memeorandum: Obama conquered the West for Democrats, but now it's back in play (Mark Z. Barabak/Los Angeles Times)

6:30 AM ET, April 13, 2015

Top Items:

Hillary Clinton Announces 2016 Presidential Bid — Ending two years of speculation and coy denials, Hillary Rodham Clinton announced on Sunday that she would seek the presidency for a second time, immediately establishing herself as the likely 2016 Democratic nominee.

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

Why Hillary Clinton Is Probably Going to Win the 2016 Election — This is not a toss-up. — Shares — Unless the economy goes into a recession over the next year and a half, Hillary Clinton is probably going to win the presidential election. The United States has polarized into stable voting blocs …

Discussion: New York Times, Democratic Strategist, NPR, AMERICAblog News, Daily Kos, Addicting Info, Phantom Public, FiveThirtyEight, National Review and Guardian

Mark Hensch / The Hill:

Romney: Clinton a ‘creature of Washington’ — Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) on Sunday said that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had spent too much time in Washington, D.C. to benefit Americans as their next president. — “People want to see change and Hillary Clinton is not that person …

Discussion: Caffeinated Thoughts

Bill Curry / Salon:

Hillary Clinton just doesn't get it: She's already running a losing campaign — Hillary Clinton joins the race for president today. If you believe the leaks from her staff, and there's no reason you shouldn't, she'll do it in a video released at noon as she herself flies high above the nation in a chartered plane.

Discussion: On Point with Tom Ashbrook, Liberal Values and The Mahablog

Maureen Callahan / New York Post:

Hillary Clinton faces scandal amid expectant presidential run — Expected to announce her presidential run Sunday, Hillary Clinton has been attempting to rebrand herself: She's Hillary 2.0, campaigning out of Brooklyn, a more accessible, relatable candidate who learned the lessons of her bruising …

Annie Karni / Politico:
Hillary Clinton readies presidential launch

Discussion: msnbc.com, Deadline, Bloomberg Business, The National Interest, American Spectator and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Niall Stanage / The Hill:
Hillary: 'I'm running for president'

Discussion: msnbc.com

Daily Mail:
'I'm running for President': Hillary Clinton enters 2016 race

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Scared Monkeys and Ed Driscoll

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
Grandmama Mia! — WASHINGTON — WHEN my brother Michael …

Discussion: Hot Air, Mediaite, ABC News, Washington Post, The Huffington Post and RedState

Jennifer Epstein / Bloomberg Business:
Hillary Clinton Makes it Official: 'I'm Running for President'

Discussion: Bloomberg View, Washington Post, The Federalist, The Diplomat, Talking Points Memo, Scared Monkeys and ABC

Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times:

Obama conquered the West for Democrats, but now it's back in play — When President Obama claimed the Democratic nomination en route to the White House, he planted his party flag in this Rocky Mountain capital, vowing to end Washington's dysfunction and find elusive consensus around issues such as immigration, guns and abortion.

Maria Abi-Habib / Wall Street Journal:

U.S. Widens Role in Saudi-led Campaign Against Houthi Rebels in Yemen — Washington has concerns about Riyadh's goals in the conflict — The U.S. is expanding its role in Saudi Arabia's campaign in Yemen, vetting military targets and searching vessels for Yemen-bound Iranian arms amid growing concerns …

Discussion: Fox News and The American Conservative

Hadas Gold / Politico:

John Dickerson to replace Bob Schieffer on ‘Face the Nation’ — CBS News political director John Dickerson has been named the next host of “Face the Nation,” host Bob Schieffer announced Sunday. — Dickerson's first turn in the anchor chair will take place this summer …

Discussion: Ed Driscoll, BREITBART.COM, FOX News Radio, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Liberaland, more at Mediagazer »

BBC:

Turkey anger at Pope Francis Armenian ‘genocide’ claim — Turkey has recalled its envoy to the Vatican after Pope Francis described the mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule in WW1 as “genocide”. — Turkey has reacted with anger to the comment made by the Pope at a service in Rome earlier on Sunday.

Discussion: The Week, Rhode Island Public Radio and Middle East Eye

New York Times:

Unequal, Yet Happy — THE gaping inequality of America's first Gilded Age generated strong emotions. It produced social reformers like Jane Addams, anarchist agitators like Emma Goldman, labor leaders like Eugene V. Debs and Progressive politicians like Theodore Roosevelt.

Discussion: Big Think

Associated Press:

Shock new video shows ISIS thugs smashing historic Iraqi city of Nimrud with barrel bombs, bulldozers and jackhammers in orgy of destruction slammed as a war crime by the United Nations — ISIS fighters destroyed ancient ruins of Iraqi Assyrian city of Nimrud dating back to the 13th century B.C.

Discussion: John Hawkins' Right Wing News and USA Today

Washington Post:

Thousands dead, few prosecuted … On a rainy night five years ago, Officer Coleman “Duke” Brackney set off in pursuit of a suspected drunk driver, chasing his black Mazda Miata down rural Arkansas roads at speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour. When the sports car finally came to rest in a ditch …