memeorandum

Political Web, page A1 … for 11:05 PM ET, December 31, 2005
Current Politics Page     Also:   Tech

Top Items:

Lisa Rein / Washington Post:
Down on the Ranch, President Wages War on the Underbrush  —  Bush Conscripts Aides in Tireless Pursuit of Clearing Ground  —  CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 30 — On most of the 365 days he has enjoyed at his secluded ranch here, President Bush's idea of paradise is to hop in his white Ford pickup truck …
RELATED ITEM:
The Talking Dog / The American Street:
The New Frontiersman
Discussion: the talking dog
New York Times:
Justice Deputy Resisted Parts of Spy Program  —  WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 - The top deputy to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft refused two years ago to approve important parts of the secret program that allows domestic eavesdropping without warrants, prompting two leading White House aides …
Discussion: firedoglake
RELATED ITEM:
Courier-Mail:
White House denies calling for probe
Byron Calame / New York Times:
Behind the Eavesdropping Story, a Loud Silence  —  THE New York Times's explanation of its decision to report, after what it said was a one-year delay, that the National Security Agency is eavesdropping domestically without court-approved warrants was woefully inadequate.
David E. Sanger / New York Times:
President Uses a Quiet Vacation to Prepare His Agenda for 2006  —  CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 31 - For six days, President Bush has stayed in nearly complete isolation on his ranch here - just mountain-biking and brush-clearing, the White House insisted daily, with only one guest, his mother-in-law, Jenna Welch.
Jerusalem Post:
'United States planning a military strike against Iran'  —  The United States government reportedly began coordinating with NATO its plans for a possible military attack against Iran.  —  The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel collected various reports from the German media indicating …
RELATED ITEMS:
Martin Walker / UPI:
SECURITY & TERRORISM  —  German media: U.S. prepares Iran strike
Discussion: The Early Days …
Washington Post:
Alito, In and Out of the Mainstream  —  In Analysis, Nominee Defies Portrayals by Left and Right  —  During 15 years as an appeals court judge, Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. has been highly sympathetic to prosecutors, skeptical of immigrants trying to avoid deportation …
Patterico / Patterico's Pontifications:
Patterico's Los Angeles Dog Trainer Year in Review 2005  —  It is time for this blog's third annual review of the performance of the Los Angeles Times, which long-time Patterico readers know as the Los Angeles Dog Trainer.  The first annual review was posted here.
Discussion: Michelle Malkin
Steve Bainbridge / ProfessorBainbridge.com:
Mitt Romney for President?  —  In an extended analysis of Mitt Romney's prospects, James Taranto observes: … I don't find Romney's religion disqualifying, but I can't help being skeptical of any politician who would abjure all of my favorite vices.  —  "I never can understand how anyone …
Washington Post:
Chalabi Named Iraq Oil Minister  —  Fuel Crisis Spurs Mandatory Leave For Incumbent  —  BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 — As a fuel crisis deepened in Iraq, the government replaced its oil minister with controversial Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi, whose poor performance in the Dec. 15 elections …
RELATED ITEM:
Mohammed / IRAQ THE MODEL:   International observers to come to Iraq, the oil minister ousted!
Bill Maher / The Huffington Post:
Thoughts on 2005  —  To me, the big event of '05 was George Bush demonstrating that the Era of Small Lies is over.  —  But not small thinking.  Isn't it stupid that he always has to try to appoint a Texan to everything?  Attorney General, Supreme Court, education...is Texas where the great minds all are now and I missed it?
Discussion: TalkLeft and Pensito Review
Anick Jesdanun / Associated Press:
White House Says Web Site Counts Visitors  —  NEW YORK - The White House said Friday its Web tracking technology is consistent with federal rules because it only counts the number of visitors anonymously and doesn't record personal information.  —  The White House's site uses what's known as a Web bug …
Newsday:
Author of sassy judiciary Web log leaves U.S. Attorney's Office  —  NEWARK, N.J. — He described himself as a judicial groupie, but now he'll have to be a fan from afar.  —  David Lat, who raised eyebrows in November when it was revealed that he was the author of a spicy blog in which he claimed …
thedenverchannel.com:
GOP Lobbyist May Deal With Prosecutors  —  WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors and lawyers for lobbyist Jack Abramoff are putting the finishing touches on a plea deal that could be announced early next week, according to people familiar with the negotiations.  —  The plea agreement would secure …
RELATED ITEM:
kansascity.com:
Plea deal seeks Abramoff's testimony
Discussion: TalkLeft and Talking Points Memo
Roger L. Simon / Mystery Novelist and Screenwriter:
Naming names (yourself)  —  Neo-neocon has written again (and eloquently, as usual) of her favorite topic, political change - who makes it, why and what happens.  This time (in response to an essay by "Bookworm") she is dealing with the unease many feel (especially blue staters) …
Alec Baldwin / The Huffington Post:
Predictions for 2006  —  My prediction for 2006 is a multiple, all connected politically.  I predict that another barrage of fierce storms and hurricanes will so disturb the American people, that the Democrats will take the Senate in the '06 election and whittle away at the House in those races as well.
Discussion: Rook's Rant
Dave Schuler / The Glittering Eye:
My predictions for 2006  —  Disheartened by my cluelessness on popular culture I'm going to concentrate on politics, geo-politics, and economics where my track record was a little better.  Here are my predictions for 2006:  —  Iran will test a nuclear weapon.
Glenn Greenwald / Unclaimed Territory:
Threatening Administration critics with criminal prosecution  —  Yesterday's report that the Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the disclosure of the Administration's illegal surveillance program should come as no surprise.  Wielding threats of criminal prosecution …
Mike Luckovich / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Response to "Why?"  —  on 10-26, i did an illustration depicting the word "why" using the names of the 2,000 troops who had, at that time, died in iraq.  here on this blog, the feedback from readers, both pro and con was enormous.  in response, a young woman, an 11th grader, has created the response above.
Discussion: The Mahablog and Liberty Street
RELATED ITEM:
Jay / Stop The ACLU:
Best of the Blogosphere 2005  —  As we end one year, and begin another, lets take a look at what the blogosphere had to say in 2005.  I emailed a few bloggers to send me what they thought was their best posts of 2005.  —  Junkyard Blog names his Top Ten Blogs of 2005
Discussion: Thespis Journal
RELATED ITEM:
Thespis Journal:
Thespis Journal Awards Blogs of the Year
Discussion: Dr. Sanity

