memeorandum: FORMER GOP NOMINEE ROMNEY WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN '16 (Steve Peoples/Associated Press)

3:00 PM ET, January 30, 2015

Top Items:

The Romney Statement: Not Running. “I've decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee.” … I've been emailed this text of remarks Mitt Romney will be making to his supporters shortly: — Let me begin by letting you know who else is on this call, besides Ann and me.

Mark Halperin / Bloomberg Politics:

How Mitt Romney Made His Decision Not To Run — Late Thursday evening, Romney's political operation sent scores of supporters an email under his name inviting them to join a Friday morning conference call to be led by Romney himself for “an update.” The email was signed “All the best, Mitt.”

Discussion: National Journal, Politico, Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Althouse, Poynter, Hinterland Gazette, CNN, US News, Daily Signal, FreakOutNation, Outside the Beltway, The Daily Caller, Bloomberg Business, Bloomberg View and Fox News

New York Times:

Mitt Romney Said to Decide Against Running in 2016 Presidential Election — WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2016, according to people familiar with his decision. — Mr. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, was expected to share …

The Daily Beast:

Mitt Romney Is Running for President — Mitt Romney will call senior donors at 11am EST Friday to give them “an update” on his campaign plans. Sources have told the Daily Beast that the former Massachusetts governor will announce his intention to explore another run for the White House.

Discussion: NBC News, Washington Post, Outside the Beltway, Business Insider, National Review and Shakesville

Steve Peoples / Associated Press:

FORMER GOP NOMINEE ROMNEY WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN '16 — WASHINGTON (AP) — After a three-week flirtation with a new campaign for the White House, Mitt Romney announced Friday that he will not seek the presidency in 2016. — “After putting considerable thought into making another run for president …

Discussion: Washington Post, Times of San Diego, The Gateway Pundit, American Spectator, Ed Driscoll, Joe. My. God. and Shakesville

Jeb Bush / Facebook:

Mitt Romney has been a leader in our party for many years. There are few people who have worked harder to elect Republicans across the country than he has. Though I'm sure today's decision was not easy, I know that Mitt Romney will never stop advocating for renewing America's promise through …

Discussion: ABC News, Talking Points Memo, CBS DC, The Stranger … and The Daily Caller

Byron Tau / Wall Street Journal:

White House: Romney ‘Worthy of Our Respect’ — One day after President Barack Obama mocked him in front of a meeting of House Democrats, the White House struck a gracious, conciliatory tone about Mitt Romney's decision not to pursue a 2016 presidential campaign.

Discussion: Political Wire

Politico:

Mitt Romney not running — He tells backers he could have won but realizes it would have been ‘a hard fight.’ — Mitt Romney will not run for president a third time, he said Friday on a conference call with donors, a surprise announcement that caps three weeks of fevered exploration.

Discussion: Bloomberg Business and Joe. My. God.

Jon Ward / Yahoo! News:
Mitt Romney says he will not make 2016 White House bid

Discussion: Power Line, Washington Post and Mediaite

ABC News:
Mitt Romney Says No to 2016 Presidential Run

Discussion: National Review, Associated Press and ABC News

Mike Allen / Politico:
Rand Paul ‘secret tape’ dings Jeb, Hillary on dynasty

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, The PJ Tatler, Bloomberg Business, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Wall Street Journal and Mediaite

CNN:
Romney to tell supporters his 2016 plans Friday

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Jeffrey Goldberg / The Atlantic Online:

Israeli Ambassador: Netanyahu Never Meant to Disrespect Obama — Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. (Reuters) — Earlier this week, shortly after I published a lengthy post critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, The Times of Israel, JP Updates and LewRockwell

Speaker.gov:
Background on Invitation to Prime Minister Netanyahu

Discussion: The Times of Israel and Talking Points Memo

Andrew Porter / SportsRadio 94WIP's Wing Bowl 23:

Wing Bowl Exclusive: Cataldi Releases Never Before Seen Footage Of Christie Falling In-Studio — PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Never before publicly-seen footage of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie falling off his chair during an in-studio appearance at SportsRadio 94WIP was released Friday morning during 94WIP's Wing Bowl 23.

Discussion: ABC News, BuzzFeed, Politico, Talking Points Memo, Gothamist, New York Magazine, Mediaite, Philly.com, Political Wire, US News and The Daily Caller

Politico:

GOP chairmen to lead task force to develop Obamacare alternative — Three powerful committee chairmen — including Rep. Paul Ryan — will lead a working group to develop an alternative to Obamacare, the House Republicans' most serious attempt thus far to develop their health care reform package, according to GOP sources.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

A.B. Stoddard / The Hill:
GOP is back at the edge

Discussion: Politico

Mike Lillis / The Hill:

Obama to Dems: ‘Get informed, not by reading the Huffington Post’ — PHILADELPHIA - President Obama on Thursday asked wary House Democrats to hold their fire while the administration negotiates several trade deals opposed by scores of liberal lawmakers. — “Keep your powder a little dry …

Discussion: New York Magazine

Arit John / Bloomberg Business:
Obama, HuffPost Blogger, Tells Democrats to Get News Elsewhere

Discussion: Washington Post and Politico

Los Angeles Times:

‘Suge’ Knight arrested on suspicion of murder; held on $2-million bail — Notorious former rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight has been arrested on suspicion of murder after he allegedly ran over two men with his truck following an argument on a film set in Compton, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

Discussion: Associated Press, Scared Monkeys, Booman Tribune, Yahoo Movies and WJLA-TV

TMZ.com:
Suge Knight — Arrested for Murder in Hit and Run (UPDATE)

Discussion: CBS Los Angeles, KTLA, Gawker, Hinterland Gazette, Mediaite, Yahoo Movies and Jezebel

Louise Radnofky / Wall Street Journal:

Republicans to Block Legislative Fix to Health-Care Law — Supreme Court Considers Striking Down Subsidies to Millions Nationwide — Congressional Republicans say they won't move to preserve consumers' health insurance tax credits if the Supreme Court strikes them down …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Daily Kos

New York Times:
No Case for Killing the Medical Device Tax

Discussion: John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Vindicator:

Former Gov. Ted Strickland will run for the U.S. Senate next year, sources close to him confirmed today. — Attempts to reach Strickland, a Democrat, by The Vindicator today have been unsuccessful. — However, those sources say he told political allies Thursday that he would run …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Daily Kos

New York Times:

Most Americans Support Government Action on Climate Change, Poll Finds — WASHINGTON — An overwhelming majority of the American public, including nearly half of Republicans, support government action to curb global warming, according to a poll conducted by The New York Times …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Washington Monthly, BBC, Political Wire, Climate Depot and Guardian

Politico:

Elizabeth Warren backers fund poll stoking Hillary Clinton doubts — A group of major liberal donors who want Elizabeth Warren to run for president have paid for a poll intended to show that Hillary Clinton does not excite the Democratic base and would be vulnerable in a 2016 general election.