memeorandum: In Martha's Vineyard, Obama takes some R&R — and we all take a look (Billy Kenber/Washington Post)

9:30 AM ET, August 19, 2013

Top Items:

Guardian journalist's partner detained at Heathrow airport for nine hours — David Miranda, partner of Guardian interviewer of whistleblower Edward Snowden, questioned under Terrorism Act — Glenn Greenwald: a failed attempt at intimidation — The partner of the Guardian journalist …

Andrew Sullivan / The Dish:

Cameron Proves Greenwald Right — Readers know I have been grappling for a while with the vexing question of the balance between the surveillance state and the threat of Jihadist terrorism. When the NSA leaks burst onto the scene, I was skeptical of many of the large claims made by civil libertarians …

Discussion: Guardian and Balloon Juice

New York Times:

Britain Detains the Partner of a Reporter Tied to Leaks — WASHINGTON — The partner of Glenn Greenwald, the journalist for The Guardian who has been publishing information leaked by the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden, was detained for nine hours …

Discussion: National Review, Smartypants, Guardian, Booman Tribune, Little Green Footballs and Hit & Run

Glenn Greenwald / Guardian:
Detaining my partner: a failed attempt at intimidation

Discussion: blogs.telegraph.co.uk, CBS DC, Telegraph, Gay Star News, Boing Boing and Booman Tribune, more at Mediagazer »

Associated Press:
Partner of reporter at center of NSA leak detained

Discussion: Hot Air, The Week, Twitchy and Seeing the Forest

Wall Street Journal:

Confident Biden Team Sows Seeds For 2016 — Backers Consider Steps for White House—Even If Hillary Clinton Enters Race — Political allies of Vice President Joe Biden have concluded that he can win the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination—even if Hillary Clinton enters the contest …

Discussion: Washington Wire, First Read, msnbc.com and Prairie Weather

Wall Street Journal:

She makes a polarizing pitch that ignores trends in voter turnout. — Hillary Clinton began her 2016 march to the White House last week, and it wasn't a promising debut. The former first lady and Senator used her first big policy speech since leaving the State Department to portray American election laws as fundamentally racist.

Discussion: Betsy's Page

Byron York / Washington Examiner:

If Hillary is a lock, what's a Democrat to do? Campaign for veep — BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL VICE PRESIDENT DEMOCRATIC PARTY HILLARY CLINTON 2016 ELECTIONS CAMPAIGNS — While several leading Republicans have visited Iowa to lay the groundwork for possible presidential runs …

Chicago Tribune:

How President Obama is flouting Obamacare — More reasons to delay and rewrite this ill-conceived law … Democrats strong-armed Obamacare into law three years ago. Now they're busy flouting it. — The mandate that employers provide insurance next year or pay a penalty, as the law requires?

Discussion: Weekly Standard and Jammie Wearing Fools

Avik Roy / Forbes:
Unpublished CRS Memo: Obama Administration Has Missed Half Of Obamacare's Legally Imposed Implementation Deadlines

Discussion: Mediaite

Paul Krugman / New York Times: One Reform, Indivisible — Recent political reporting suggests …

Gideon Resnick / Politicker:

Susan Sarandon on the Mayor's Race: 'You Can't Just Vote Your Vagina' — Cynthia Nixon, Susan Sarandon and the entire de Blasio clan. — At first, actress Susan Sarandon expected to back Council Speaker Christine Quinn in her bid to become the city's first female mayor.

Discussion: Reuters

New York Times:

Wanted: Another Green Mayor — New York has been a dirty, gritty city practically forever, but it has also had farsighted leaders who qualify as green visionaries, going back to the 19th century. They preserved valuable real estate as irreplaceable public parkland; dreamed up an astonishing system …

Ken Auletta / New Yorker:
What kind of city is the Mayor leaving to his successor?

Discussion: Politicker

Catherine Thompson / Talking Points Memo:

Texas AG Backtracks Thanks For Supporter Who Called Wendy Davis ‘Retard Barbie’ — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) backtracked Sunday after initially thanking a supporter who called Abbott's potential 2014 opponent in the governor's race, state Sen. Wendy Davis (D), “retard barbie.”

Discussion: Trail Blazers Blog and Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Katie Glueck / Politico:
Abbott thanks ‘retard Barbie’ tweet writer

Discussion: Brains and Eggs

Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:

Summer Months Unkind to Obama — Job approval rating has typically dropped during June, July, and August — PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's job approval rating has shown a pattern of decline over the course of the summer months during his presidency.

Discussion: Politico

Hillary Chabot / Boston Herald:

Scott Brown in Iowa tests presidential waters … By: — Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown told the Herald he is looking at a possible 2016 presidential bid today as he hit a well-worn stomping ground for Oval Office hopefuls - the Iowa State Fair. — “I want to get an indication of whether there's …

Discussion: CNN, Politico, WHOTV, The Fix, Weasel Zippers, The Daily Caller, Washington Wire, Mediaite, Ballot Box, Crooks and Liars and ABC News

cbs8.com:

“Freedom From Filner Rally” kicks off recall effort — SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The effort to recall embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner officially kicked off Sunday, as petitions were circulated at midnight and volunteers worked at a trio of three daytime civic events.

Discussion: CNN, Politico and KGTV-TV

John Fund / National Review:

Time for Answers from the NSA — It's time to ask tough questions about the National Security Agency's surveillance activities — even for conservatives who have given the NSA the benefit of every doubt up until now. — The Washington Post opened a can of worms last Friday when it reported that …

Discussion: Right Turn

Sara Schaefer Muñoz / Wall Street Journal:

U.S. Rice Farmers Cash In On Venezuelan Socialism — U.S. Exporters Benefit as Production Falls in Latin American Country — STUTTGART, Ark.—Steve Orlicek, a rice farmer here, is living the American dream. He owns a thriving business; he vacations in the Bahamas.

Discussion: Power Line and VodkaPundit

Rod Nordland / New York Times:

Islamists Killed While in Custody, Egypt Confirms — CAIRO — The Egyptian government acknowledged that its security forces had killed 36 Islamists in its custody on Sunday, as the country's military leaders and Islamists vowed to keep up their fight over Egypt's future.

Discussion: VodkaPundit