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 …
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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Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:It's a Jungle Out There — Can I just say it is absolutely crazy out there?
Discussion:
Needlenose
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.
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 …
Editor and Publisher:
'NY Times' Sunday Preview: Conservative Blogs Rock! — NEW YORK In an argument sure to be challenged in certain sectors of the blogosphere, a story in The New York Times magazine coming up this Sunday declares that conservative blogs continue to best liberal blogs in political and electoral influence.
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:
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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 …
Discussion:
firedoglake, Talking Points Memo, Roger Ailes, Blanton's and Ashton's, The Stakeholder and Donklephant
David Barboza / New York Times:
Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese — FUZHOU, China - One of China's newest factories operates here in the basement of an old warehouse. Posters of World of Warcraft and Magic Land hang above a corps of young people glued to their computer screens, pounding away at their keyboards in the latest hustle for money.
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Bush visit stirring Twin Cities — The president swoops into Minneapolis today to raise money for the Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy. He'll receive both a warm welcome and heated criticism. — Quite a spectacle appears to be shaping up for President Bush's Twin Cities visit today.
Discussion:
Shot In The Dark
Washington Post:
U.S. Military Probing Video Of Road Violence — British Contractors Appear To Shoot at Iraqi Civilians — BAGHDAD, Dec. 8 — A silver Mercedes swings into the passing lane when a machine gun opens fire, sending the car smashing into a taxi, whose terrified occupants scatter.
Discussion:
TAPPED
Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:
IF A COP BREAKS INTO YOUR HOUSE UNNANOUNCED, and you shoot him thinking he's a burglar, it's self-defense. But Radley Balko reports on a case of a wrong-house no-knock raid that has led to what sounds like a total miscarriage of justice: … In a way, this is the flipside of the Miami airport shooting.
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.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, PoliPundit.com, Austin Bay Blog, Blogs for Bush, All Things Beautiful and Power Line
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.
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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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 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.
