Top Items:
Richard A. Posner / Washington Post:
Our Domestic Intelligence Crisis — We've learned that the Defense Department is deeply involved in domestic intelligence (intelligence concerning threats to national security that unfold on U.S. soil). The department's National Security Agency has been conducting, outside the framework …
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John Schmidt / Chicago Tribune:
President had legal authority to OK taps — President Bush's post- Sept. 11, 2001, authorization to the National Security Agency to carry out electronic surveillance into private phone calls and e-mails is consistent with court decisions and with the positions of the Justice Department under prior presidents.
Discussion:
Instapundit.com, Macsmind, New Sisyphus, protein wisdom, Daily Kos, Power Line, The Anchoress, Decision '08 and JunkYardBlog
Washington Post:
Spy Court Judge Quits In Protest — Jurist Concerned Bush Order Tainted Work of Secret Panel — A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources.
Discussion:
Reuters, Knight Ridder, New York Times, hughhewitt.com, Amygdala, The Washington Monthly, In From the Cold, Donklephant, Gateway Pundit, The Moderate Voice, War and Piece, Angry Bear, The Strata-Sphere, Carol Platt Liebau, Power Line, Althouse, The Sideshow, Faithful Progressive, The Poor Man, Say Anything, ACSBlog, Incomprehensible …, Oliver Willis, Shakespeare's Sister, The Corner on National …, IntoxiNation-News …, NewsBusters.org, Daily Kos, Liberty Street, Prometheus 6, TalkLeft, Just a Bump in the Beltway and The Carpetbagger Report
Marty Lederman / Balkinization:
Judge Posner and "Ad Hoc Initiatives" (i.e., Presidentially Sanctioned Felonies) — Judge Posner has an Op-Ed in the Washington Post this morning that is understandably receiving a lot of attention. His argument is that the latest scandal reveals a serious gap in the legal intelligence-gathering laws.
New York Times:
Spying Program Snared U.S. Calls — WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 - A surveillance program approved by President Bush to conduct eavesdropping without warrants has captured what are purely domestic communications in some cases, despite a requirement by the White House that one end of the intercepted conversations …
Discussion:
The RCP Blog, Confederate Yankee, The Mahablog, The Huffington Post, Making Light, TAPPED, Booman Tribune ~ Boo!, MyDD, The Next Hurrah, The Carpetbagger Report, TKS on National Review Online, San Francisco Chronicle, AMERICAblog, Dr. Sanity, Shakespeare's Sister, Ezra Klein, Hit and Run and NewsBusters.org
Daniel J. Solove / Concurring Opinions:Judge Posner's Troubling Call for Massive Surveillance
Discussion:
The Washington Monthly
Washington Post:
With Cheney's Vote, Senate Passes Budget Bill — Legislation Would Trim $40 Billion Over 5 Years — The Senate narrowly passed a $40 billion budget-cutting bill today, with Vice President Cheney casting the deciding vote after the chamber split 50-50 on the measure.
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Andrew Taylor / Associated Press:
Cheney Breaks Senate Tie on Spending Cuts — WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote.
H. Josef Hebert / Associated Press:
Senate Blocks Alaska Refuge Drilling — WASHINGTON - The Senate blocked an attempt to open an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling Wednesday, foiling an attempt by drilling backers to force the measure through Congress as part of a must-have defense spending bill.
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Associated Press:
Senate rejects drilling in Alaska wildlife refuge — Republicans fail to garner enough support to avoid threat of filibuster — WASHINGTON - The Senate blocked oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge Wednesday, rejecting a measure that had been put into a must-pass defense spending bill in an attempt to garner wider support.
Susan Schmidt / Washington Post:
Abramoff Reportedly Negotiating a Deal in Which He Would Plead Guilty, Testify — Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, facing trial on fraud charges Jan. 9 in Florida, is negotiating a possible deal with the Justice Department, in which he would agree to plead guilty and cooperate …
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TQA / The Questionable Authority:
Kitzcarnival — As most of you are undoubtedly aware, Judge Jones has handed down his anxiously-awaited decision in the Kitzmiller v. Dover lawsuit. This post is (I hope) a one-stop for those interested in commentary on the ruling. I've done my best to incorporate a wide range of blog posts and some more conventional news articles.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Panda's Thumb, Scrivener's Error, Althouse, Dispatches from the … and Science And Politics
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Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Barking Up Every Tree — I'm sleeping better at night. — Our federal authorities have things under control. — FBI counterterrorism agents are on the case, looking into any nefarious plots by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. — Documents obtained by the ACLU shows …
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Max Boot / Los Angeles Times:
'Plame Platoon' is AWOL on new leaks — Highly classified programs have been revealed, which could provide real aid to our enemies. So where's all that outrage now? — IT SEEMS like only yesterday that every high-minded politician, pundit and professional activist was in high dudgeon …
Discussion:
The Washington Monthly, Right Wing News, In From the Cold, Power Line and Sister Toldjah
Richard Morin / Washington Post:
Majority of Americans Support Alito Nomination — A majority of Americans now support the confirmation of U.S. Appeals Court Judge Samuel A. Alito to the Supreme Court to fill the seat of retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Phil Hirschkorn / CNN:
Officials: Sen. Clinton's GOP challenger to quit race — Adviser: Pirro plans to run for New York state attorney general — NEW YORK (CNN) — Jeanine Pirro, the longtime prosecutor who had been set to run against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton next year, has decided to drop out of the U.S. Senate race …
Discussion:
Wonkette
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
Revolt of the Professionals — The national security structure that the Bush administration created after Sept. 11, 2001, began to crumble this month because of a bipartisan revolt on Capitol Hill. Newly emboldened legislators forced the administration to accept new rules for the interrogation …
