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.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Jerusalem Post, Kesher Talk, All Things Beautiful, The Political Pit Bull, ynetnews.com, BBC, Gateway Pundit, Atlas Shrugs, Israellycool, Mere Rhetoric, Yourish.com, THE ASTUTE BLOGGER, neo-neocon, Gina Cobb, The RCP Blog, The Reaction, Roger L. Simon, Blogs for Bush, The Indepundit, Scared Monkeys and The Moderate Voice
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Aluf Benn / Haaretz:
Analysis: A tragic end to Ariel Sharon's one-man show — The hospitalization of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, this time because of a cerebral hemorrhage, will make it difficult for him to return to his job even if he gets through the medical treatment and gets better.
Jerusalem Post:
Jibril: Sharon illness is 'God's gift' — Pan-Arab satellite television broadcasters beamed out largely straightforward, nonstop live coverage early Thursday from outside the hospital where Prime Minister Ariel Sharon struggled for his life. — But a radical Palestinian leader in Damascus …
Discussion:
TigerHawk
Herb Keinon / Jerusalem Post:
Sharon moved to intensive care; vital signs stable
Sharon moved to intensive care; vital signs stable
Discussion:
Mere Rhetoric, IRIS Blog, SerandEz, Israel news and commentary … and Talking Points Memo
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 …
Discussion:
Eschaton, The American Street, Running Scared, The Poor Man Institute, Amygdala and mediabistro
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Power Line, Booman Tribune, Cold Fury, Big Lizards and The Washington Monthly
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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 …
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
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:
Bull Moose, Hotline On Call, The Carpetbagger Report, THE DAILY DELAY, Donklephant and Sirotablog
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David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:
Liberal Groups to Release Ads Attacking Court Pick — WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 - The battle over the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. turned personal Wednesday with the announcement of new commercials that sharply escalated liberal attacks on him, moving beyond his legal views …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters
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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.
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Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Palestinian Gratitude — After having their daughter give …
Palestinian Gratitude — After having their daughter give …
Discussion:
Vodkapundit
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
Bush Appointments Avert Senate Battles
Discussion:
Middle Earth Journal
New York Times:
At Least 80 Iraqis Killed in 2nd Straight Day of Big Attacks — BAGHDAD, Jan. 5 - Two new suicide bombings rocked Iraq today, killing at least 80 in an attack at a shrine in the Shiite city of Karbala and a police recruiting station in the Sunni city of Ramadi.
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Sameer N. Yacoub / Associated Press:
Attacks on Shiites, Police Kill 79 in Iraq
Attacks on Shiites, Police Kill 79 in Iraq
Discussion:
PoliPundit.com
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:
Instapundit.com, Legal Fiction, Michelle Malkin, The Huffington Post, ++ relapsed catholic … and Tim Blair
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channeloklahoma.com:
Tulsa Pastor Arrested In OKC On Lewdness Charge — OKLAHOMA CITY — An executive committee member of the Southern Baptist Convention was arrested on a lewdness charge for propositioning a plainclothes policeman outside a hotel, police said. — Lonnie Latham, senior pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church …