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More Items:

Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:
Only Serious Journalists Need Apply
Michael Silence / KnoxNews:
Some thoughts on blogging
Crooks and Liars:
Bill Bennett signs with CNN: TV Newser
Lyle Denniston / SCOTUSblog:
Padilla urges Court to wait on transfer
Discussion: firedoglake
T. A. Frank / The New Republic:
Brutal Honesty  —  Since inaugurating the "Today in Despotism" …
Trailertrash / It's morning somewhere:
Road Rage - Something we'd all like to see
The Florida Masochist:
The 2005 Knucklehead of the year award
Discussion: Captain's Quarters
BBC:
Indonesia bomb leaves eight dead

Earlier Picks:

ReddHedd / firedoglake:
The Golden Crony Is Here  —  Well, it's been a heckuva year, hasn't it?
Torie Bosch / Slate:
The Crystal Ball Drops
New York Times:
U.S. Women Accuse a Coach of Harassment
Deborah Leavy / Philadelphia Daily News:
Flavia Monteiro Colgan | IMPEACH BUSH? WHY BOTHER?
Discussion: Attytood
Raphael Lewis / Boston Globe:
Democrats seek data on Romney
Steve Soto / The Left Coaster:
Hillary Chills A Key Supporter With Her "Centrism"
New York Times:
Conspiring Against the Voters  —  President Bush has announced …
Discussion: The Mahablog and Loaded Mouth
Dan / Riehl World View:
2005: The Year In Military Heroism
 
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