memeorandum: The Legacy of Timothy Geithner (Simon Johnson/Economix)

9:10 AM ET, January 18, 2013

Top Items:

GOP pollster: Stop talking about rape — WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — It's way past time: House Republicans need to stop talking about rape. — That's the message GOP lawmakers got here Wednesday evening from Kellyanne Conway, a top GOP pollster. — Conway dispensed the stern advice as part …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Washington Monthly, The Plum Line, Mediaite, Twitchy and Shakesville

Ashley Parker / New York Times:

Republicans May Offer Short-Term Extension of Borrowing Limit — WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Gathered for a retreat to map out how to manage coming confrontations with President Obama and Congressional Democrats, often combative House Republicans seemed on Thursday to be looking for a quick way out of one imminent fight.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Week, A plain blog about politics, PostPartisan, Prairie Weather, Daily Kos, Politico and The Hill

Washington Post:
House Republicans using retreat as chance for self-reflection

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …

Russell Berman / The Hill:
Ryan: House GOP discussing short-term hike to debt ceiling

Discussion: Daily Kos, Politico, FreedomWorks blogs, CNN and Wall Street Journal

John Parkinson / Reuters:
Ryan: GOP Mulling Debt Limit Hike

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Townhall.com, The PJ Tatler and Hot Air

Politico:

Up next for Obama: A looming Democratic divide — As President Barack Obama approaches his second inaugural on Monday, he presides over a party that has largely papered over its divisions for the past four years thanks to the president's commanding popularity.

Discussion: Capital New York and msnbc.com

Mark Murray / First Read:

NBC/WSJ poll: Public lowers expectations heading into Obama's 2nd term — As President Barack Obama is set to begin his second term next week, he finds himself with a job-approval rating above 50 percent and with majorities supporting his general direction on gun control and immigration …

Discussion: Business Insider and msnbc.com

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:

Democrats Are Split Over How to Shape Approach to Gun Bills — WASHINGTON — As Congressional Democrats shape their strategy for considering President Obama's proposals to curb gun violence, sharp divisions are forming between lawmakers who believe the best path to success is through narrowly written bills …

Glenn Thrush / Politico:
Why President Obama might choose to lose on guns

Discussion: Campaign for America's Future, USA Today, Hit & Run, The Hill and The Week

Melissa Hayes / The Political State:

Christie calls NRA ad criticizing Obama daughters' security ‘reprehensible’ — Governor Christie called the National Rifle Association's ad criticizing President Obama's daughters' security detail “reprehensible.” — “I think any of us who are public figures, you see that kind of ad and you cringe,” he said.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Mediaite, Politico, Weasel Zippers and The Hinterland Gazette

Evan McMorris-Santoro / Talking Points Memo:
Chris Christie: NRA Ad Mentioning Obama's Daughters ‘Reprehensible’ (VIDEO)

Discussion: Joe. My. God. and Business Insider

Matea Gold / Los Angeles Times:

Seeking to harness Obama's campaign resources for a second term — An ambitious new political organization is being built out of the machine that propelled him back into office, with the hope of supporting his policy objectives. — President Obama's reelection campaign is reinventing itself …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, The Hill, Politico and Prairie Weather

Ken Thomas / Associated Press:

AP Sources: Obama Team to Form Agenda Group — In an unprecedented move, President Barack Obama's vaunted political organization is being turned into a nonprofit group — funded in part by corporate money — to mobilize support behind the president's second-term agenda.

Discussion: Politico

Steve Holland / Reuters:
Departing aide expects more assertive Obama in second term

Discussion: Politico and The Hill

Jennifer Bendery / The Huffington Post:

Joe Biden To Mayors: Obstacles To Gun Control Legislation ‘Not Impenetrable’ — FOLLOW: — Joe Biden , Obama Gun Control, Obama Gun Violence, Biden Mayors, Biden Mayors Gun Control, World Elections In 2013, Gun Violence, Joe Biden Gun Control, Joe Biden Gun Violence, Politics News

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Reid J. Epstein / Politico:
Biden on guns: 'We're going to go around the country.'

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, The Hill and Washington Free Beacon

John Fund / National Review:
Gun Sales and Background Checks: Obama's Bogus 40 Percent Stat

Discussion: Clayton Cramer's Blog, Outside the Beltway and The PJ Tatler

Lydia Saad / Gallup:

Americans Call for Term Limits, End to Electoral College — Virtually no partisan disagreement on these long-discussed constitutional reforms — PRINCETON, NJ — Even after the 2012 election in which Americans re-elected most of the sitting members of the U.S. House and Senate …

Discussion: The Hill and Politico

Jim Hoffer / ABC 7 Eyewitness News:

Additions to be made to gun laws for law enforcement — new york city, albany, gun control, new york news, jim hoffer — More: Bio, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Stories by Jim Hoffer, News Team — NEW YORK (WABC) — A troubling oversight has been found within New York State's sweeping new gun laws.

Discussion: Betsy's Page, Hot Air, The PJ Tatler, Weasel Zippers and National Review

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

I Have No Words — I'm not going to characterize this or say anything about it. But I had to share it with you. From TPM Reader PH ...

Discussion: Eschaton and CANNONFIRE

Dave Itzkoff / ArtsBeat:

Biden Getting an Autobiography From The Onion (Whether He Wants It or Not) — “Hombre, you've just done Uncle Joe a real solid buying this book,” begins the foreword to a new autobiography attributed to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. “I ain't the kind of guy who forgets his debts.

Discussion: Mediaite and Politico, more at Mediagazer »

Brent Schrotenboer / Associated Press:

Lance Armstrong to Oprah: Story was ‘one big lie’ … Saying his “mythic, perfect story” was “one big lie,” Lance Armstrong admitted that he cheated during most of his famed cycling career and that he bullied people who dared to tell the truth about it. — After denying doping allegations …

Discussion: msnbc.com, The Heritage Foundation and Infowars

Stable Hand / The Jawa Report:

Holder Begs Court to Stop Document Release on #FastandFurious — Cuz, how would it look now that bronco bama is busy with trying to circumvent the 2nd Amendment? … Does.not.fit.the.gun.grab.narrative. — It's ironic that one of bronco bama's executive orders states …

Discussion: protein wisdom

Scott Keyes / ThinkProgress:

Republicans Brag They Won House Majority Because Of Gerrymandering — In a classic Kinsley gaffe, the Republican State Leadership Committee released a report boasting that the only reason the GOP controls the House of Representatives is because they gerrymandered congressional districts in blue states.

Discussion: Liberal Values, his vorpal sword, Outside the Beltway, The Impolitic, The Political Carnival, The National Memo, Talking Points Memo and The Week

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

The Dwindling Deficit — It's hard to turn on your TV or read an editorial page these days without encountering someone declaring, with an air of great seriousness, that excessive spending and the resulting budget deficit is our biggest problem. Such declarations are rarely accompanied …

Discussion: Hot Air, Paul Krugman and Hullabaloo

Jim Forsyth / Reuters:

Y'all come to Texas, state official tells New York gun owners — (Reuters) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has a message for New York gun owners: Come to Texas, and bring your guns with you. — “Texas is better than New York, and New York just gave us another excuse to say that,” …

Discussion: Runnin' Scared and The Gateway Pundit

Mike Allen / Politico:

Exclusive: Fox renews Karl Rove contract through 2016 — Fox News Channel is expected to announce shortly that Karl Rove has signed a multi-year deal to remain a Fox contributor through the 2016 election. — The contract assures the ratings-leader cable news network that it will retain …

Discussion: Mediaite