memeorandum: U.S. General Apologizes for Desecration of Koran (Andrew E. Kramer/New York Times)

10:40 PM ET, May 18, 2008

Top Items:

Powerful Video of Ugly Sexist Vilification of Hillary Clinton — Sexism is alive and well in America. — One exit poll I saw had almost twice as many voters having trouble voting for a woman for president than voting for a black man. — The New York Times had a long piece about a future woman president today, Kate Zernike writes:

Discussion: Tom Watson, TBogg, Taylor Marsh and Balloon Juice

Susan Milligan / Boston Globe:

As Clinton chances wane, old slights come due — Some prominent Democrats recall past grievances — WASHINGTON - When Democratic superdelegate Jim Cooper, a Tennessee congressman, pondered the choice between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, his thoughts wandered back to 1993.

Libby Spencer / Newshoggers.com:

Better messaging please — Man, I really don't want to step into this but it just really bothers me. Yes, the blatant sexism in this Youtube is horrible. It's unfair, but so is the central message the video seems to be conveying, at least to me. — I'm hearing that I should be blaming Obama for not solving sexism.

CNN:

Clinton: ‘Think about this as a hiring decision’ — (CNN) — Despite Sen. Barack Obama's commanding lead in the delegate count, Sen. Hillary Clinton campaigned hard Sunday, telling voters she's “running for the toughest job in the world.” — Clinton spent her weekend in Kentucky, which …

Kate Zernike / New York Times:

She Just Might Be President Someday — If not her, who? — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton may or may not become the first female president of the United States, but if fate and voters deny her the role, another woman will surely see if the mantle fits. — That woman will come from the South, or west of the Mississippi.

Discussion: Liberal Values, The Mahablog, JustOneMinute, Swampland, Open Left, No More Mister Nice Blog and Althouse

Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:
And The Democratic Primary Campaign Battle Goes On (UPDATED)

Discussion: Comments from Left Field

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

75,000 ATTEND OBAMA RALLY IN PORTLAND — From NBC's Mark Hudspeth — Per the Obama campaign, 75,000 people (60,000 in the gates and 15,000 outside of them) turned out in Portland to hear Obama speak there this afternoon — making it the largest Obama crowd to date.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Comments from Left Field, TBogg, The Jed Report and BlueOregon

Larry Rohter / The Caucus:

Obama Draws Record Crowd in Oregon — An estimated 75,000 gathered on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland on Sunday to see Barack Obama. — “Wow! Wow! Wow!” were his first words, as he surveyed the multitude, which included people in kayaks and small pleasure craft on the river.

Discussion: Group News Blog

Mike Allen / The Politico:

Another top McCain official resigns — Former Rep. Thomas G. Loeffler, a Texan who is among the McCain campaign's most important advisers and fundraisers, has resigned as a national co-chair over lobbying entanglements, a Republican source told Politico on Sunday.

Discussion: Comments from Left Field, Balloon Juice, Blue Girl, Red State, Obsidian Wings, RADAMISTO and The Other McCain

Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:

Annoyed at lobbyist issue, McCain camp plays Ayers card — Aggravated over persistent questions surrounding their new policy on lobbyists working for the campaign, Team McCain sought to change the topic tonight by raising Barack Obama's ties to a 60s-era radical.

Matthew Yglesias:
Real Americans and Lobbying

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Michael Isikoff / Newsweek:
Mccain vs. Lobbyists

Discussion: Marc Ambinder, DownWithTyranny!, Political Punch, Open Left, Booman Tribune, The Carpetbagger Report, Think Progress, Emptywheel and Wonk Room

Zzaki / Political Radar:
Obama: Bush, McCain Should ‘Explain Why They Have a Problem With JFK’

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report and Prairie Weather

Andrew E. Kramer / New York Times:

U.S. General Apologizes for Desecration of Koran — BAGHDAD — The commander of United States troops in Baghdad asked local leaders and tribal sheiks this weekend for their forgiveness after the discovery that a soldier had used a Koran for target practice at a shooting range.

Discussion: abu muqawama and Roger Ailes

CNN:

U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice; military apologizes — BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — A soldier used the Quran — Islam's holy book — for target practice, forcing the chief U.S. commander in Baghdad to issue a formal apology on Saturday. — Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond …

Discussion: Jihad Watch, Hot Air, JammieWearingFool, Gateway Pundit, Los Angeles Times, RADAMISTO, Atlas Shrugs and VetVoice

MSNBC:

May 18: Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), political roundtable — MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday, John Edwards endorses Barack Obama after Hillary Clinton's landslide victory in West Virginia. The next battle for the Democrats: Tuesday in Oregon and Kentucky. John McCain outlines his priorities for a first term.

Discussion: Shakesville and Top of the Ticket

Ali / Think Progress:
Webb: Bush Would Be First President In History To Veto Benefits For Vets

Discussion: Big Brass Blog, Crooks and Liars and Shakesville

White House:

President Bush Attends World Economic Forum — Sharm el Sheikh International Congress Center — THE PRESIDENT: Klaus, thank you very much. Thanks for inviting me. Klaus said, it's about time you showed up. Proud to be here. Laura and I are so honored that, Klaus, you gave us a chance to come.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Gateway Pundit and Jihad Watch

Terence Hunt / Associated Press: Bush Lectures Arab World on Political Reform, Women's Rights

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
The Middle East in the Year 2068? Some Presidential Prognostications

Discussion: Commentary and The Impolitic

CBS News:
Bush An “Appeaser,” Says Egyptian Press

Discussion: RADAMISTO, Newshoggers.com, Israel Matzav and Raw Story

Jeralyn / TalkLeft:

Obama To Spend Tues. Night in Iowa, Possibly Will Claim Victory — Barack Obama will return to Iowa Tuesday night. The New York Times says it may be to “claim victory” and declare himself the Democratic nominee. His campaign views winning a majority of 2025 pledged and unpledged delegates victory.

Discussion: Denver Post, NO QUARTER and Corrente

Larry Rohter / New York Times:
Obama to Return to Iowa, Possibly to Claim Victory

Discussion: The Trail, Open Left, Redstate, The Confluence, Degree of Madness, Taylor Marsh, The Jed Report, Jeff Mapes on Politics, The Iconic Midwest, TalkLeft, Political Radar and The Page

Mark Steyn / The Corner:

Shoot the messenger — You may recall, from early last year, a riveting documentary from the British TV network Channel 4. Undercover Mosque showed preachers at some of the most “moderate” mosques in Britain urging their congregants to beat their wives, toss homosexuals off cliffs, etc.