Top Items:
Douglas Jehl / New York Times:
Qaeda-Iraq Link U.S. Cited Is Tied to Coercion Claim — WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 - The Bush administration based a crucial prewar assertion about ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda on detailed statements made by a prisoner while in Egyptian custody who later said he had fabricated them to escape harsh treatment …
Discussion:
democracyarsenal.org, The Left Coaster, The Washington Monthly, Balkinization, PoliBlog, AMERICAblog, War and Piece and Daily Kos
Washington Post:
Time Reporter Testifies in Leak Case — Rove Lawyer Was Deposed Last Week by Special Prosecutor — A special prosecutor questioned Time magazine reporter Viveca Novak under oath yesterday about a conversation she had with the attorney for presidential adviser Karl Rove that has become part …
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David Johnston / New York Times:
Time Reporter Is Questioned in Leak Case — WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 - A Time magazine reporter met on Thursday with the special counsel in the C.I.A. leak case to answer questions about her conversations last year with a lawyer for Karl Rove, the senior White House adviser, a senior editor of the magazine said.
Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:It's a Jungle Out There — Can I just say it is absolutely crazy out there?
Discussion:
Needlenose
Laurie Goodstein / New York Times:
When Christmas Falls on Sunday, Megachurches Take the Day Off — Some of the nation's most prominent megachurches have decided not to hold worship services on the Sunday that coincides with Christmas Day, a move that is generating controversy among evangelical Christians …
Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
Man for a Glass Booth — Of all the mistakes that the Bush administration has committed in Iraq, none is as gratuitous and self-inflicted as the bungling of the trial of Saddam Hussein. — Although Hussein deserves to be shot like a dog — or, same thing, like the Ceausescus — we nonetheless decided to give him a trial.
Washington Post:
Plea Deal Near With 2nd Abramoff Associate — Kidan Has Agreed to Cooperate in Probes — Federal prosecutors have all but finalized a plea agreement with a second business partner of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for cooperation in the ongoing criminal investigations of Abramoff …
BBC:
Iran's president says move Israel — Iran's conservative president has said that Israel should be moved to Europe. — "If European countries claim that they have killed Jews in World War II... why don't they provide the Zionist regime with a piece of Europe," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Iranian television.
Discussion:
QandO
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Drudge Report:
EXCLUSIVE: GOP TO LAUNCH 'WHITE FLAG' DEM ATTACK — The DRUDGE REPORT has learned from a top GOP operative that the Republican National Committee will provide state parties with a web video prior to release tomorrow afternoon that shows a white flag waving over images of Democrat leaders making anti-war remarks.
TalkLeft:
After 25 Years, John Lennon Lives On — 25 years ago, on December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building on the upper West Side of New York. I heard about it that night from Howard Cossell while in bed watching Monday Night Football.
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Glenn Kessler / Washington Post:
Europeans Search for Conciliation With U.S. — Some States Are Assuaged By Rice on Prison Policy — BRUSSELS, Dec. 8 — European foreign ministers attempted to make peace with the United States on Thursday over the controversy concerning treatment of terrorism suspects …
David Stout / New York Times:
House-Senate Panel Reaches Agreement on Patriot Act — WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 - House and Senate negotiators reached agreement today on reauthorizing the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping anti-terrorism measure that granted the federal government new powers after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a Republican Senate leader said.
Will Dunham / Reuters:
CORRECTED - Rumsfeld says 'I have no plans to retire' — In WASHINGTON story headlined "Rumsfeld says 'I have no plans to retire'" ... please read in second paragraph ... New York Daily News ... instead of ... New York Post ... (correcting newspaper throughout) — A corrected story follows:
Kevin Drum / The Washington Monthly:
WHAT HAPPENED ON FLIGHT 924?....There's something screwy about the story of Rigoberto Alpizar, who was shot by air marshals on Wednesday. Here's one account from CNN: … Here's a second version from AP: … And here's a couple of passenger quotes from the CNN story:
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, Happy Furry Puppy Story …, Hullabaloo, Conservative Cat, CNN and War and Piece
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Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:
$56 Billion in Tax Cuts Passed by House, 234-197 — The House approved yesterday $56 billion in tax cuts that would keep alive the deep reductions in the tax rates on dividends and capital gains passed in 2003, but the measure is certain to be challenged by senators who have so far balked at the tax cuts for investors.
Kash / Angry Bear:
Spending Growth in Context — Are the budget deficits due to profligate spending by the Bush administration? Are Congressional Republicans truly more spendtrift in their ways than French socialists? — I find a little historical context helpful in assessing these claims from the right.
The Anchoress:
Katrina and the Racism Rehash — Marvin Olasky has a great piece in Townhall.com, Racist News Media, wherein he takes a long look at the things which were being said - and by whom - immediately after the levees broke. Recall that immediately after Katrina departed, everyone had thought that the city had dodged a bullet.
Discussion:
Ed Driscoll.com
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David S. Broder / Washington Post:
Time for a House-Cleaning — If the House of Representatives were a person, it would be blushing these days. Unfortunately, the House is beyond embarrassment. — Its once (and maybe future) majority leader, Tom DeLay, is under indictment on money-laundering charges in Texas.
TimChapman / Townhall.com:
Blogger call with Representatives Kingston and Kline — Today, at 11:00, Capitol Report will be in on the call below. Details to follow. … UPDATE: The call has begun...but we are waiting. — Congressman Kingston just had a meeting with Rumsfeld and was whisked off to the White House, thus the delay.
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