memeorandum: Teachers on the Defensive — RANDI WEINGARTEN, the powerful president … (Frank Bruni/New York Times)

10:05 AM ET, August 19, 2012

Top Items:

On ‘This Week’: Stephanie Cutter and Kevin Madden — Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter and Romney campaign senior adviser Kevin Madden face off on the latest battles in the 2012 presidential campaign, Sunday on “This Week.” — Mitt Romney and his new running mate Rep. Paul Ryan hit …

Discussion: The Political Carnival

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: Booman Tribune and Little Green Footballs

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: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Talking Points Memo, The Hinterland Gazette and New York Magazine

Mandy / Deep Fried Manatees:
Paul Ryan draws a crowd at The Villages

Discussion: Power Line

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

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Emily Schultheis / Politico:
GOP advice on Medicare: Attack

Discussion: Hot Air, ThinkProgress, Newsy, CNN, National Review, PERRspectives and No More Mister Nice Blog

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

Discussion: Associated Press, Angry Black Lady Chronicles, Wake up America, Hot Air, The Lonely Conservative, Ballot Box, The Caucus and Taylor Marsh

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: his vorpal sword, Power Line, Right Wing News, 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: Angry Black Lady Chronicles

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

Discussion: Ballot Box, Weasel Zippers and Hot Air

Frank Bruni / New York Times:

Teachers on the Defensive — RANDI WEINGARTEN, the powerful president of the American Federation of Teachers, took a rare vacation last week, but tweeting knows no holidays, nor does frustration with what can sometimes seem like constant assaults on the men and women at the nation's blackboards.

Discussion: Daily Kos and Vox Popoli

Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:

Grover Norquist: George H.W. Bush ‘Lied’ to the American People — Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist dismissed recent criticism of his tax pledge from former President George H.W. Bush, saying the 41st president had “lied” to the American people by raising taxes while in office.

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …

Joe Lawler / Metromix Des Moines:

Hank Williams Jr. brings country hits and political jabs to the fair — Are you ready for some political commentary? — Country legend Hank Williams Jr. played to a crowd of nearly 8,500 at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand Friday night. — You may recall, criticism of President Barack Obama …

Discussion: theGrio, No More Mister Nice Blog and NewsBusters.org blogs

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: Addicting Info, Taylor Marsh, The Moderate Voice and 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: Outside the Beltway, Althouse, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Gothamist

Ta-Nehisi Coates / New York Times:

Obama's (Perceived) Transformation — EARLIER this month, Ann Coulter took to the airwaves of the Fox News network to denounce the dastardly machinations, large mendacity and mad villainy currently employed by the American president. Barack Obama was “a liar,” Coulter said, a …

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Prairie Weather

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, Prairie Weather and Israel Matzav

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 »