memeorandum: Paul Ryan Can't Lose (Mark Leibovich/New York Times)

1:35 PM ET, October 16, 2012

Top Items:

Elise Labott / CNN:

Clinton: ‘I take responsibility’ for security ahead of Benghazi attack — Lima, Peru (CNN) — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the buck stops with her when it comes to who is to blame for security ahead of a deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Wall Street Journal, First Read, Maggie's Farm, The Fix, Wonkette, AEIdeas, Reuters, Da Tech Guy's Blog, Hillary Is 44, Global Public Square, Doug Ross, Fox News, The DiploMad 2.0, Politicker, Mediaite, The Jawa Report, American Spectator, Power Line, Business Insider, Weasel Zippers, Betsy's Page, UrbanGrounds, Questions and Observations, Althouse, Taylor Marsh, Villainous Company, New York Magazine, The Daily Caller, BuzzFeed, FREEDOM EDEN, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Shakesville, The Gateway Pundit, Wizbang, Guardian, The Other McCain, The Caucus, neo-neocon, Newsy, Hot Air, JOSHUAPUNDIT, The PJ Tatler, Jammie Wearing Fools, Poynter, Scared Monkeys, Election 2012, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Swampland, Pirate's Cove, Wake up America, The Lonely Conservative, Ace of Spades HQ, Ricochet Conversations Feed, Towleroad News #gay, Michelle Malkin, The Hinterland Gazette, National Review, Weekly Standard and Instapundit, more at Mediagazer »

mccain.senate.gov:

U.S. Senator John McCain - Arizona — Filter by: — STATEMENT BY SENATORS McCAIN, GRAHAM AND AYOTTE ON SECRETARY CLINTON'S COMMENTS THIS EVENING ON BENGHAZI ATTACK — Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Guardian, Washington Post, The Ulsterman Report, FP Passport, Mediaite, Jammie Wearing Fools, The Hinterland Gazette, Washington Examiner, Mother Jones and CNN

New York Magazine:

Bill & Hillary Forever — But after Obama sealed the nomination, his attitude toward the Clintons shifted to a sharp differentiation. His rancor toward Hillary evaporated: Obama needed her support, wanted her on his side, and was willing to work for it. But Obama saw no benefit in kissing 42's ring, let alone his ass.

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Washington Free Beacon:

After joking with reporters, Obama silent on Benghazi question — After joking with reporters, President Barack Obama ignored Tuesday a shouted question about whether Sec. Hillary Clinton is to blame for security failures surrounding the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin and Weasel Zippers

Daniel Halper / Weekly Standard:
Former Aide on Obama: 'Stunning that He's in Politics, Because He Really Doesn't Like People'

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Andrew Kaczynski / BuzzFeed:
Hillary Clinton To Obama In 2008: “The Buck Stops In The Oval Office”

Discussion: Hot Air, Mediaite, The Hinterland Gazette, Althouse and Weekly Standard

John Heilemann / New York Magazine:
If Obama wins, it may be because the former president saved his presidency …

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Politico, The Hill and Marbury

CBS News:
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton takes “responsibility” for Benghazi attack

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Bloomberg, National Review, The Agonist, The Heritage Foundation, Mediaite, The PJ Tatler and Business Insider

Greta Van Susteren / Gretawire:
FNC's Wendell Goler just interviewed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Power Line, Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

Kos / Daily Kos:

Daily Kos/SEIU State of the Nation poll: Romney's best numbers of the week — Public Policy Polling for Daily Kos & SEIU. 10/12-14. Likely voters. MoE ±2.5% (10/4-7 results) … Obama 46 (47) — Romney 50 (49) — At a time when other polls are moving back in the president's direction …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Taylor Marsh, Hot Air, AEIdeas, Business Insider, The Strata-Sphere, The Hinterland Gazette, Taegan Goddard's …, Weekly Standard and The PJ Tatler

Quinnipiac University:

Release Detail — October 16, 2012 - Romney Closing In On Obama In Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Casey-Smith Senate Race Too Close To Call — Watch Video: Assistant Director Tim Malloy discusses poll results — Clip Information and Download: — FLV File - For Website (1920x1080 / 50.8MB)

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Weekly Standard, Gallup, CNN, Scared Monkeys, Jammie Wearing Fools, Boston Globe, Washington Wire, Outside the Beltway, Hot Air, Ballot Box, Business Insider, Morning Call, Hotline On Call, The Lonely Conservative, First Read and USA Today

Howard Berkes / NPR:

Poll: Romney Near Landslide In Rural Swing Counties — As Mitt Romney and President Obama get ready for their second debate, a new bipartisan survey shows a surge for Romney in a key voter group following their first debate Oct. 3. — The random cell phone and landline poll …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Politico and National Review

Bloomberg:

Electric Car Battery Maker A123 Systems Files Bankruptcy — A123 Systems Inc. (AONE), a maker of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, filed for bankruptcy after failing to make a debt payment that was due yesterday. — The company listed assets of $459.8 million and debt …

Discussion: Bloomberg, Michelle Malkin, Hot Air, Weekly Standard, Weasel Zippers, The Heritage Foundation, Forbes, National Review, The Gateway Pundit, AEIdeas, Pirate's Cove, Ricochet Conversations Feed and Jammie Wearing Fools

Eric Savitz / Forbes:
A123 Files For Bankruptcy; Sells Auto Assets To Johnson Controls (Updated)

Discussion: emptywheel, NewsBusters.org blogs and BizzyBlog

Bruce Bartlett / Economix:

Romney's Tax Plan and Economic Growth — Bruce Bartlett held senior policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and served on the staffs of Representatives Jack Kemp and Ron Paul. He is the author of “The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform - Why We Need It and What It Will Take.”

Discussion: Bloomberg, Washington Monthly, Wonkblog, New York Times and Daily Kos

Michael R. Strain / The Atlantic Online:
Romney's Tax Plan Doesn't Add Up—But It Deserves a Second Look

Discussion: The Daily Beast and protein wisdom

Robert Stacy McCain / The Other McCain:

Fake Celebrity Account Fools Drudge, Crashes Twitter With Endorsement — If you were on Twitter last night, you might have noticed that the notorious “fail whale” made its unwelcome appearance for a while: Twitter was over capacity, and now we know why: — Drudge Report posted a headline …

Discussion: The Jawa Report and Infowars

Paul Joseph Watson / Infowars:
New Threats to Riot if Obama Loses Election

Discussion: Sense of Events, Ricochet Conversations Feed and Examiner

Andrew Kirell / Mediaite:
Drudge Report Gets Punked By ‘Jake Gyllenhaal’ Twitter Endorsement Of Mitt Romney

Discussion: Deadline.com and Gawker

Associated Press:

5 Things to Watch for in Presidential Debate — Five things to watch for when President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney meet in their second debate: — 1. A REBOUND? After taking a drubbing in the first debate, Obama's under big pressure to step up his game Tuesday night.

Discussion: CNN, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Hill and Pirate's Cove

Mark Salter / Real Clear Politics:
Romney Holds Advantage Tonight, Regardless of Format

Discussion: National Review

Mark Leibovich / New York Times:

Paul Ryan Can't Lose — On a Monday night in late September, Paul Ryan sat on the edge of a couch in his suite at the Cincinnatian Hotel, his left fist clenched so tightly around the neck of his bottle of Miller Lite that I could see the veins bulging in his hands.

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Marbury

Wall Street Journal:

The Wizard of Obama — The president didn't just lose a debate. He lost an entire image of genius and control. — After President Reagan's listless performance in the first presidential debate of 1984 raised speculation that he was too old for the job, the Gipper took command in the second debate.

Discussion: Hot Air, Washington Examiner, The Lonely Conservative and Politico

Zeke Miller / BuzzFeed:
Team Obama Looks For Debate Redemption

Discussion: Election 2012

H. Ross Perot Sr / Des Moines Register:

H. Ross Perot: We can't afford Obama — Our country faces a momentous choice. The fact is the United States is on an unsustainable course. At stake is nothing less than our position in the world, our standard of living at home and our constitutional freedoms. — That is why I am endorsing Mitt Romney for president.

Discussion: CNN, Outside the Beltway, The PJ Tatler, The Hill, Guardian and Politico

Barry Ritholtz / The Big Picture:

Reinhart & Rogoff Explain Everything . . . Real Per Capita GDP (levels): 2007-2011 Systemic & Borderline Crises in Advanced Economies — Sources: Laeven and Valencia (June 2012), Reinhart and Rogoff (2009), GDP per capita from Total Economy Database, Conference Board.

Discussion: FT Alphaville

Bloomberg:
Sorry, U.S. Recoveries Really Aren't Different

Discussion: Business Insider

Glenn Kessler / Washington Post:

Mitt Romney's ‘new math’ for jobs plan doesn't add up — “Let me tell you how I will create 12 million jobs when President Obama couldn't. First, my energy independence policy means more than 3 million new jobs, many of them in manufacturing. My tax reform plan to lower rates …

Discussion: Swampland, The Daily Beast, The Maddow Blog, Daily Kos and The Daily Dish

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:

Oct. 15: Distracted by Polling Noise — Monday was an orderly day in the polls. — National polls showed a modestly favorable trend for President Obama, allowing him to gain slightly in our forecast. (Mr. Obama's chances of winning the Electoral College are now 66.0 percent …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Washington Monthly, The New Republic, blogs.telegraph.co.uk, Taylor Marsh and Ballot Box

Matt Cover / CNSNews:

Obama: ‘We Got Back Every Dime’ of Bailout; CBO: Bailout Will Lose $24 Billion — (CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday that “we got back every dime we used to rescue the financial system.” — According to the Congressional Budget Office, however, the government will lose about $24 billion on the bailout.

Discussion: Politico, Wake up America, The Heritage Foundation, Betsy's Page, Weasel Zippers, The Other McCain, protein wisdom and UrbanGrounds

Felicia Sonmez / Election 2012:

Charity president unhappy about Paul Ryan soup kitchen ‘photo op’ — Paul Ryan and his wife Janna wash pots at St. Vincent De Paul dining hall. (Associated Press) — The head of a northeast Ohio charity says that the Romney campaign last week “ramrodded their way” into the group's Youngstown soup kitchen …

Valerie Strauss / The Answer Sheet:

French president pushing homework ban as part of ed reforms — How do you think this would go over in the United States? French President François Hollande has said he will end homework as part of a series of reforms to overhaul the country's education system. — And the reason he wants to ban homework?

Discussion: ProfessorBainbridge.com

Steven Hayward / Power Line:

Could the Media Turn on Obama? — The entire Power Line team has noted here before (several times, in fact) the similarities (and differences) between the 1980 election and this year, especially how Ronald Reagan blew open a close race in part because of a strong debate performance.

Discussion: The Huffington Post