Top Items:
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 …
RELATED ITEMS:
David Kravets / Associated Press:
Calif. High Court Refuses Williams' Stay — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The California Supreme Court late Sunday refused to grant a stay of execution for convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams, meaning the former gang leader who became an outspoken critic of gang violence will be executed early Tuesday unless …
Joseph Kahn / New York Times:
Military Officer Tied to Killings Is Held by China — BEIJING, Monday, Dec. 12 - The commander of paramilitary forces who opened fire on villagers protesting land seizures has been detained by the authorities in connection with the shootings, an extraordinary response that suggested high-level concern …
RELATED ITEM:
Tim B. / Tim Blair:
BEACH TRASH DUKE IT OUT — Wild scenes at a Sydney beach: … Let's hope that report turns out to be untrue. Other (confirmed) reports are almost as disgusting: … How did this situation come to be? Splat Guy puts together a concise time-line: … Absolutely.
RELATED ITEMS:
BBC:
Beirut bomb kills anti-Syria MP — A prominent Lebanese anti-Syrian member of parliament and journalist has been killed in a car bomb attack in Beirut. — Gibran Tueni's convoy was targeted as it travelled in the Christian-dominated eastern suburb of Mekallis.
Discussion:
The Big Pharaoh
RELATED ITEMS:
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 …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, Hugh Hewitt, Bark Bark Woof Woof, The Corner on National … and BrothersJudd Blog
Ellen Knickmeyer / Washington Post:
Abuse Cited In 2nd Jail Operated by Iraqi Ministry — Official Says 12 Prisoners Subjected to 'Severe Torture' — BAGHDAD, Dec. 11 — An Iraqi government search of a detention center in Baghdad operated by Interior Ministry special commandos found 13 prisoners who had suffered abuse serious enough …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Hugh Hewitt
Raymond Hernandez / New York Times:
After Success as Governor in G.O.P. Stronghold, Democrat Seeks a National Identity — ORLANDO, Dec. 11 - Propelled by his popularity at home, Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia has begun a major foray onto the national stage, raising millions of dollars for his likely presidential bid …
RELATED ITEM:
BBC:
Survey finds optimism in new Iraq — An opinion poll suggests Iraqis are generally optimistic about their lives, in spite of the violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion. — But the survey, carried out for the BBC and other media, found security fears still dominate most Iraqis' thoughts.
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!
Associated Press:
Home Schools Are Becoming More Popular Among Blacks — RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 10 (AP) - When Denise Armstrong decided to teach her daughter and two sons at home instead of sending them to public school, she said she did so thinking she would do a better job than the school of instilling her values in her children.
Discussion:
AtlanticBlog
Margaret Talev / Sacramento Bee:
State GOP feels unease amid probes — WASHINGTON - California's Republican congressional delegation has been a bright spot for the GOP in the Democrat-dominated state, but that status is being tested by a series of federal corruption investigations. — The state's historic ties …
New York Times:
The Next Retirement Time Bomb — SINCE 1983, the city of Duluth, Minn., has been promising free lifetime health care to all of its retired workers, their spouses and their children up to age 26. No one really knew how much it would cost. Three years ago, the city decided to find out.
Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:
HERE'S AN INTERESTING REPORT: … Well, dang. They've finally figured that out. Next they'll catch on that Al Jazeera is a CIA front . . . . But this can't be making Zawahiri very happy: … Oops. Sorry, pal. — Much more on what's going on among the various factions in Iraq …
RELATED ITEM:
