Top Items:
ABCNEWS:
Poll: Broad Optimism in Iraq, But Also Deep Divisions Among Groups — On the Eve of the Elections, Most Iraqis Want Iraq To Stay Unified — Dec. 12, 2005 — Surprising levels of optimism prevail in Iraq with living conditions improved, security more a national worry than a local one, and expectations for the future high.
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Will Lester / Associated Press:
Poll: Most Iraqis Oppose Troops' Presence — WASHINGTON - Most Iraqis disapprove of the presence of U.S. forces in their country, yet they are optimistic about Iraq's future and their own personal lives, according to a new poll. — More than two-thirds of those surveyed oppose the presence …
Gina Holland / Associated Press:
Supreme Court to Review Texas Redistricting — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Monday it would consider the constitutionality of a Texas congressional map engineered by Rep. Tom DeLay that helped Republicans gain seats in Congress. — The 2003 boundaries helped Republicans win 21 …
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Omar / IRAQ THE MODEL:
The voting has begun! (updated) — Voting in Iraq's second parliamentary elections has begun this morning; this coincides with the deadline for all campaigning activities by all lists and parties who are required now to enter "electoral silence". — The first votes are coming from army bases, detention centers and hospitals.
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Ceci Connolly / Washington Post:
Frist Cautions Senators Against Stalling Alito Vote — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) threatened yesterday to strip Democrats of the power to filibuster if they block the vote on Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. — "It would be against the intent of the Founding Fathers …
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Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Hillary Clinton Crafts Centrist Stance on War — At a time when politicians in both parties have eagerly sought public forums to debate the war in Iraq, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has kept in the shadows. — Clinton has stayed steadfastly on a centrist path …
Scott Shiloh / Arutz Sheva:
Abbas Approves Monthly Grant To Families of Suicide Bombers — The head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has approved a new law, providing monetary grants to the families of suicide bombers. — Abbas gave his approval just six days ago, a day before a suicide bomber struck …
Edward Wong / New York Times:
Iraq Prison Raid Finds a New Case of Mistreatment — BAGHDAD, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 12 - American and Iraqi forces raiding an Iraqi government detention center last Thursday in Baghdad discovered more than 600 prisoners packed into a cramped space, 13 of them mistreated so badly they had to be taken …
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Ellen Knickmeyer / Washington Post:Abuse Cited In 2nd Jail Operated by Iraqi Ministry
Discussion:
Informed Comment
The State:
Sanford rules out bid for presidency in 2008 — Governor says he'll serve 4 years if re-elected — Gov. Mark Sanford "absolutely" will not run for president in 2008. — In a wide-ranging interview with The State newspaper in his State House office last week, Sanford said he would not be a candidate …
Discussion:
Decision '08
New York Times:
AOL Co-Founder Calls for Split of Time Warner — As Time Warner nears a decision on a big alliance with Google or Microsoft for its America Online unit, Stephen M. Case, the co-founder of AOL, has spoken out against the plan, aligning himself with the thinking of the financier Carl C. Icahn, who has pushed for a breakup of Time Warner.
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Russ Feingold / tpmcafe.com:
TPMCafe Special Guests — Fixing The Patriot Act — Fighting Terrorism While Protecting Our Freedoms — Thanks to Josh and the crew here at TPM Café for inviting me this week. I have posted diaries on blogs in the past and have always enjoyed the immediate and thoughtful feedback I get.
Discussion:
MyDD
Countertop / The Countertop Chronicles:
The Rino Rodeo — Well, its 1:00 am on Monday. I've had a hellacious week (topped off with a visit to Hell this afternoon), so while I planned something good and great and in the Christmas Spirit for this weeks Rhino Rodeo, alas, you will have to suffer through something perhaps not as worthy of the honor.
Discussion:
Argghhh!
Pat Toomey / Opinion Journal:
Laffey vs. Chafee — The first skirmish in a very important war. — Describing his 1976 challenge to incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan wrote, "It was time to scale back the size of the federal government, reduce taxes and government intrusion in our lives …
Stuart Elliott / New York Times:
To Promote a Cable Network, a Plan to Inundate the Internet — The MSNBC cable network plans to flood the Internet this week with its largest concentrated online pitch, running advertising on hundreds of Web sites and blogs. The cost of the campaign, to promote three prime-time programs, is estimated at just under $1 million.
David Johnston / New York Times:
Reporter Recounts Talk About C.I.A. Leak — WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 - A reporter for Time magazine said Sunday that a lawyer for Karl Rove, the senior White House adviser, was surprised when she suggested to him in the first half of 2004 that Mr. Rove had probably been a source …
Discussion:
Poynter Online
