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David E. Sanger / New York Times:
In Speech, Bush Says He Ordered Domestic Spying — President Bush delivered his radio address in the Roosevelt Room. In the live address, he criticized senators who voted not to renew the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act. — WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 - President Bush acknowledged …
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White House:
Radio Address by the President to the Nation — THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. — As President, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and I have no greater responsibility than to protect our people, our freedom, and our way of life. On September the 11th, 2001, our freedom …
Discussion:
Silent Running, Blogs for Bush, Patridiot Watch, Say Anything, Decision '08 and Talking Points Memo
Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Bush Acknowledges Approving Eavesdropping — WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday he has no intention of stopping his personal authorizations of a post-Sept. 11 secret eavesdropping program in the U.S., lashing out at those involved in revealing it while defending it as crucial to preventing future attacks.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Centerfield, The Heretik, Battlepanda, Oliver Willis, Crooks and Liars, Scrutiny Hooligans and Daily Kos
Washington Post:
President Acknowledges Approving Secretive Eavesdropping — Bush Also Urges Congress to Extend Patriot Act — President Bush today acknowledged that he had secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on international communications of Americans and other domestic residents with known links to al Qaeda.
Discussion:
War and Piece, Concurring Opinions, Sister Toldjah, Stop The ACLU, Simianbrain and The Carpetbagger Report
Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
Bush And The "Secret" Eavesdropping — The NY Times continued its war on America yesterday with its revelation that … Careful readers of the story will note that this program had some judicial and legislative oversight: … That seems reasonably clear.
Discussion:
Let Freedom Ring
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
At the Times, a Scoop Deferred — The New York Times' revelation yesterday that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to conduct domestic eavesdropping raised eyebrows in political and media circles, for both its stunning disclosures and the circumstances of its publication.
Washington Post:
Bush Picks Controversial Nominees for FEC — President Bush nominated two controversial lawyers to the Federal Election Commission yesterday: Hans von Spakovsky who helped Georgia win approval of a disputed voter-identification law, and Robert D. Lenhard, who was part of a legal team …
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iranvajahan.net:
Iran President's Bodyguard Dies in Ambush — Tehran, Iran — One of the bodyguards of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was killed and another wounded when an attempt to ambush the presidential motorcade was thwarted in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, according to a semi-official newspaper and local residents.
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White House:
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan — MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon, everyone. The President looks forward this afternoon to meeting the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Sumaidaie. This will be an opportunity for the President to congratulate the Iraqi people on a successful election yesterday.
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The New Republic:
BANDOW AND THE CORRUPTION OF THE CONSERVATIVES: — Mike has highlighted my piece on Abramoff and the conservative intellectuals. At the time, I was sure that Abramoff paid Peter Ferrara and Doug Bandow for op-eds—and tried to strongly hint that in my piece. But, as you'll see, I couldn't quite prove it.
Discussion:
The Corner on National …
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Bill Roggio / Weekly Standard:
Election Day on the Euphrates — In the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar, the cities of Barwana, Haqlaniya, and Haditha are collectively known as the Triad. Over the summer, before the joint U.S. military and Iraqi forces established a security presence in the Triad, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi …
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New York Times:
Iraq Votes for a Third Time — Iraq's Election Day was a glorious success. Now on to the hard part. — Compared with any previous Iraqi election, with any reasonable expectation and with any other recent election in the Arab Middle East, Thursday's vote for a new Iraqi Parliament was an overwhelming and heartening triumph.
Emily Bazelon / Slate:
The Get-Out-of-Torture-Free Card — Why is Congress banning torture but allowing the use of torture testimony? — Congress deserves a pat on the back today for facing down the Bush administration and passing John McCain's unconditional ban on torture, right? Not exactly.
Discussion:
www.AndrewSullivan.com
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Marty Lederman / Balkinization:
The McCain Amendment — The Good — Faced with apparent veto-proof supermajorities in both the Senate and the House, the White House had little choice but to capitulate today to accepting the McCain Amendment in the form it passed the Senate, without the CIA exemption upon which the Vice President had been insisting.
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