memeorandum: Rand Paul Is Wrong: Why the GOP Should Be Moving Backward, Not Forward (John Nichols/thenation.com/blogs/117)

2:15 PM ET, February 19, 2014

Top Items:

Rosalind S. Helderman / Washington Post:

Scott Walker, eyeing 2016, faces fallout from probes as ex-aide's e-mails are released — MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has been eyeing a 2016 presidential run since his battles with labor unions made him a Republican star, is in the midst of dealing with the fallout …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Washington Monthly, FOX6Now.com, The Moderate Voice, Mediaite, BillMoyers.com and Althouse

Patrick Marley / JSOnline:

Judge expanded secret probe a day before Walker's 2010 election — By Patrick Marley, Daniel Bice and Bill Glauber of the Journal Sentinel — Madison — The day before Scott Walker was elected governor in 2010, a judge expanded the secret investigation to four more of his top aides …

Discussion: Politico and John Doe Walker

Seni Tienabeso / ABC News:

Juror in ‘Loud Music’ Trial Wanted Murder Conviction … A juror in the controversial Florida “loud music” trial says there was no chance from the start of a murder conviction in the shooting of an unarmed teen at a gas station because several jurors were convinced Michael Dunn acted in self-defense.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Guardian, Hinterland Gazette and DamianPenny.com

Roger Simon / Politico:

Who are the real thugs? — Let's play a game. It's called: “Who's the Thug?” — It's the day after Thanksgiving 2012, and four teenagers are sitting in a Dodge Durango outside a convenience store in Jacksonville, Fla. — The Durango is red, which is unimportant. The teenagers are black, which is important.

New York Times:

Ukraine Authorities Report Weapons Thefts and Uprisings Around Country — KIEV, Ukraine — The security authorities in Ukraine offered the first indication on Wednesday that the deadly political violence afflicting Kiev had spread far beyond the city limits, announcing a crackdown …

Discussion: Lawfare, The Jawa Report, The Agonist, The Hugh Hewitt Show and Mediaite

Victoria Butenko / CNN:
After 25 die, Ukrainian protesters dig in

Discussion: The Week, americanthinker.com, Joe For America and New York Times

Reuters:
Ukraine leader denounces coup bid, West readies sanctions

Discussion: CNN, ThinkProgress, The New Republic, Sky News and Joe. My. God.

Margaret Talbot / New Yorker:

READING THE NUMBERS — Last week's report about the declining abortion rate in the United States was potentially good news for everyone, especially, one would think, for right-to-life groups. Most of them, though, weren't cheering. A statement from Americans United for Life called the report …

Ed Kilgore / Washington Monthly:

Early-Term Abortions and the Anti-Choicers — In a New Yorker column on the lack of enthusiasm of the anti-choice movement about statistics showing signficantly reduced abortion rates in 2008-2011, Margaret Talbot focuses on RTL unhappiness with the inability to take credit for the reduced rates:

Discussion: Booman Tribune

Joshua Miller / The Boston Globe:

Scott Brown no longer under contract with Fox News — Ex-senator mum on whether he will run in N.H. — Former US senator Scott Brown, a frequent presence on Fox News, is no longer under contract with the widely watched cable station, a development sure to fan flames of speculation about his potential US Senate bid in New Hampshire.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Erik Wemple, Post Politics, ABC News, The Daily Caller, Mediaite and TheBlaze.com

Natalie Villacorta / Politico:
Scott Brown, Fox News split up

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Washington Post:

Homeland Security is seeking a national license plate tracking system — The Department of Homeland Security wants a private company to provide a national license-plate tracking system that would give the agency access to vast amounts of information from commercial and law enforcement tag readers …

Discussion: Hit & Run, The Week, Hullabaloo, Hot Air, Fox News, Consumerist, Shakesville and The PJ Tatler

Lisa O'Carroll / Guardian:

Blair advised Brooks on phone-hacking scandal, court hears — Former prime minister suggested setting up ‘Hutton style’ inquiry, according to email from former News International chief — Read Rebekah Brooks's email to James Murdoch in full (PDF) — Tony Blair advised Rebekah Brooks to launch a …

Discussion: Mediaite and The Awl, more at Mediagazer »

Christopher Aluka Berry / Reuters:

VW workers may block southern U.S. deals if no unions: labor chief — (Reuters) - Volkswagen's top labor representative threatened on Wednesday to try to block further investments by the German carmaker in the southern United States if its workers there are not unionized.

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon

Chicago Tribune:

The IRS targets political speech again — Discouraging debate and curbing information … The Internal Revenue Service is used to being universally disliked every April 15. But this year, the widespread denunciations have started early, and for good reason.

