memeorandum: Obama invites Hollande to White House (Agence France Presse)

11:00 AM ET, May 7, 2012

Top Items:

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

Those Revolting Europeans — The French are revolting. The Greeks, too. And it's about time. — Both countries held elections Sunday that were in effect referendums on the current European economic strategy, and in both countries voters turned two thumbs down.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, ABCNEWS, Taylor Marsh, Hullabaloo, Prairie Weather, ABCNEWS, Daily Kos, Wall Street Journal, Althouse, Cafe Hayek and THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

Brian Topp / Globe and Mail:

With Hollande's defeat of Sarkozy, France dodges a bullet — On election day in Paris, Place de la Bastille (home of the left) was full and Place de la Concorde (home of the right) was empty. As sure a sign as any that the Socialist Party was about to win the presidency, as it went on to do.

Discussion: The Reaction

Agence France Presse:

Obama invites Hollande to White House — President Barack Obama congratulated French president-elect Francois Hollande for his victory Sunday, but warned of “challenges” ahead, a clear reference to Afghanistan and eurozone debt crisis. — The US president was among the first world leaders …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and Scared Monkeys

Anne Penketh / Pundits Blog:
After French vote, will Europe switch course?

Discussion: Reuters

John Cassidy / Rational Irrationality:
Sarko's Defeat: Good and Bad News for Obama

Discussion: Cafe Hayek, Agence France Presse and Outside the Beltway

Noah Barkin / Reuters:
Analysis: Greek, French voters reject German-led austerity

Discussion: National Review

Reuters:
Socialist Hollande ousts Sarkozy as French leader

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Left Coast Rebel, Hit & Run and Big Brass Blog

New York Times:
Hollande Defeats Sarkozy in France

Discussion: The Huffington Post, FRANCE 24, The PJ Tatler, Spiegel Online, Hot Air, Sultan Knish, Israel Matzav, Runnin' Scared, World Now, Telegraph, Gothamist, Newsy, Outside the Beltway, American Power, Atlas Shrugs and Wall Street Journal

BBC:
Socialist Francois Hollande wins French presidency

Discussion: Washington Post, The Heritage Foundation, Ezra Klein and The PJ Tatler

James Hohmann / Politico:

Battleground Poll: Obama, Romney in dead heat — A new POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll finds a dead heat in the presidential race six months before the election. — Mitt Romney edged out President Barack Obama 48 percent to 47 percent among likely voters …

Discussion: GOP 12, LifeNews.com, No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Post, CNN, White House Dossier, ThinkProgress, National Review, Associated Press and The Page

Susan Page / USA Today:

Swing states' poll: Big challenges loom for Obama, Romney — Six months out, it's a tie. — The first USA TODAY/Gallup Swing States Poll since the GOP settled on a presumptive nominee shows big challenges for each side: Mitt Romney in generating enthusiasm and a personal connection with his supporters …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, GOP 12, CNN, Mediaite, msnbc.com and The Hill

Lydia Saad / Gallup:
Obama-Romney Race Competitive in 2012 Swing States

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, msnbc.com and blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Politico:
Republican poll analysis: The race to November begins

Discussion: CNN

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:

Arne Duncan Endorses Marriage Equality — Arne Duncan, President Obama's Secretary of Education, endorsed marriage equality during an appearance on Morning Joe on Monday following Vice President Joe Biden's support for the issue. “Yes, I do,” Duncan said in response to a question from Mark Halperin …

Discussion: Washington Blade, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Taylor Marsh, 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, Catholic Bandita and Towleroad News #gay

Michael Barbaro / New York Times:

A Scramble as Biden Backs Same-Sex Marriage — Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said on Sunday that he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriages and was heartened by their growing acceptance across the country, a position that moves well beyond the “evolving” views that President Obama has said he holds on the issue.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Politico, msnbc.com, JustOneMinute, Capital New York, Campaign 2012, The Daily Dish and ThinkProgress

BuzzFeed:
Another Obama Cabinet Member Comes Out For Gay Marraige

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Chris Geidner / Poliglot:
Biden's “Words Speak for Themselves” on His “Belief in Marriage Equality,” Incoming HRC Head Griffin Says

Discussion: ThinkProgress and Joe. My. God.

Kevin Sieff / Washington Post:

Secret U.S. program releases high-level insurgents in exchange for pledges of peace — KABUL — The United States has for several years been secretly releasing high-level detainees from a military prison in Afghanistan as part of negotiations with insurgent groups, a bold effort to quell violence …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Gateway Pundit, The Jawa Report, CNN, New York Magazine, Reuters, The PJ Tatler and This ain't Hell …

Dave Umhoefer / PolitiFact:

Behind the rhetoric: Why Scott Walker was able to raise unlimited funds — Democrats and their recall allies decry the law that has helped Gov. Scott Walker out-raise his opponents combined by $11 million dollars without regard to normal campaign contribution limits.

Steve Mistler / Portland Press-Herald:

Ron Paul in Maine: Delegates in hand, but trouble afoot? — Mitt Romney supporters consider challenging the results of Maine's GOP convention. — AUGUSTA - Chaos. Turmoil. Insane. — Those were just three of the words attendees used Sunday to describe the Maine Republican State Convention …

Discussion: Politico and Balloon Juice

Anjeanette Damon / Las Vegas Sun:
Ron Paul supporters capture majority of Nevada's national delegates

Discussion: Washington Post, Des Moines Register, Hit & Run, Associated Press, Washington Wire, Portland Press-Herald, Las Vegas Sun, The Spectacle Blog and Las Vegas Review-Journal

Neil Munro / The Daily Caller:

Civil rights lawyers told The Daily Caller that President Barack Obama's 2012 campaign managers may have violated employment law by hiring an overwhelmingly white office staff for his campaign headquarters in Chicago. — That skewed workforce is starkly visible in an April photo released …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

John Hawkins / Right Wing News:

Mitt Romney's Top 30 Potential Picks For Vice-President — Predicting whom a particular candidate will take as Vice-President is always difficult because so many factors play into it. Do both candidates get along? Is the presidential nominee looking to carry a particular state, region, or demographic group?

Discussion: JustOneMinute

ABCNEWS:
Sen. John McCain's Advice to Mitt Romney: Pick a Running Mate You Trust

Discussion: The Reaction, TBogg and Hullabaloo

BuzzFeed:

Mitt Romney Was Arrested For Disorderly Conduct In 1981 — The charges were dropped after Romney threatened to sue. “I was not a disorderly person,” Romney said. — Mitt Romney campaigns in Pittsburgh. — It's a little reported anecdote, but in 1981 presumptive Republican Presidential …

Discussion: GOP 12

David Ford / ABCNEWS:

ABC News President Ben Sherwood Announces Plans for New Joint Venture with Univision to News Division — ABC News President Ben Sherwood sent the following note to ABC News staff announcing plans for a new pioneering joint venture with Univision: — This morning we're announcing …

Discussion: Politico and Mediaite