Cheat Sheet - Drop Out Now, Romney!

Today: Newt Vows to Continue, Twin Earthquakes Hit Japan, Panetta Visits Afghanistan March 14, 2012 DEBACLE 1. Drop Out Now, Romney! Ouch. Despite a big cash advantage and frontrunner status, Mitt Romney managed only a third-place finish in last night's primaries in Mississippi and Alabama—losing to Rick Santorum in both contests. Has the former governor gone from inevitable to unelectable? The Daily Beast's Paul Begala on another sign that voters just don't like Mitt. Plus, Howard Kurtz, Patricia Murphy, and more contributors weigh in on the results. Read it at The Daily Beast RELENTLESS 2. Newt Vows to Continue Newt Gingrich is sticking in the race, despite a disappointing second-place finish in Alabama and Mississippi. The GOP campaign is essentially a two-man race between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, with Gingrich representing a potential drag on Santorum. But the former speaker doesn't see it that way. After last night's results came in, he gave a speech that seemed to suggest he and Santorum could work as a team to prevent Romney from winning the nomination. "Between Santorum and myself, we'll get over two thirds of the delegates and the so-called frontrunner will get less than a third," Gingrich said, which could force a contested convention. Read it at Politico FRIGHT 3. Twin Earthquakes Hit Japan Two earthquakes rattled Japan on Wednesday, just days after the anniversary of 2011's tragic tsunami. First, a 6.8 temblor struck northern Japan. Several towns were evacuated, and forecasters issued a tsunami warning that was later lifted. Later, a shallow 6.1-magnitude quake struck near Tokyo. No damages or injuries have been reported from either incident. Last year's earthquake, a 9.0 that hit roughly the same area as today's first earthquake, triggered a massive tsunami that left 19,000 dead. Read it at Reuters FALLOUT 4. Panetta Visits Afghanistan Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan, pledging that the U.S. would not change its strategy, despite recent tensions. In a possible acknowledgment of tensions after a U.S. soldier allegedly massacred 16 Afghan civilians, Marines were asked to leave their weapons outside the tent before Panetta spoke. An Afghan official says there is security footage of the soldier returning to his base and raising his arms in surrender. A delegation investigating the shooting was hit with a bomb that killed one intelligence official. Yesterday a delegation visiting the site was attacked by gunmen. Read it at Associated Press CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR 5. Goldman Exec Quits in NYT Op-Ed Goldman Sachs executive Greg Smith knows how to go out with a bang. "Today is my last day at Goldman Sachs," he writes in a New York Times op-ed. He's been at Goldman for 12 years, and says, "The environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it." Smith says the investment bank has lost its way. It used to want to help clients; now people call them "muppets" and "callously" talk about ripping them off. The firm changed the way it thought about leadership, he says. "Leadership used to be about ideas, setting an example and doing the right thing. Today, if you make enough money for the firm (and are not currently an ax murderer) you will be promoted into a position of influence." Read it at The New York Times WATCHDOGS Nuke Expert Finds Iran Explosives Site At isolated Parchin military center. RUTGERS TRIAL Clementi Case Goes to Jury Gay-rights activist on the tricky verdict. TRAGIC Bus Crash Kills 28 in Switzerland Including 22 children returning from ski trip. STRATEGY Obama Reveals NCAA Picks Three of his Final Four likely to be swing-states. ENCYCLOPAEDIA Britannica Going Digital After 244 years of producing multivolume books. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET The Yes List Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Obama's Mission Impossible by P.J. Crowley The Revenge War on Viagra by Allison Yarrow The Most Hated Man on the Internet by Marlow Stern

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