memeorandum: The most clueless political column ever—I think this Easterbrook dude has the journalistic equivalent of “tenure” (Andrew/Statistical Modeling …)

8:15 PM ET, October 15, 2011

Top Items:

Matthew Yglesias / ThinkProgress:

Rush Limbaugh Endorses The Lord's Resistance Army — I don't have a really strong view on whether or not it's advisable to dispatch a small number of US combat troops to help fight the Lord's Resistance Army. My instinct is to be skeptical. I want to see less military intervention, not more.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Hullabaloo and Outside the Beltway

Blake Hounshell / FP Passport:

Rush Limbaugh on Lord's Resistance Army: “Obama Invades Uganda, Targets Christians” — Photo: A former abductee of the Lord's Resistance Army — Yesterday, when President Obama announced that the United States would be sending 100 special operations forces to help Uganda battle the Lord's Resistance Army …

Discussion: CNN and American Power

David Dayen / Firedoglake:
White House Starts a Mini-War in Africa

Discussion: TBogg, Fire Andrea Mitchell!, Jamie Dupree Washington … and Shakesville

Max Fisher / The Atlantic Online:
Why Is Obama Sending Troops Against the Lord's Resistance Army?

Discussion: The Lonely Conservative, Right Wing News, Outside the Beltway and Political Mojo

Rush Limbaugh:
Obama Invades Uganda, Targets Christians

Discussion: American Power, Booman Tribune, No More Mister Nice Blog, United States Senator …, Outside the Beltway, The Reality-Based Community, Balloon Juice, Little Green Footballs, FP Passport and New York Times

New York Times:

In Private Conversation, Wall Street Is More Critical of Protesters — Publicly, bankers say they understand the anger at Wall Street — but believe they are misunderstood by the protesters camped on their doorstep. — But when they speak privately, it is often a different story.

Discussion: Business Insider, Rod Dreher, Runnin' Scared, Prairie Weather, Guardian, The Reality-Based Community and New York Magazine

Adrian Chen / Gawker:

Meet the Guy Who Snitched on Occupy Wall Street to the FBI and NYPD — The Occupy Wall Street protests have been going on for a month. And it seems the FBI and NYPD have had help tracking protesters' moves thanks to a conservative computer security expert who gained access …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Political Carnival, Guardian and Big Government

ZIP / Weasel Zippers:
American Nazi Party Declares Its Full Support For Occupy Wall Street's “Courage” …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Fire Andrea Mitchell! and Atlas Shrugs

Terence Chea / Associated Press:
Rupert Murdoch heckled at Calif. education forum

Discussion: Mediaite and Gawker

Linette Lopez / Business Insider:
Here Are Occupy Wall Street's Plans For A National Convention That Could Change The Face Of America

Discussion: Connecting.the.Dots and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Zaid Jilani / ThinkProgress:

Times Square Is Now Occupied — Hundreds of people from Occupy Wall Street have flooded Times Square, in a major escalation by demonstrators. Here's a picture of the protests there: — Watch a livestream of the events in Times Square here.

Philip Pullella / Reuters:
Wall Street protests go global; riots in Rome

Discussion: Boing Boing, New York Magazine, msnbc.com, Corrente and The Raw Story

Associated Press:

US abandons plans to keep troops in Iraq next year — BAGHDAD (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that the Obama administration is abandoning plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq past a year-end withdrawal deadline. — A senior administration official in Washington confirmed Saturday …

Discussion: Hot Air, The Political Carnival and Gothamist

The Politico:

W.H. rebuts Iraq troops report — The Obama administration is knocking down a report that all but a small security force will be pulled from Iraq by the end of the year, saying instead that discussions are still ongoing. — The Associated Press reported Saturday afternoon that just 160 troops attached …

Cameron Joseph / Ballot Box:

Will Herman Cain's Sunday sit-down be the new GOP front-runner's star turn? — Herman Cain's presidential bid faces a big test Sunday as the newly minted front-runner takes center-stage on NBC's “Meet the Press.” — The appearance will mark the first time he has appeared …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Booman Tribune, The Other McCain and CNN

Julian Pecquet / Ballot Box:

Top-tier Cain pulls in second-tier cash — Newly minted GOP front-runner Herman Cain lags the other top-tier presidential candidates in newly released third-quarter filings, putting his campaign in jeopardy. — The former restaurant industry executive raised $2.6 million …

Discussion: The Spectacle Blog and The Other McCain

Andrew / Statistical Modeling …:

The most clueless political column ever—I think this Easterbrook dude has the journalistic equivalent of “tenure” — I don't know when I've seen political writing quote so misinformed as this. It's a bizarre mixture of cliches, non-sequitors, and outright mistakes.

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Weasel Zippers

Julie Mason / The Politico:

Daley: Press ‘carry water’ for pols — President Obama's remark to Ed Henry of Fox News on Thursday that, “I didn't know you were the spokesperson for Mitt Romney” set off heated discussions this week around the White House briefing room. — Henry declined comment on the matter.

Discussion: NewsBusters.org blogs, Weasel Zippers, Crooks and Liars and CNBC

New York Times:

Around the World, Protests Against Economic Policies — ROME — In dozens of cities around the world on Saturday, people took to the streets, clutching placards and chanting slogans as part of a planned day of protests against the financial system. — In Rome, a protest thick with tension spread over several miles.

Discussion: Guardian, Hullabaloo and Gothamist