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Hilary Bok / The Washington Monthly:
Above The Law, Take 2 — I just wanted to echo what Shakespearer's Sister said about the report that Bush signed an order allowing the NSA to spy on US citizens without a warrant. — This is against the law. I have put references to the relevant statute below the fold; the brief version is …
Discussion:
MyDD, The American Mind, Liberty Street, Pacific Views, Obsidian Wings, Opinions You Should Have and Whatever
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Michelle Malkin:
RED ALERT: CHICKEN LITTLES ON THE LOOSE — ***scroll for updates...The ACLU wants a special prosecutor (but not for the leakers)...Some on the Left aren't happy with the Times, either...Arlen Specter says the Judiciary Committee will investigate (the Bush administration, not the leakers)...***
Drudge Report:
NYT 'SPYING' SPLASH TIED TO BOOK RELEASE — Newspaper fails to inform readers "news break" is tied to book publication — On the front page of today's NEW YORK TIMES, national security reporter James Risen claims that "months after the September 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized …
Hindrocket / Power Line:
LET'S SEND THESE GUYS TO JAIL — The Valerie Plame case has established that any leak of classified information from an intelligence agency is a serious matter, regardless of how trivial the information may be, and must result in criminal investigation and prosecution. Fine.
Will / Attytood:The Big Stall: How Bush gamed the media to get re-elected in 2004
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report, Daily Kos, AMERICAblog, The Liquid List, Poynter Online, The RCP Blog, War and Piece and firedoglake
Jesse J. Holland / Associated Press:
Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act — WASHINGTON - The Senate on Friday refused to reauthorize major portions of the USA Patriot Act after critics complained they infringed too much on Americans' privacy and liberty, dealing a huge defeat to the Bush administration and Republican leaders.
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Jeff Bliss / Bloomberg:
U.S. Senate Rejects Bush Plea to Advance Patriot Act (Update1) — Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Senate, rejecting pleas from its Republican leaders and President George W. Bush, refused to end debate on legislation to renew the anti-terror USA Patriot Act.
Fox News:
Senate Blocks Vote to Extend Patriot Act — WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday blocked a vote to reauthorize 16 expiring provisions of the controversial USA Patriot Act. — As Congress raced toward adjournment, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to garner the 60 votes necessary …
Byron York / The Corner on National Review Online:FRUSTRATED, ANGRY REPUBLICANS
Discussion:
Instapundit.com
Eamon Javers / Business Week:
Op-Eds for Sale — A columnist from a libertarian think tank admits accepting payments to promote an indicted lobbyist's clients. Will more examples follow? — A senior fellow at the Cato Institute resigned from the libertarian think tank on Dec. 15 after admitting that he had accepted payments …
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Jonathan H. Adler / The Corner on National …:OP-EDS FOR SALE — When I was working at CEI, I was offered …
Constant Brand / Associated Press:
Iran Could Be Sanctioned for Riling Israel — BRUSSELS, Belgium - Iran could face sanctions if it keeps provoking Israel and the West, European leaders warned Saturday, even as the Tehran regime's interior minister said the Iranian president's remarks had been "misunderstood."
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Nicholas Paphitis / Associated Press:
EU Threatens Sanctions Over Holocaust Flap — ATHENS, Greece - European leaders threatened sanctions against Iran for its president's remarks about Israel and the Holocaust, even as the regime's interior minister said Friday the widely condemned comments were "misunderstood" by Western governments.
MSNBC:
Bush declines comment on NSA spying report — Specter vows to hold hearings on alleged eavesdropping without warrants … MSNBC TV — MSNBC staff and news service reports — NEW YORK - President Bush refused to say whether the National Security Agency eavesdropped without warrants …
Brian / mediabistro.com:
FLASH: Bob Novak Becoming Fox News Channel "Contributor" — This story suddenly becomes more interesting: As soon as Bob Novak's contract with CNN runs out on Dec. 31, he will become a contributor to the Fox News Channel, the AP scoops. FNC spokesman Brian Lewis confirmed his signing with the network to David Bauder.
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New York Times:
Ban Torture. Period. — It should have been unmitigated good news when President Bush finally announced yesterday that he would back Senator John McCain's proposal to ban torture and "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment at United States prison camps. Nothing should be more obvious …
Discussion:
The Mahablog
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Scott Shane / New York Times:
Behind Power, One Principle as Bush Pushes Prerogatives — WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 - A single, fiercely debated legal principle lies behind nearly every major initiative in the Bush administration's war on terror, scholars say: the sweeping assertion of the powers of the presidency.
Discussion:
Concurring Opinions
BBC:
Iraq vote 'met global standards' — International observers have praised the organisers of Iraq's parliamentary election, which they said generally met international standards. — A spokesman for the International Mission for Iraqi Elections conceded that there had been minor problems, but said the vote had generally gone well.
Discussion:
Gateway Pundit
Reuters:
In survey of ten US presidents, Bush fares badly — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush ranks as the least popular and most bellicose of the last ten U.S. presidents, according to a new survey. — Only nine percent of the 662 people polled picked Bush as their favorite among the last 10 presidents.
TalkLeft:
Murray Waas: Rove's Latest Defense Strategy — Intrepid reporter Murray Waas is back with a new article in the National Journal on why Robert Novak called Karl Rove on July 9, 2003: It was to discuss Frances Fragos Townsend, "a former senior attorney in the Clinton administration's Justice …
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missoulian.com:
Time to pass the baton, Sen. Burns - Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 — SUMMARY: Seeking re-election amid scandal is a recipe for a shrill, shallow, one-sided campaign. — Montana Democrats have got the perfect candidate to help them take the U.S. Senate seat up for election next year away from the Republicans.
Discussion:
Swing State Project
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