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:
Court Agrees to Review Texas Redistricting — Supreme Court Agrees to Review GOP-Friendly Redistricting in Texas Engineered by Rep. Tom DeLay — WASHINGTON Dec 12, 2005 — The Supreme Court said Monday it would consider the constitutionality of a Texas congressional map engineered …
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns and Money, firedoglake, Off the Kuff, The Heretik, The Carpetbagger Report and Eschaton
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David Stout / New York Times:
Supreme Court to Review Texas Districting Dispute — WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 - The United States Supreme Court agreed today to review the constitutionality of the Texas redistricting plan that was engineered by Representative Tom DeLay, the House majority leader until recently …
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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Gateway Pundit:
As Voting Begins, Bush Talks Freedom, Iraqis Dance — THOUSANDS OF IRAQIS HEAD TO THE POLLS TODAY, EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN, — VIDEO HERE — 300,000 Iraqis voted today, 90,000 from hospitals, 20,000 from prisons — President Bush reminds the world that while the path toward Iraqi democracy …
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 …
Discussion:
overtaken~by~events, Right Wing News, Decision '08, THE ASTUTE BLOGGER, Power Line, QandO and Betsy's Page
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 …
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
Robert Novak / Chicago Sun Times:
No sophomore jinx for Emanuel — Rep. Rahm Emanuel, in only his second term as a congressman from Chicago, gets high praise from Democratic activists outside Congress for his performance as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. — Emanuel's success in recruiting candidates …
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
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
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 …
NewsMax.com:
Chris Wallace: Mike Wallace Has 'Lost It' — "Fox News Sunday" anchorman Chris Wallace says father Mike Wallace has "lost it" - after the legendary CBS newsman told the Boston Globe last week that the fact George Bush had been elected president shows America is "[expletive]-up." — "He's lost it.
Discussion:
Pam's House Blend, The Jawa Report v3.0 Beta, Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler and Fausta's Blog
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.
