Top Items:
CNN:
Governor denies clemency for ex-gang leader — Appeals court refuses to block Williams' execution — SACRAMENTO, California (CNN) — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has denied clemency for convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams, who co-founded the Crips street gang.
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John Cole / Balloon Juice:
No Clemency for Tookie — I don't find this surprising at all: … I have a lot of reasons why I dislike and oppose the death penalty, and not one of them has to do with a concern for the fate of guilty men. I dislike the death penalty because it is irreversible, it is arbitrary …
David Kravets / Associated Press:
Schwarzenegger Denies Clemency for Williams — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday refused to spare the life of Stanley Tookie Williams, the founder of the murderous Crips gang who awaited execution after midnight in a case that set off a debate over the possibility of redemption on death row.
washingtonpost.blog:
Froomkin on White House Briefing — In Sunday's Washington Post, the paper's new ombudsman, Deborah Howell, writes that The Post's political reporters don't like my column. She states that the column is "highly opinionated and liberal" and concludes that it should no longer bear the name …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Donklephant, mediabistro, First Draft, Crooks and Liars, The Stakeholder, Poynter Online, NewsBusters.org and The Heretik
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Wpnieditor / washingtonpost.blog:
John Harris Responds to Reader Comments — Washington Post Political Editor John Harris posted a response to readers in the comments area of the preceding post, but we are posting separately here to make it easier to find. — Harris's response follows: — Several of the comments here refer to me …
Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:
White House Pool Boys Get Crabby — I can't take it any more. Jay Rosen sent me an article by the Washington Post public editor that said the folks in the newsroom don't like Dan Froomkin because he's too liberal, and they're miffed that the Technorati tags on their articles lead to bloggers who criticize them.
Digby / Hullabaloo:
Push Back — Is it really true that it's ethical for one journalist to reveal a colleague's confidential source to a third source? — I'm in desperate need of an emergency panel on blogger ethics because I'm confused. David Corn says that Viveca Novak screwed up by not telling her editors …
White House:
President Discusses War on Terror and Upcoming Iraqi Elections — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.) Thank you. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thank you for the chance to come and speak to the Philadelphia World Affairs Council. This is an important organization that has …
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Reuters:
Top court to review Texas redistricting plan — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday that it would decide a challenge by Democrats and minority groups to the controversial 2003 Republican-supported congressional redistricting plan in Texas.
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BBC:
Second night of riots hits Sydney — Violence triggered by race tensions has hit Sydney for a second night, with youths damaging cars and shops. — A reporter in the suburb of Cronulla, where dozens were arrested after riots on Sunday, described scenes of "chaos".
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PR Newswire:
Diebold Announces Management Changes — CEO O'Dell leaves company; Swidarski named CEO, Lauer named chairman; company reaffirms guidance — NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD - News) today announced senior management changes instituted by its board of directors.
Discussion:
THE BRAD BLOG
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CNN:
LIVE FROM... Iraqi Armed Forces to Lead Security for Election; Syrian Critic Murdered; Death and Drama in New York; Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? ; The Life and Death of Richard Pryor — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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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Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:
Split Screen Bimbos: This Is How We Get Our Information? — Tonight's episode of Hardball was truly staggering. Jim VandeHei pipes up and announces that Stephen Hadley told Karl Rove about Valerie Plame's identity early in the game, prior to his conversation with Robert Novak:
Jerry Seper / Washington Times:
Patriot Act report targets meth — A conference report by Senate and House negotiators to extend for four years provisions of the USA Patriot Act includes a comprehensive anti-methamphetamine package restricting the sale of products containing ingredients needed to cook the drug and providing …
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.
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.
Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:
21st-Century Warnings of a Threat Rooted in the 7th — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said it in a speech last Monday in Washington and again on Thursday on PBS. Eric S. Edelman, the under secretary of defense for policy, said it the week before in a round table at the Council on Foreign Relations.
