Top Items:
David Brooks / New York Times:
The Real Romney — The purpose of the Republican convention is to introduce America to the real Mitt Romney. Fortunately, I have spent hours researching this subject. I can provide you with the definitive biography and a unique look into the Byronic soul of the Republican nominee:
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Alexander Burns / Politico:
Priorities USA does the disappointment ad — Priorities USA Action is releasing a new commercial today spotlighting a woman who says she was “duped by Mitt Romney” - and not because of his work at Bain Capital. — Back up a minute. One of the staples of Republican messaging this cycle …
Discussion:
Washington Wire and Jammie Wearing Fools
Lois Romano / Reuters:
Ann Romney's RNC task: Humanize Mitt — TAMPA, Fla. — Ann Romney will take to the podium here Tuesday night and try to accomplish what the sharpest minds in Republican politics have failed to do: present her stiff and awkward husband as a likable guy. — Her speech is considered second …
Discussion:
TheBlaze.com and Election 2012
Annie-Rose Strasser / ThinkProgress:
Rush Limbaugh Suggests Obama Manipulated Hurricane Predictions To Get GOP To Cancel Convention — Even President Obama's biggest fans don't think he can make it rain — but Rush Limbaugh does. — On his radio show this afternoon, Limbaugh suggested that President Obama might …
Discussion:
Dependable Renegade, Towleroad News #gay and Hullabaloo
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Politico:
GOP fears ghost of Katrina at RNC 2012
GOP fears ghost of Katrina at RNC 2012
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org, ABCNEWS and Boston Globe
Daniel Strauss / Twitter Room:
Samuel L. Jackson asks why GOP ‘spared’ by tropical storm
Samuel L. Jackson asks why GOP ‘spared’ by tropical storm
Discussion:
The PJ Tatler, Twitchy, americanthinker.com and Daily Pundit
CNN:
Source: Former Sen. Arlen Specter battling for his life — (CNN) — Former longtime U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter was battling for his life early Tuesday after he was recently diagnosed with a “serious form of cancer,” a source close to his office told CNN. — Specter, who has overcome numerous …
Discussion:
Morning Call, PennLive.com and Hotline On Call
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Dan Gross / Philly.com:
Arlen Specter hospitalized with a serious illness, friends confirm — Arlen Specter has been hospitalized with a serious illness, confirm friends of the longtime U.S. Senator. One asked that people keep him in thoughts and prayers. — Specter, 82, announced in 2005 that he had Hodgkin's disease for which he underwent chemotherapy.
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys and Outside the Beltway
Russ Bynum / Associated Press:
Prosecutor: Ga. murder case uncovers terror plot … LUDOWICI, Ga. (AP) — Four Army soldiers based in southeast Georgia killed a former comrade and his girlfriend to protect an anarchist militia group they formed that stockpiled assault weapons and plotted a range of anti-government attacks, prosecutors told a judge Monday.
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE, Talking Points Memo, his vorpal sword, Gawker, The Raw Story and The Agonist
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Reuters:
GOP still fretting over Mitt's image — TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney signaled in weekend interviews that he is brushing off advice that he attempt a public image makeover this week to make himself more likable and more connected to voters at the human level. — Some of the most experienced …
Discussion:
CNN
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Reuters:
Mitt Romney RNC: GOP still frets about candidate's image — “There's no time like the present” for Romney to reintroduce himself on more positive terms to voters, he said, calling the convention “a real opportunity for people to learn more about Mitt and his family and his life.”
