Top Items:
Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Despite Advocacy, Alito Is Not on Public's Radar Screen — Until Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) gaveled the confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to order yesterday, the battle over Alito's nomination had been a shouting match between partisans.
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Washington Times:
The closing of Ted Kennedy's mind — Something unusual happened on the way to this week's nomination hearings for Judge Samuel Alito: Reporters scoffed at the ridiculousness of Sen. Ted Kennedy. Notably, one columnist called his antics "meandering and listless" and suggested Mr. Kennedy is beyond his prime.
Bob Fertik / Democrats.com:
Bush Wired for Alito Remarks — On Monday morning, Bush spoke a total of 250 words to the media on behalf of Sam Alito. — Even though it was a trivially short speech, filled with talking points he's recited many times before - and even though Bush was wide awake in the best hour of his day …
Jesse J. Holland / Associated Press:Alito Pledges to Do What the Law Requires
Discussion:
Confederate Yankee
Sam Rosenfeld / TAPPED:ALITO FATALISM. The Sam Alito hearings begin today …
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, The Fix, firedoglake, Lawyers, Guns and Money and yglesias.tpmcafe.com
George F. Will / Washington Post:
For the House GOP, A Belated Evolution — Before evolution produced creatures of our perfection, there was a three-ton dinosaur, the stegosaurus, so neurologically sluggish that when its tail was injured, significant time elapsed before news of the trauma meandered up its long spine to its walnut-size brain.
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New York Times:
Ignoring Protests, Iran Resumes Nuclear Program — Defying its European partners and the United States, Iran reopened its vast uranium enrichment complex today, resuming nuclear activities that it suspended 14 months ago, according to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.
Discussion:
The Corner on National …, TAPPED, Gateway Pundit, Decision '08, Donklephant and Classical Values
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Roger Alford / Opinio Juris:
Most Popular Law Blogs — There is great commentary today at Prawfsblawg, Concurring Opinions, and Tax Prof Blog on the topic of law blogging. In light of that discussion, I thought it might be interesting to know what are the most popular law blogs based on traffic reports available here.
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Lawrence Solum / lsolum.blogspot.com:
Blogging, Legal Scholarship, and Academic Careers — Introduction — Three days ago, I participated in a panel at the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools on blogging and legal scholarship. The panel was organized by Dennis Patterson and my copanelists were bloggers Randy Barnett and Victor Fleisher.
Washington Post:
Lobby Firm Is Scandal Casualty — Abramoff, DeLay Publicity Blamed For Shutdown — One of Washington's top lobbying operations will shut down at the end of the month because of its ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former House majority leader Tom DeLay.
Christian Science Monitor:
Reporter abducted in Iraq — BAGHDAD AND PARIS - Jill Carroll, a freelance journalist currently on assignment for The Christian Science Monitor, was abducted by unknown gunmen in Baghdad Saturday morning. Her Iraqi interpreter was killed during the kidnapping.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, The Jawa Report v3.0 Beta, Poynter Online, Dean's World and Abu Aardvark
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Ellen Knickmeyer / Washington Post:In Ambush Lasting Seconds, U.S. Reporter in Iraq Becomes Hostage
Carol D. Leonnig / Washington Post:
Russert Resisted Testifying on Leak — Lawyers for NBC News reporter Tim Russert suspected in the spring of 2004 that his testimony could snare Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, in a lie and Russert resisted testifying at the time about private conversations with Libby …
Kip / A Stitch in Haste:
New VAWA "Annoying" Clause is Indeed Annoying — But Not to Blogs — The libertarian wing of the Blogosphere is very much abuzz about this report regarding an extension to the Violence Against Women Act to cyberspace: … Some hasty stitches: —The relevant code section is 47 USC 223.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Football Fans for Truth, AMERICAN FUTURE, Vodkapundit and IntoxiNation-News …
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Digby / Hullabaloo:
Freeping The Court — I watched the Roberts hearings and couldn't help being impressed by the guy even though I knew he was way too conservative for me. He was obviously intelligent, confident and smooth and I ended up thinking that anybody who was smart enough to keep a good distance between himself …
Discussion:
Science And Politics
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Reuel Marc Gerecht / Washington Post:
'Hearts and Minds' in Iraq — As History Shows, Ideas Matter More Than Who Pays to Promote Them — Once again we are confronted with stories about how the Pentagon and its ubiquitous private contractors are undermining free inquiry in Iraq. "Muslim Scholars Were Paid to Aid U.S. Propaganda," reports the New York Times.
Haaretz:
PM's sedation lowered further as arm, leg show movement — Physicians at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem treating Ariel Sharon are to further lighten his sedation on Tuesday after the prime minister responded Monday to pain stimulus and showed slight movement in his right arm and right leg.
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Roland Flamini / UPI:
Corridors of Power: The lady was a spy — WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) — Susanne Osthoff, the German archeologist kidnapped by Iraqi gunmen on Nov. 25 and released before Christmas was connected with her country's intelligence service, the BND, and had helped arrange a meeting with a top member …
USA Today:
Most consider lobbying scandal a big deal, poll shows — WASHINGTON — Americans are paying close attention to the lobbying scandal in the Capitol and say corruption in government will play a big role in their vote for Congress in November — more important than Social Security, taxes, abortion or immigration.
Edward Wyatt / New York Times:
Best-Selling Memoir Draws Scrutiny — Police reports and other public records published online on Sunday have raised substantial questions about the truth of numerous incidents depicted in James Frey's best-selling memoir, "A Million Little Pieces." — The book, originally published in 2003 …
Peter S. Goodman / Washington Post:
China Set To Reduce Exposure To Dollar — SHANGHAI, Jan. 9 — China has resolved to shift some of its foreign exchange reserves — now in excess of $800 billion — away from the U.S. dollar and into other world currencies in a move likely to push down the value of the greenback …
