memeorandum: The unprecedented resignation of Benedict (ncronline.org)

2:15 PM ET, February 11, 2013

Top Items:

Pope Benedict XVI Says He Will Resign — ROME — Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who took office in 2005 following the death of his predecessor, said on Monday that he will resign on Feb. 28, the first pope to do so in six centuries.

David Willey / BBC:

Pope Benedict XVI — Born in Germany in 1927, joined Hitler Youth during WWII and was conscripted as an anti-aircraft gunner but deserted — As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger spent 24 years in charge of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - once known as the Holy Office of the Inquisition

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Twitchy, Da Tech Guy's Blog, Little Green Footballs, Agence France Presse, The Week, NBCNews.com, The Anchoress, The Independent, Hot Air, The Other McCain, Guardian, Scared Monkeys, The Lonely Conservative, Red Alert Politics and The PJ Tatler

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:

What Did Pope Benedict Do, Anyway? — Pope Benedict XVI, who took office in 2005, announced on Monday that he will resign on Feb. 28, the first pope to leave the papacy since Pope Gregory XII in 1415. The 85-year-old pontiff is in poor health and has been advised by doctors “not to take any more transatlantic trips.”

Discussion: NBCNews.com, ProfessorBainbridge.com, NPR, Law Blog, Mock, Paper, Scissors, Mashable! and FIRST DRAFT

Sky News:

Pope Benedict Resigns, Vatican Confirms — Pope Benedict XVI is to resign on February 28 due to his “deteriorating” health. — He will be the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to resign in almost 600 years, with his departure expected to leave the post vacant for around three weeks.

Discussion: Guardian, CNN, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Babalú Blog, Telegraph, msnbc.com, Associated Press and Pirate's Cove

Max Fisher / WorldViews:

The bizarre stories of the four other popes to have resigned in the last 1,000 years — On Feb. 28, Pope Benedict XVI will become the first pope to resign in almost 600 years. That's not just tradition - it's dogma. The Washington Post's Debbi Wilgoren cited a theological expert in explaining …

Discussion: Guardian, Poynter, Hit & Run and FIRST DRAFT

USA Today:
Pope Benedict XVI to resign

Discussion: The Reaction, The Awl, The Agonist and The Latest Word

Washington Post:
Pope Benedict XVI to resign, citing age and waning energy

Discussion: Guardian, The Fix, WorldViews and The Daily Caller

ncronline.org:
Can a pope resign? — Yes, a pope can resign — up to 10 popes …

Discussion: Firedoglake, The Dish and NPR

ncronline.org:
The unprecedented resignation of Benedict

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Fox News:
Pope Benedict to become first pontiff in 600 years to resign

Discussion: The Jawa Report, Telegraph, Achenblog and NewsBusters blogs

Philip Pullella / Reuters:
Pope's sudden resignation sends shockwaves through Church

Discussion: BBC, The Daily Beast, his vorpal sword, The Moderate Voice, Firedoglake and Dependable Renegade

Paul Owen / Guardian: Pope Benedict XVI announces resignation - live reaction

Phil Bronstein / Esquire:

The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden... Is Screwed — For the first time, the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden tells his story — speaking not just about the raid and the three shots that changed history, but about the personal aftermath for himself and his family.

Discussion: alan.com, Politico, Guardian, Wonkblog, The Week, The Raw Story, Washington Examiner, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, NPR, The Gateway Pundit, emptywheel, The Daily Caller, Gawker and Jammie Wearing Fools

Glenn Thrush / Politico:

Obama's State of the Union: Aggressive — President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech will be less a presidential olive branch than a congressional cattle prod. — Emboldened by electoral victory and convinced the GOP is unwilling to cut deals, Obama plans to use his big prime …

Discussion: CNN, NBCNews.com, American Prospect, USA Today, Washington Post, Angry Bear, The Plum Line, First Read, The Week, Hot Air, The Huffington Post, msnbc.com and The Hill

Quinnipiac News + Events:
Release Detail — February 11, 2013 - Obama Should Focus State …

Discussion: msnbc.com, The Hill, Business Insider and Taegan Goddard's …

Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:

Sen. Inhofe threatens filibuster to block Hagel — Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) on Sunday threatened to filibuster former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)'s nomination for Defense secretary, if necessary to prevent his confirmation. — “I want a 60-vote margin and you don't have to filibuster to get that …

Discussion: Daily Kos, The Maddow Blog, americanthinker.com, The Right Scoop, Israel Matzav and Mock, Paper, Scissors

Tim Mak / Politico:

GOP threatens walkout on Chuck Hagel vote — Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel could get a vote in committee as early as Tuesday, but Republican aides reacted to that idea by suggesting that some members could walk out in protest. — Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Israel Matzav, Taylor Marsh, The Week, Lawfare and The PJ Tatler

Ben Smith / BuzzFeed:

Obama Prepares To Screw His Base — Young people re-elected the president. Now they get to pay disproportionately for ObamaCare. — President Obama talks with college students while waiting for an order of fries at OMG Burgers in Coral Gables, Florida last September. — Image by C.W. Griffin/Miami Herald/MCT

Discussion: Wonkblog, BizzyBlog, The Mahablog, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Taylor Marsh, Right Wing News and Balloon Juice

Annie-Rose Strasser / ThinkProgress:

Virginia Cuts State Employees' Hours To Avoid Providing Obamacare Coverage — As part of his state's new budget, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and his administration are trying to force potentially tens of thousands of public sector employees in the state to work fewer hours so that the government …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Mock, Paper, Scissors, BREITBART.COM and Balloon Juice

Wall Street Journal:

The Absentee Commander in Chief — The Defense secretary told the president that Americans in Benghazi were under attack. Then: nothing. — We've both had the honor to work in the White House. We've seen presidents, vice presidents, chiefs of staff and national security advisers during moments of international crisis.

Discussion: Althouse, americanthinker.com and msnbc.com

Ian Millhiser / ThinkProgress:

Armed Pro-Gun Protesters Occupy Oregon State Capitol — A few hundred pro-gun demonstrators rallied outside the Oregon state Capitol on Friday to protest efforts to enact gun safety laws. A handful of protesters also entered the Capitol building itself and brandished assault rifles and other guns in the Capitol rotunda:

Discussion: ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

Sahil Kapur / Talking Points Memo:

Conservative Advocates: Violence Against Women Act Unfair To Men — The conservative grassroots is pushing lawmakers to vote against the Senate's reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which has 62 cosponsors and is slated for a final vote early this week.

Discussion: FreedomWorks and Mock, Paper, Scissors