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Keegan Gibson / PoliticsPA:
Smith Makes Abortion Gaffe (Listen to Audio) — Harrisburg — Republican Tom Smith spoke at the Pennsylvania press club luncheon Monday afternoon The defining moment occurred a few moments after the formal program when, asked about abortion amid a group of reporters, Smith seemed to suggest …
Discussion:
Philly.com, Firedoglake, Slate, PennLive.com, Truthdig, Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, ABCNEWS, Business Insider, The Raw Story and Hullabaloo
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Tara Culp-Ressler / ThinkProgress:
Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate: Getting Pregnant From Rape Is ‘Similar’ To Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock
Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate: Getting Pregnant From Rape Is ‘Similar’ To Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock
Discussion:
Taking Note, Booman Tribune, Wonkette, Daily Kos, Balloon Juice and Taylor Marsh
Mark Levin / Facebook:
Damn it, defeat this RINO power grab! — Conservatives of all stripes, especially Tea Party activists, this is an attempt to destroy your ability to influence the presidential and vice presidential nomination process in the Republican Party. It is an attempt to eviscerate the input of state parties.
Discussion:
The Right Scoop and Daily Pundit
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Quinnipiac University:
McMahon By A Nose In Close Connecticut Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama Tops Romney By 7 Points — Connecticut likely voters put Republican former wrestling executive Linda McMahon on the right side of a 49 - 46 percent too-close-to-call U.S. Senate race against Democratic U.S …
Discussion:
Politico, Hot Air and Hotline On Call
Jim Geraghty / National Review:
Priebus on Chris Matthews: ‘He Made the Case for Us.’ — Shortly before our chat, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus held a brief press “gaggle” in the media center, and briefly talked about his exchange with Chris Matthews on MSNBC's “Morning Joe” this morning.
Discussion:
Politico, NewsBusters.org, “The Lid”, Mediaite, Hot Air and The Moderate Voice
Ian Millhiser / ThinkProgress:
GOP Casino Baron Sheldon Adelson Pledges $500,000 To Buy A Single House Seat — Sheldon Adelson, the multi-billionaire casino mogul who already spent at least $5 million to help keep Republicans in control of the House next year, reportedly pledged $500,000 to just one House candidate …
Discussion:
Prairie Weather and BuzzFeed
Mackenzie Weinger / Politico:
Sarah Palin: Dems addicted to ‘hope-ium’ — Sarah Palin on Monday said Democrats who “still have that addiction to the hope-ium” President Barack Obama peddled four years ago need to “open their eyes” and vote for Mitt Romney this November. — “Some of us had [Obama] pegged four years ago.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic Online:
Security at the RNC: George Orwell Meets a ‘Call of Duty’ Cityscape — At a defining civic event, the establishment is insulated by an army of police officers from protesters camping unseen on a far away corner. — Reuters — Deep inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum …
Discussion:
Prairie Weather
Colleen Nelson / Washington Wire:
Who Is Thursday's Mystery Convention Speaker? — TAMPA, Fla. - Republican convention planners appear to have a surprise planned for those tuning in Thursday night. — Buried deep in the convention schedule released Monday is a vague reference to a mystery speaker scheduled for the event's final evening.
Discussion:
National Review, Outside the Beltway and The Lonely Conservative
Ben Shapiro / BREITBART.COM:
EXCLUSIVE: SEAL AD TO EXCORIATE OBAMA FOR BOWING TO FOREIGN LEADERS — The controversial super PAC Special Operations for America, led by former Navy SEALs, is set to release a blistering new ad against President Obama Tuesday at the Republican National Convention.
Discussion:
The Other McCain, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Doug Ross
Geoffrey Dickens / NewsBusters.org:
Newt Takes it to Chris Matthews on His ‘Racist Thinking’ — A A — Chris Matthews, on Monday's Hardball, attempted to hit Newt Gingrich with the same old liberal line about the GOP using racial code words whether it's Mitt Romney talking about welfare reform or Gingrich calling Barack Obama the “food stamp president.”
Discussion:
Hot Air, Politico, Scared Monkeys, The Lonely Conservative and The Gateway Pundit
Politico:
Who's on the inside track for a Romney Cabinet — Mitt Romney said his Cabinet and White House staff will be stacked with men and women from the business world, but his top advisers sketched out for POLITICO a team compromised of many familiar faces in Washington.
Discussion:
Riehl World News