memeorandum: The State of the Union — Six years ago, President Bush began … (New York Times)

11:40 AM ET, January 29, 2008

Top Items:

Washington Post / The Trail:

Richardson's Choice — SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Bill Richardson's phone has been ringing off the hook. Sen. Hillary Clinton called Sunday night. That was followed by a call from former president Bill Clinton, then a call from Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who's supporting Clinton.

Discussion: Donklephant, Comments from Left Field, New York Times, The Plank and TPM Election Central

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

Clinton, Obama steal Bush's final show — All eyes were on Democratic presidential frontrunners Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) Monday night as spectators and pundits followed their every move during President Bush's final State of the Union address.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Swamp, Matthew Yglesias, DownWithTyranny!, Tom Watson, Washington Post, Comments from Left Field, No More Mister Nice Blog, Truthdig, FP Passport, The Democratic Daily and The Page

David Brooks / New York Times:

The Kennedy Mystique — Something fundamental has shifted in the Democratic Party. — Last week there was the widespread revulsion at the Clintons' toxic attempts to ghettoize Barack Obama. In private and occasionally in public, leading Democrats lost patience with the hyperpartisan style of politics …

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, Matthew Yglesias, Hot Air and NY Daily News

Shaun Mullen / The Moderate Voice:

The Story of the George Bush Presidency: Unstable, Unfinished & Uncomprehending — Hard to believe, but I still can muster a modicum of sympathy for George Walker Bush. This is because it is apparent after the last seven long years that this son of the Texas oil patch really didn't know what hit him …

Discussion: www.kansascity.com

Frank James / The Swamp:
At SOTU, Obama's Clinton snub was the news

Discussion: Boston Globe, Spin Cycle, UrbanGrounds and Hot Air

Los Angeles Times:
Kennedys for Clinton — She stands for Democrats and for the nation …

Discussion: The RBC and MSNBC

John F. Harris / The Politico:
Washington libs lead backlash against Bill

Discussion: The New Republic, TalkLeft, Time, The Page, Blue Crab Boulevard, The Caucus, The Democratic Daily and AMERICAblog

Alessandra Stanley / New York Times: Camelot '08 Overshadows Bush Speech

Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
No Chitchat Between Clinton and Obama

Discussion: NO QUARTER, The Democratic Daily and TalkLeft

Zogby:

Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Poll: McCain Lead Widens As Primary Election Day Dawns in Florida — Giuliani, Huckabee tied in battle for distant third place — UTICA, New York - Arizona Sen. John McCain's lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is growing wider as the Republican campaign ends …

Discussion: Firedoglake, Taegan Goddard's …, Pajamas Media and MyDD

Kathryn Jean Lopez / The Corner:

Final Morning of Florida Polls — American Research Group released their latest Florida tracking survey this morning. The poll sampled 600 likely Republican primary voters from January 27-28 and has a MoE of +/- 4%. — Gov. Romney is statistically tied for the lead with 34%.

Discussion: Donklephant

Adam C. Smith / St. Petersburg Times:

Crist endorsement is surprising, risky … For Rudy Giuliani, Nov. 18 was to be a pivotal day on his march to the Republican nomination. — Popular Gov. Charlie Crist was to anoint him as the best choice for Florida Republicans, and the two of them, starting in St. Petersburg …

Discussion: TIME and Riehl World View

Marc Ambinder:

Romney's Major Florida Advantage — Mitt Romney's had an 8 to 1 television ad advantage in Florida... part of the reason why he's made the competitive. Heck, most of the reason he's made the race competitive has been his ads. — According to Neilsen, he's run 4,475 ads compared to John McCain's 470 through 1/22.

Discussion: Jonathan Martin's Blogs, National Review and Hot Air

New York Times:
Acrimony Reigns in G.O.P. as Florida Votes in Primary

Discussion: NY Daily News, Daily Kos, The Field, Washington Post, MSNBC, DownWithTyranny! and AMERICAblog

Chicago Tribune:

Cash to fugitive's family — Some of the $3.5 million went to pay off certain Rezko debts, while $20,000 went to the family of Alber Najjar, who also had extensive connections with Rezko's food companies but became a federal fugitive in 2004 when he fled to Lebanon following his indictment on bookmaking charges, prosecutors said.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Norwegianity, The Huffington Post, The Trail, TPM Election Central, Associated Press, Wonkette and The Politico

Wall Street Journal:

Bush's End Game — In Ronald Reagan's last year in office, he traveled to Moscow for a summit and signed arms deals. In Bill Clinton's final year, he negotiated to the very end before failing to get a Mideast peace deal thanks to Yasser Arafat's duplicity.

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Bush, Facing Woes in '08, Focuses on War and Taxes

Discussion: The House Next Door

Peter Baker / Washington Post:
Final Year's Realities Push Big Ideas Into Background

Discussion: New York Times, Althouse, MSNBC, On Deadline and Associated Press

New York Times:

Text of the State of the Union Address — Following is the text of President Bush's State of the Union address on Monday, as transcribed by the Federal News Service: — Thank you, Madame Speaker. Thank you all. — Madame Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress …

Discussion: Cato-at-liberty, The Reaction, Blog entry, Counterterrorism Blog, Dick Polman's American Debate, Lean Left, rubber hose, MSNBC, Truthdig, Washington Wire, No More Mister Nice Blog, Power Line, Wake up America, CNN and FP Passport

The Big Trunk / Power Line: A SPEECH DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

Video: Olby names Mary Katharine Ham “worst person in the world” — What deadly sin could she have committed to earn such a distinction? Quote: … Mind you, she's referring to a man whom certain members of the press literally offered to fellate. But never mind that.

Discussion: TownHall Blog, UrbanGrounds, Patterico's Pontifications and Ed Driscoll.com

CNN:
CNN RELIABLE SOURCES

Discussion: Outside The Beltway and RADAMISTO

Common Dreams:

Senator Ted Kennedy Betrays Women by Not Standing for Hillary Clinton for President; — Ultimate Betrayal Felt by Women Everywhere — Women have just experienced the ultimate betrayal. Senator Kennedy's endorsement of Hillary Clinton's opponent in the Democratic presidential primary campaign has really hit women hard.

Discussion: Say Anything, culturekitchen, Feministe, Obsidian Wings, Public Secrets and Redstate

Anne Applebaum / Slate:

Where Did All Those Gorgeous Russians Come From? — THE SAME PLACE AS THE UNGLAMOROUS ASSEMBLY-LINE WORKERS. — There was a particular historical moment, round about 1995 or so, when anyone entering a well-appointed drawing room, dining room, or restaurant in London was sure to encounter a beautiful Russian woman.

Discussion: protein wisdom and The American Scene

Marc Ambinder:

Tonight: Clinton Parties In Florida — Note: polls close in Florida at 7...and 8. This event begins at 7. — Will this really help her? She is going to be overshadowed tonight by the GOP contest. This is would be like the New England Patiots celebrating a pre-season victory. Weird.

Discussion: Spin Cycle, The Corner and Sister Toldjah

Paul Davenport / Associated Press:

Rep. Grijalva switches to Obama from Edwards — PHOENIX — Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona is endorsing Barack Obama after earlier backing John Edwards in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. — Grijalva cited Obama's electability and his intention to …

Discussion: New York Times and Liberal Values