Discussion: The Hugh Hewitt Show and CANNONFIRE

Cameron Joseph / The Hill:

Baca apologizes for calling Negrete McLeod a ‘bimbo’ — Former Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) is apologizing for calling Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Calif.) “some bimbo” after the woman who defeated him last year announced her retirement. — In an interview earlier Tuesday with The Hill …

Discussion: OnPolitics, JHPolitics, Real Clear Politics, Jammie Wearing Fools, America Rising, Liberaland and Roll Call

Alexander Burns / Politico:

Mississippi 2014 Senate election: Anatomy of a takedown — Part of an occasional series on the hottest races of the 2014 midterm election. — OXFORD, Miss. — As Sen. Thad Cochran faces a potentially career-ending primary challenge, his strategy for victory is straightforward …

Discussion: Washington Monthly

David Weigel / Slate:

John Cornyn Says His Opponent's Win-by-Not-Campaigning Strategy Is “Unique” — HOUSTON—Early voting in Texas' party primaries commenced today and ends on March 4. Sen. John Cornyn, who is facing seven challengers (none of whom he's debated at voter forums), started the day with an endorsement …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Frank Newport / Gallup:

More Americans Now View Afghanistan War as a Mistake — Republicans most likely to say the war was not a mistake — PRINCETON, NJ — For the first time since the U.S. initially became involved in Afghanistan in 2001, Americans are as likely to say U.S. military involvement there was a mistake as to say it was not.

Discussion: American Prospect, Firedoglake, Hot Air and Politico

Susan Davis / USA Today:

CBO report: Minimum wage hike could cost 500,000 jobs — Th new non-partisan report provides ammunition for both sides in an increasingly heated political fight over the minimum wage. — SHARE11 — WASHINGTON — President Obama's call to raise the federal minimum wage could help lift 900,000 workers …

Discussion: OnPolitics, National Review, The Iowa Republican and CBO's Publications

Tal Kopan / Politico:

Marco Rubio: Obama art apology ‘pathetic’ — Sen. Marco Rubio is not a fan of President Barack Obama's apology to an art history professor for disparaging the discipline, saying Wednesday that the gesture was “pathetic.” — The Florida Republican tweeted a link to a story …

Discussion: CNN, Talking Points Memo and Mediaite

NESTLÉ® USA:

Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of HOT POCKETS® brand Philly Steak and Cheese — Nestlé USA's Prepared Foods Division today announced the voluntary recall of HOT POCKETS® brand Philly Steak and Cheese in three different pack sizes and HOT POCKETS® brand Croissant …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, CNN, New Urban Legends, CBS Detroit, Bangor Daily News, Consumerist and CBS Miami

Dylan Scott / Talking Points Memo:

GOP Lawmakers Want To Define Anti-Gay Discrimination As ‘Religious Freedom’ — The growing specter of legalized gay marriage, which has been advanced by numerous court decisions starting with the Supreme Court's overturning of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year, seems to have put a scare in GOP lawmakers.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Week, WSMV-TV and ThinkProgress

Kirsten Powers / USA Today:

Jim Crow laws for gays and lesbians? Column — Kansas legislation could make discrimination easy. — What's the matter with Kansas? A bill protecting the religious freedom of businesses and individuals to refuse services to same-sex couples passed the state House of Representatives last week.

Discussion: National Review, RedState and LGBTQ Nation

Peggy Noonan's Blog:

Our Decadent Elites — Watching Season 2 of “House of Cards.” Not to be a scold or humorless, but do Washington politicians understand how they make themselves look when they embrace the show and become part of its promotion by spouting its famous lines? Congressmen only work three days a week.

Discussion: Ed Driscoll

Matthew Boyle / BREITBART.COM:

EXCLUSIVE — TRUMP: ‘SCUMBAG’ BUZZFEED BLOGGER OGLED WOMEN WHILE HE ATE BISON AT MY RESORT — Aboard Donald Trump's $100 million 757 private jet with its gold-plated seatbelts, BuzzFeed reporter McKay Coppins flattered his host. — “When I was in high school, my business teacher used …

Discussion: Erik Wemple, TheBlaze.com, Slate, Joe. My. God., The Daily Caller, Balloon Juice and American Spectator

David Zucchino / Los Angeles Times:

Soldier convicted in rape, murder of Iraqi girl is found hanged — Steven Dale Green in a booking mug shot taken at the Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte, N.C., in July 2006. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office / July 3, 2006) — This post has been updated. See below for details.

Discussion: KIKO'S HOUSE, Bangor Daily News and The Moderate Voice

KFDM-TV:

Candidate For Orange County GOP Chairman Arrested On Assault Charge After Dispute At Polling Place — ORANGE COUNTY - A candidate for Orange County GOP Chairman was arrested Tuesday and released from jail on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond after he was charged with assaulting a man at an early voting location.

Discussion: The Raw Story and Mediaite