you that it was absolutely worth it.

Mitt Romney for President of the United States …:
AUDIO REMARKS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CUTS TO MEDICARE

Discussion: Wake up America, Hot Air, The Lonely Conservative, Associated Press, Balloon Juice, Ballot Box, The Caucus and Taylor Marsh

Elise Viebeck / The Hill:
Ryan saves boldest plan for Medicaid

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Emily Schultheis / Politico:
GOP advice on Medicare: Attack

Discussion: Newsy

Mike Lillis / Ballot Box:
Obama: Paul Ryan plan would cut Romney's tax rate to 1 percent

Discussion: Politico

Boston Globe:

Biden should apologize for “back in chains” remark — When Vice President Joe Biden warned a Virginia rally of hundreds of African Americans that Republican efforts to loosen bank regulations meant “They're going to put y'all back in chains,” Stephanie Cutter, Team Obama's deputy campaign manager …

Discussion: Power Line, his vorpal sword, Weasel Zippers, RedState and Weekly Standard

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Globe asks Biden for ‘chains’ apology — The Boston Globe is calling on Vice President Joe Biden to apologize for telling an audience at a campaign rally, made up largely of African Americans, that Republicans “want to put ya'll back in chains.” — “[I]magine if Republican Paul Ryan uttered comments like that.

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Rasmussen Reports:
Better Qualified To Serve As President? 42% Say Ryan, 40% Biden

Discussion: Ballot Box, Weasel Zippers and Hot Air

Andrew Kirell / Mediaite:

Paul Ryan On Foreign Policy Credentials: ‘I Voted To Send People To War’ — Speaking to Fox News' Carl Cameron Saturday morning, Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan made the case for why he believes his foreign policy credentials are stronger than President Obama's, emphasizing …

Discussion: Hit & Run

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:
Paul Ryan Claims He Didn't Know He Signed Letters Asking For Stimulus Funds

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

With a Full Quiver, Senator Schumer Is Quick to Release Cupid's Arrows — Even by the standards of Capitol Hill, where ambitious and awkward young people are thrust together in cramped workplaces and crowded bars, the nuptial output of Senator Charles E. Schumer's office stands out.

Discussion: Althouse, Gothamist and Lawyers, Guns & Money

BuzzFeed:

How Management Killed “The Village Voice” — Mike Lacey figured out sex ads on the Internet, but little else. The paper edges toward collapse. — Alt-weeklies are always dying. But the news Friday that four editorial staffers were laid off or had their hours cut to part-time at The Village Voice …

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The PJ Tatler and American Power, more at Mediagazer »

Foster Kamer / The New York Observer:
Layoffs Hit Editorial Staff at The Village Voice

Discussion: iOwnTheWorld.com, more at Mediagazer »

MS Bellows Jr / Guardian:

Mitt Romney's tax returns: the ‘voter fraud’ theory — There has been much speculation about why Romney refuses to disclose earlier tax returns. Could it be as simple as an address? — Friday's exchange of letters between the election campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney …

Discussion: Applesauce, iOwnTheWorld.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Moderate Voice, The Hinterland Gazette, CANNONFIRE, ABCNEWS and Balloon Juice

Nikki Finke / Deadline.com:

‘The Tonight Show’ Lays Off 20 Staffers And Host Jay Leno Takes Pay Cut To Save Jobs — SATURDAY UPDATE: Jay Leno's spokesman has now issued this statement: “Jay's foremost concern is for the wonderful people who work for The Tonight Show. He did what was necessary to ensure their well-being.”

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Mediaite, The Hinterland Gazette and EconomicPolicyJournal.com, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

U.S. Says Iraqis Are Helping Iran Skirt Sanctions — WASHINGTON — When President Obama announced last month that he was barring a Baghdad bank from any dealings with the American banking system, it was a rare acknowledgment of a delicate problem facing the administration in a country …

Discussion: emptywheel and Israel Matzav

George F. Will / Washington Post:

Why doom has not materialized — Sometimes the news is that something was not newsworthy. The United Nations' Rio+20 conference — 50,000 participants from 188 nations — occurred in June without consequences. A generation has passed since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, which begat other conferences and protocols (e.g., Kyoto).

Discussion: AEIdeas and Cold Fury