Top Items:
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 …
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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 …
Jeff Goldstein / protein wisdom:
The Revolution will be blogged, 8 (UPDATED) — The Democratic spin doctors, spurred on by their disingenuous Congressional taskmasters , are all over the tube this morning trying to gin up additional outrage over this NSA domestic "spy story"—even as the President stands firm and defends the practice.
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.
Los Angeles Times:
Spying Scandal Draws Heat — Lawmakers call on Bush to explain his post-9/11 order allowing a secret agency to monitor U.S. citizens without first getting a warrant. — WASHINGTON — Members of Congress demanded Friday that President Bush and his administration explain his decision to permit …
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.
Hindrocket / Power Line:
BUSH SLAMS CRITICS, SENATE DEMOCRATS — President Bush gave a fantastic speech today, in which he labeled Senate Democrats "irresponsible" for filibustering the Patriot Act. He also vigorously, and effectively, defended the NSA intercept program that has come under attack since it was leaked to the New York Times.
Discussion:
Ezra Klein, Carol Platt Liebau, The Political Pit Bull, The Right Coast, Solomonia, TBogg and Tammy Bruce
Washington Post:President Acknowledges Approving Secretive Eavesdropping
Discussion:
firedoglake, Concurring Opinions, Stop The ACLU, Sister Toldjah, Simianbrain and The Carpetbagger Report
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:Why Did The Gray Lady Play Coy With Its Scoop?
Discussion:
Sisyphus Shrugged, War and Piece, Unclaimed Territory, Washington Post and Let Freedom Ring
Wind Rider / Silent Running:Hey!!! He CAN'T do THAT!!!! December 17th, 2005
Discussion:
Atlas Shrugs
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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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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Ezra Klein:
FISA — On the wiretapping, I want to be crystal clear on one issue: the issue here isn't the espionage, it's the secrecy. Of course law enforcement agencies will need to gather intelligence on domestic elements. They do it to drug dealers, mob bosses, militia men, and gang lords.
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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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Billings Gazette:
Burns helped Indian school plan; tribes gave $75K — HELENA - U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns first pushed for a tribal school construction program sought by lobbyist Jack Abramoff's clients within two months of receiving $75,000 in campaign donations from the indicted lobbyist's tribal clients in 2002.
Discussion:
Hotline On Call
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Jim Galloway / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Reed admits misstep in work
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …
CNN:
THE SITUATION ROOM — Spying on Americans wihout Court Approval; Burbank Airplane Incident; Morgan Freeman on Black History Month; Howard Stern Signs Off — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. — WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Kitty.
Associated Press:
AP: Frist AIDS Charity Paid Consultants — WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's AIDS charity paid nearly a half-million dollars in consulting fees to members of his political inner circle, according to tax returns providing the first financial accounting of the presidential hopeful's nonprofit.
Abby Goodnough / New York Times:
Tensions Rise as More Flee Cuba for U.S. — MIAMI, Dec. 17 - The number of Cubans intercepted at sea while trying to reach the United States is at its highest level since tens of thousands took to the Florida Straits on makeshift rafts and in small boats in the 1994 exodus sanctioned by President Fidel Castro.
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EU Rota
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.
