On the Radar: May 17, 2011

Romney Makes Tough Choice On Health Care
By Charles Babington, Associated Press
Republican Mitt Romney faces a deeply unpleasant choice in his all-but-announced bid for the White House. He signaled Thursday that he'd rather be charged with inspiring President Barack Obama's health care overhaul than with switching positions on a fourth big issue that's vital to conservative voters. Read more 

Obama Tells Memphis Graduates Education Key To Beating Odds
By Julianna Goldman, Bloomberg
President Barack Obama told students at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where the graduation rate has jumped in the past four years, that they are a model of success for the U.S. education system. Read more
 
Donald Trump Announces He Won’t Seek U.S. Presidential Nomination in 2012
By Lisa Lerer, Bloomberg
Donald Trump, the real-estate developer turned reality television star, said today he won’t run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Read more
 
For Syria's Assad, Will Playing The Israel Card Work?
By Yochi J. Dreazen and Sara Sorcher, National Journal
For decades, Arab autocrats have had a cynical but effective strategy for silencing dissent within their countries: whenever the temperature gets too hot, change the topic to Israel and its ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Read more
 
Rep. Paul Ryan Staying in House, Won't Run For U.S. Senate
By Major Garrett, National Journal
Ryan began informing close friends of his decision Tuesday and is expected to announce later in the day. Three GOP sources tell National Journal as soon as Ryan officially announces he won't run for the Senate, former Wisconsin GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson, is expected to announce his candidacy for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, who recently announced he was retiring. Read more
 
As the Federal Government Hits Its Debt Limit, Lawmakers Spar Over Solution
By Jackie Calmes and Carl Hulse, The New York Times
The Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, officially informed Congress on Monday that the government, as projected, had reached its $14.3 trillion debt limit and had begun taking what he has called “extraordinary measures” to meet obligations while lawmakers and President Obama seek a budget deal to raise the limit. Read more
 
U.S. Calls for Global Cybersecurity Strategy
By Helene Cooper, The New York Times
The Obama administration on Monday proposed creating international computer security standards with penalties for countries and organizations that fell short. Read more
 
GOP 'Super PAC' Seeks Surplus Cash
By Jeanne Cummings, Politico
Attorney James Bopp Jr. spent much of the last two years trying to get rid of the ban preventing federal officials from raising unlimited contributions, or so-called “soft money.” Read more
 
Justices OK Some Warrantless Searches
By Joan Biskupic, USA Today
The Supreme Court by an 8-1 vote Monday bolstered police authority to break down a door and seize drugs or other evidence of wrongdoing if officers believe it is being destroyed. Read more
 
Medicare Revamp Exposes Divisions Within the GOP
By Naftali Bendavid and Jonathan Weisman, The Wall Street Journal
Newt Gingrich's dismissal of the House Republican plan to overhaul Medicare provoked a rebuttal from the proposal's author, Rep. Paul Ryan, highlighting a split in the party over how hard to push a priority for the House GOP majority. Read more
 
We've Seen This Movie Before
By John Dickerson, Slate Magazine
Allow me to go out on a limb here and predict that President Obama and Republican leaders will agree to raise the debt ceiling, averting an economic crisis. Read more
 
Donald Trump Says He Won’t Run For President In 2012
By Karen Tumulty, The Washington Post
So it turns out Donald Trump got the joke after all. Or maybe he was the one who put one over on everyone else. Read more
 
 

Posted: Tue, 05/17/2011 - 1:40pm