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 …
Discussion:
Amygdala, Hullabaloo, Liberty Street, The Sundries Shack, Norwegianity, firedoglake and The Heretik
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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 …
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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.
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.
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 …
Discussion:
How Appealing
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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 …
Discussion:
Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
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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 …
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 …
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?
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) …
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 …
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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
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 …
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 …
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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 …
Dan / Riehl World View:
2005: The Year In Military Heroism — Between seeing this post of Sondrak's on Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith and all the brouhaha over various nonsensical year end lists, I decided to do a tribute post to America's War Heroes of 2005. In my view, they cannot get and certainly …
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