memeorandum: In Middle East, Obama misplays hand (Bruce W. Jentleson/Politico)

8:50 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 …

Glenn Greenwald / Guardian:

Detaining my partner: a failed attempt at intimidation — The detention of my partner, David Miranda, by UK authorities will have the opposite effect of the one intended — At 6:30 am this morning my time - 5:30 am on the East Coast of the US - I received a telephone call from someone …

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

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: Smartypants, Guardian, Booman Tribune, Little Green Footballs, Twitchy and Hit & Run

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

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

Toddstarnes / Fox News:

Palin: Hell is Breaking Loose and Obama's Having a ‘Gay Old Time’ — All hell is breaking loose in Egypt and all President Obama is interested in doing is riding his bicycle and playing golf, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told me. — FOLLOW TODD ON FACEBOOK FOR CONSERVATIVE NEWS. CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Discussion: The Democratic Daily, No More Mister Nice Blog and The Immoral Minority

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: I'm exploring a run for president … By: — Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown told the Herald he is exploring 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, Weasel Zippers, The Daily Caller, Washington Wire, Mediaite, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Ballot Box, Crooks and Liars and ABC News

Bruce W. Jentleson / Politico:

In Middle East, Obama misplays hand — U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel repeatedly phoned Egyptian General Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi urging a peaceful transition — Sisi refused. President Barack Obama has repeatedly called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave - he's still there.

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

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 and Prairie Weather

Dustin Weaver / The Hill:

Regulation nation: Obama expands the regulatory state — President Obama has overseen a dramatic expansion of the regulatory state that will outlast his time in the White House. — The reach of the executive branch has advanced steadily on his watch, further solidifying the power …

Justin Sink / The Hill:

Peter King: Rand Paul ‘a grab bag of misinformation and distortion’ on NSA — In an appearance earlier on “Fox News Sunday,” Paul accused the spy agency of “looking at billions of phone calls every day” and said the constitutionality of the programs should evaluated by the Supreme Court.

Discussion: The Hinterland Gazette and Alan Colmes' Liberaland