Top Items:
Haaretz:
Ehud Olmert taking over prime ministerial powers — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a "significant" stroke with "massive bleeding" in his brain late Wednesday night, according to a Hadassah University Hospital official, and Sharon's authority has been transferred to Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
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Steve Weizman / Associated Press:
Sharon Sent Back Into Operating Room — JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent hours of surgery after suffering a massive, life-threatening stroke, but he was returned to the operating room Thursday after a brain scan revealed he required more treatment. Powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert.
Associated Press:
Palestinians Enter Egypt After Border Smash — RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Hundreds of angry Palestinians streamed into Egypt on Wednesday after militants with stolen bulldozers broke through a border wall, and two Egyptian troops were killed and 30 were wounded by gunfire in the rampage.
Steven Erlanger / New York Times:
Israeli Leader Suffers Serious Stroke — JERUSALEM, Thursday, Jan. 5 - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a serious stroke Wednesday night after being taken to the hospital from his ranch in the Negev desert, and he underwent brain surgery early today to stop cerebral bleeding, a hospital official said.
Discussion:
Amygdala
Steve Weizman / Associated Press:Israel's Sharon Suffers Massive Stroke
Discussion:
All Things Beautiful, The Political Pit Bull, Associated Press, Kesher Talk, Yourish.com, neo-neocon, The RCP Blog and TigerHawk
Omri / Mere Rhetoric:Disaster — All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Sharon, his family, and Israel.
Herb Keinon / Jerusalem Post:Sharon moved to intensive care; vital signs stable
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:Palestinian Gratitude — After having their daughter give …
Discussion:
Vodkapundit
John / AMERICAblog:
NBC confirms it's investigating whether Bush spied on CNN's Christiane Amanpour — That is the only way to read NBC's just-issued statement on why they deleted key portions of Andrea Mitchell's interview after we reported on it here earlier today. — [Background: We reported earlier today …
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Brian / mediabistro.com:
NBC Removed Reference To Amanpour To "Further Continue Our Inquiry" — Yesterday, MSNBC.com published a transcript of Andrea Mitchell's interview with author James Risen about the CIA's domestic spying program. In it, Mitchell asked Risen if he had uncovered evidence that CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour was eavesdropped upon.
Will / Attytood:
Was Christiane Amanpour spied on — and more importantly, if so, why? — "Given the choice, it's better to be viewed as a foot soldier for Bush than a spokeswoman for al-Qaeda." — Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti, referring to CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Sept. 14, 2003.
Andrea Mitchell / MSNBC:Reporter defends release of NSA spy program
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, AMERICAN FUTURE, Amygdala, The Heretik, observer.com, mediabistro and mediabistro
Carol D. Leonnig / Washington Post:
Surveillance Court Is Seeking Answers — The members of a secret federal court that oversees government surveillance in espionage and terrorism cases are scheduled to receive a classified briefing Monday from top Justice Department and intelligence officials about a controversial warrantless …
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Bill Gertz / Washington Times:
NSA whistleblower asks to testify — A former National Security Agency official wants to tell Congress about electronic intelligence programs that he asserts were carried out illegally by the NSA and the Defense Intelligence Agency. — Russ Tice, a whistleblower who was dismissed from the NSA last year …
Katherine Shrader / Associated Press:
White House Told NSA Briefings Broke Law — WASHINGTON - The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee told President Bush Wednesday that the White House broke the law by withholding information from the full congressional oversight committees about a new domestic surveillance program.
Patricia Wilson / Reuters:Cheney strongly backs eavesdropping operation
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report, AMERICAblog, Shakespeare's Sister, Big Brass Blog and The American Street
National Review:
Don't Delay, DeLay — Since 1994 Tom DeLay has led the Republican House majority ably and loyally. Now he needs to perform yet another act of service by not seeking to return as majority leader. — We have been among DeLay's staunchest defenders in his battle with Ronnie Earle.
Discussion:
TAPPED, Hotline On Call, The Carpetbagger Report, THE DAILY DELAY, Donklephant and Sirotablog
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White House:
Personnel Announcement — President George W. Bush today recess appointed the following individuals: — Floyd Hall, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the AMTRAK Reform Board. — Enrique J. Sosa, of Florida, to be a Member of the AMTRAK Reform Board. — Nadine Hogan, of Florida …
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Thomas B. Edsall / Washington Post:Bush Appointments Avert Senate Battles
Discussion:
Middle Earth Journal
Crooks and Liars:
Letterman to O'Reilly: "60% of what you say is crap" — Letterman to O'Reilly: "60% of what you say is crap" — Bill joined David last night on the Late Show and found that Letterman wasn't buying his phony war on Christmas deal. David also wasn't happy about his attacking Cindy Sheehan …
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Live Fire Ministries:
1/4/06 - Sago Mine Tragedy — I made it back home around noon today - after 24 hours on the clock with less than two hours sleep. I sat down at my computer to read email and about ten minutes later realized that I'd only made it through about three messages. So, I decided a nap was in order.
Discussion:
++ relapsed catholic …, Instapundit.com, Michelle Malkin, Tim Blair, Legal Fiction and The Huffington Post
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Peter Jackson / Associated Press:
Lynn Swann Says He'll Run for Pa. Governor — PITTSBURGH - Former Steelers star Lynn Swann declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor Wednesday in the city where he made his name in professional football. — He told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday afternoon …
