memeorandum: Don Young opens a legal defense fund (Susan Crabtree/The Hill)

9:25 AM ET, January 30, 2008

Top Items:

Krooney / The Page:

THE “STOP ROMNEY” COALITION — Giuliani to endorse McCain Wednesday in California — Now that the Sunshine has set, two old friends come to an understanding. — McCain topper Rick Davis quietly negotiated the agreement. — Giuliani, in Florida concession speech …

The Corner:

It's All Over — Assuming there is no shocking revelation or health issue, the GOP nomination is over. Conservatives need to start practicing the phrase “Nominee presumptive John McCa....." — Sorry, I can't say it. Not yet. — But it's true. When the campaign comes here to Massachusetts …

Discussion: Commentary, Right Wing News, michellemalkin.com, QandO, Jules Crittenden, NW Republican, The Daily Dish, Crooked Timber, PoliGazette, alicublog, The Moderate Voice, No More Mister Nice Blog, Althouse, Matthew Yglesias, Babalu Blog and Viking Pundit

New York Times:

For Giuliani, a Dizzying Free-Fall — As Rudolph W. Giuliani ponders his political mortality, many observers point to the hubris and strategic miscalculations that plagued his campaign.

Discussion: Political Radar, Los Angeles Times, NY Daily News, LiberalOasis, Liberal Values, TalkLeft, AMERICAblog, American Power, Daniel W. Drezner, The Anonymous Liberal and Roger Ailes

MSNBC:

NBC: Giuliani to endorse McCain — Former New York City mayor prepares exit after distant third in Florida — ORLANDO, Fla. - Rudy Giuliani, who bet his presidential hopes on Florida only to come in third, prepared to quit the race Tuesday and endorse his friendliest rival, John McCain.

Discussion: Shakespeare's Sister

Ramesh Ponnuru / The Corner:

How McCain Won — Rich, you may recall that we talked about McCain's chances in early December. I said that he could still win the nomination, but that if he did, we wouldn't be saying, Wow, what a brilliant strategy. We'd be wondering just how the heck that happened.

Discussion: Vox Popoli and INSTAPUTZ

Associated Press:

McCain beats Romney to win Fla. primary — MIAMI - Sen. John McCain won a breakthrough triumph in the Florida primary Tuesday night, seizing the upper hand in the Republican presidential race ahead of next week's coast-to-coast contests and lining up a quick endorsement from soon-to-be dropout Rudy Giuliani.

Discussion: Pantagraph, Outside The Beltway, theneweditor.com and The Moderate Voice

John Hood / The Corner: The Huck Factor — Looking at the exits, it seems clear …

Sara Just / Political Radar:
Giuliani to Drop Out, Endorse McCain

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Washington Post, TPM Election Central, Attytood, Gristmill, Gateway Pundit, PoliBlog (TM) and Outside The Beltway

Washington Post:
After Romney's Barrage, McCain Stands Tall

Discussion: The Corner

New York Times:
McCain Defeats Romney in Florida Vote

Discussion: The Swamp and CFR.org

John Podhoretz / Commentary:
Ridiculous Early Analysis

Discussion: Weekly Standard

Associated Press:
McCain Beats Romney in Florida GOP Race

Discussion: Redstate and Donklephant

Mark Finelli / Newsweek: Coming Home — A Marine and 9/11 survivor on his journey back to John McCain.

Jay Cost / HorseRaceBlog:
How McCain Won — John McCain won Florida by putting together …

Discussion: protein wisdom, The XX Factor, No Left Turns and McCain Central

Rudy Giuliani / CNN:
Sources: Giuliani will endorse McCain

Discussion: Daimnation!

Associated Press:
Romney vows to carry on campaign

Discussion: American Street and AMERICAblog

Washington Post:
McCain Beats Romney in Florida

Discussion: About.com US Conservative … and Wall Street Journal

CNN:
Exit polls: Conservatives choose Romney over McCain

Discussion: You Decide 08!, New York Times, The Carpetbagger Report, The Politico, Captain's Quarters, The Swamp, DownWithTyranny! and RADAMISTO

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:

On Closed Primaries — A number of commenters in my threads from Florida's primary seem confused about what a closed primary means, and what its limits are. Michelle Malkin and Flip Pidot also blogged about this overnight, but miss the point of exit polling showing voter inclinations and not actual registration.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Sister Toldjah and michellemalkin.com

Michelle Malkin:

20% of GOP votes cast by non-Republicans? Updated — Update: Ed Morrissey has your answer: … Yesterday afternoon, I noted reports of independents voting in the closed Florida Republican primary and pointed out the state law requiring that voters establish party ID by registering 29 days before an election.

Discussion: Suitably Flip, RushLimbaugh.com, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit and Right Voices

HillaryClinton.com:

MEMO: A Significant Victory in Florida — Hillary Clinton won a significant victory today in the Florida primary with the biggest turnout in Florida Democratic primary history. She will end up with more votes than John McCain, the winner of the Republican primary.

Discussion: The Fix, Taylor Marsh, Comments from Left Field, Outside The Beltway, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Democratic Daily, Donklephant, Democratic Strategist, TalkLeft and New Hampshire Union Leader

Frank James / The Swamp:
Clinton ‘wins’ Florida Democratic primary

Discussion: New York Times, The Reaction and The Democratic Daily

Eric Boehlert / Media Matters for America:

Fox News is in for a very rough 2008 — My guess is that Fox News guru Roger Ailes has been reaching for the Tums more often than usual early in the New Year, and there are lots of reasons for the hovering angst. — Let's take an extended multiple choice quiz.

Discussion: Outside The Beltway

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:

Why Is Obama Popular With 527s? — He says he doesn't like them, and he says he doesn't need them. In fact, Barack Obama regularly criticizes the operations and the influence of 527s, scolding John Edwards and Hillary Clinton for their attraction to the outside political groups.

Discussion: New York Times

Charles Babington / Associated Press:
Edwards nixes campaign stops for speech

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, American Street and TIME

Philip Shenon / New York Times:

Mukasey Offers View on Waterboarding — WASHINGTON — Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said Tuesday that the harsh C.I.A. interrogation technique known as waterboarding was not clearly illegal, and suggested that it could be used against terrorism suspects once again if requested by the White House.

Discussion: JustOneMinute, The Politico, CNN, The Crone Speaks and At-Largely

David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:

ALL THE SPOUSES DO IT — Her apology was hedged and conditioned, but Hillary seemed to go out of her way tonight in an interview on CNN to try to address the damage done by her South Carolina campaign:

Discussion: The New Republic, Althouse and Ben Smith's Blogs

The Big Trunk / Power Line:

A MULTILATERAL CONVERSATION WITH IRAN — This past Saturday United States Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad spoke on a panel with two Iranian officials at Davos (video below). Khalilzad's participation was apparently unauthorized. Today's New York Sun and the Los Angeles Times have interesting articles on the event.

Discussion: New York Sun, Captain's Quarters and Los Angeles Times

Susan Crabtree / The Hill:

Don Young opens a legal defense fund — Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who is under FBI investigation and faces a tough reelection fight, opened a legal defense fund earlier this month, according to House filings. — The House ethics committee approved the defense fund Jan. 9 …

Discussion: Think Progress

Byron York / The Corner:

Re: Two-Americas Analysis — Kathryn - On this “two Americas” analysis of the Romney campaign versus the other candidates, the simple fact is that Romney's personal fortune has allowed him to avoid making some of the hard decisions that other campaigns had to make. Big TV buy here or stepped-up voter contact effort there?

Discussion: Cadillac Tight