memeorandum: EXCLUSIVE: Rice Withdraws from Rutgers Commencement (National Review)

3:40 PM ET, May 3, 2014

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CONDOLEEZZA RICE BACKS OUT OF RUTGERS COMMENCEMENT — You are here — Home » United States government » Condoleezza Rice backs out of Rutgers commencement — NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has backed out of delivering the commencement address …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Hinterland Gazette, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, Gothamist, Patterico's Pontifications, The Week and Booman Tribune

Trevor Eischen / Politico:

Condoleezza Rice backs out of Rutgers ceremony — Condoleezza Rice on Saturday declined an invitation to speak at Rutgers University's commencement ceremony after some students and faculty protested against the former secretary of state's role in the Iraq war.

Discussion: CNN, news.rutgers.edu and Commencement …

National Review:

EXCLUSIVE: Rice Withdraws from Rutgers Commencement — Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is withdrawing from the Rutgers commencement ceremony. — Her invitation by the school's board of governors had sparked protests from faculty and students, and now Rice has decided not to speak to avoid creating a distraction.

Discussion: The College Fix and Twitchy

William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion:

“College campuses essentially operate on mob rule at this point” — That's the observation of Sonny Bunch to the news that Condoleeza Rice is withdrawing as a Commencement Speaker at Rutgers after protests against her and threats to disrupt the festivities if she spoke:

Discussion: National Review

Nina Teicholz / Wall Street Journal:

Are butter, cheese and steak really bad for you? The dubious science behind the anti-fat crusade — “Saturated fat does not cause heart disease”—or so concluded a big study published in March in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. How could this be?

Discussion: neo-neocon and Power Line

Laura Barron-Lopez / The Hill:

Heritage urges ‘no’ vote on energy efficiency bill — The conservative group Heritage Action is urging lawmakers to vote “no” on the energy efficiency bill set to hit the Senate floor next week. — Heritage charges that the bill, which promotes energy saving in industrial and commercial buildings …

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Sen. Tim Kaine / Politico:

I'm Ready for Hillary — Why I'm endorsing Clinton in 2016. — In 2006, nearly two years before the 2008 presidential election, I told my friend, then-Senator Barack Obama, that I would support him if he ran for the presidency. I was and am proud that I was one of his first supporters.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh

James Taranto / Wall Street Journal:
A journalist writes an advice column for Mrs. Clinton.

Discussion: Sky Dancing, Althouse and The Daily Beast

Scott Kaufman / The Raw Story:

Alabama's chief justice: Buddha didn't create us so First Amendment only protects Christians — Speaking at the Pastor for Life Luncheon, which was sponsored by Pro-Life Mississippi, Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court declared that the First Amendment only applies to Christians because …

Discussion: Firedoglake and CAIR

Matt Simon / Wired:

Absurd Creature of the Week: This Marsupial Has Marathon Sex Until It Goes Blind and Drops Dead — In the forests of Australia, every year just before spring, there erupts a sexual frenzy unlike any other on Earth. It's bigger than an ultra-romantic Neil Diamond concert, bigger even than spring break in Cancun.

Discussion: The Dish

Lauren Effron / ABC News:

V. Stiviano: Donald Sterling Is Not a Racist, Should Apologize for Remarks … Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's confidante V. Stiviano today told ABC's Barbara Walters that she thinks the embattled NBA basketball owner should apologize for his racist remarks. — “Yes.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, WGGB-TV, USA Today and Los Angeles Times

Nick Brown / Reuters:

U.S. bankruptcy judge urges settlement on GM ignition defects — (Reuters) - A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Friday urged settlement talks in a dispute between General Motors Co and plaintiffs seeking compensation for the lost value of their cars stemming from a massive recall over a faulty ignition switch …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Hot Air