Top Items:
New York Times:
Judge Alito Proves a Powerful Match for Senate Questioners — WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 - If Senate Democrats had set out to portray Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. as extreme on issues ranging from abortion to government surveillance of citizens, they ran up against an elusive target on Tuesday …
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Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:
But Enough About You, Judge; Let's Hear What I Have to Say — WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 - The Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. were supposed to be about the judge, but on Tuesday it sometimes seemed as though somebody forgot to tell the senators on the Judiciary Committee.
Marcia Davis / Washington Post:
For Democrats, A Most Tender Roast of Alito — It was beginning to look as if the Democrats had shown up to a knife fight without a knife yesterday. — It was beginning to look as if they'd just been woofing when it came to the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr …
Charles Lane / Washington Post:
Alito Replies Don't Rock Status Quo — On his first day of questioning from senators, Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. tried to send a reassuring message: The country may be at war, but Americans' personal privacy and civil liberties will be safe with me.
Discussion:
Just a Bump in the Beltway, Althouse, Manufacturers Blog, Pandagon, volokh.com and Thoughts of an Average Woman
New York Times:
Fairness in the Alito Hearings — Judge Samuel Alito Jr.'s confirmation process has barely begun, and his supporters are already complaining that it has been unfair. There have certainly been troubling aspects to this hearing, but so far they have been in Judge Alito's favor.
Washington Times:
Abramoff-linked probe focuses on 5 lawmakers — A Justice Department investigation into influence-peddling on Capitol Hill is focusing on a "first tier" of lawmakers and staffers, both Republicans and Democrats, say sources close to the probe that has netted guilty pleas from lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
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Dan Eggen / Washington Post:
Probe Set In NSA Bugging — The National Security Agency's inspector general has opened an investigation into eavesdropping without warrants in the United States by the agency authorized by President Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to a letter released late yesterday.
Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:
Lobbying Colors GOP Leadership Contest — Rivals for DeLay Post No Strangers to K St. — In years past, when the House recessed for its winter break, Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) decamped for warmer climates and a sailing trip to the Caribbean with some of the city's top lobbyists …
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, Fired Up! America, Talking Points Memo, Fired Up! Missouri and Betsy's Page
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Brian Ross / ABCNEWS:
NSA Whistleblower Alleges Illegal Spying — Former Employee Admits to Being a New York Times Source — Jan 10, 2006 — Russell Tice, a longtime insider at the National Security Agency, is now a whistleblower the agency would like to keep quiet. — For 20 years, Tice worked in the shadows …
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Henry Weinstein / Los Angeles Times:
1st Suit in State to Attack 'Intelligent Design' Filed — A group of parents in the small Tehachapi mountain community of Lebec on Tuesday filed the first lawsuit challenging the teaching of "intelligent design" in a California public school. — The suit targets what appears …
Washington Post:
Barry Tested Positive for Cocaine Use In the Fall — D.C. Council member Marion Barry tested positive for cocaine use in the fall in a drug test ordered by a court after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax charges, according to two sources familiar with Barry's case.
Associated Press:
Israel pulls plug on Pat Robertson deal — Officials angry over evangelical leader's comments about Sharon's stroke — JERUSALEM - Israel won't do business with Pat Robertson after the evangelical leader suggested Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke was divine punishment …
Discussion:
RuminateThis
Edward Wyatt / New York Times:
News Analysis: Fact or Fiction, It's His Story — And on the second day, Doubleday shrugged. — Two days after an investigative report published online presented strong evidence that significant portions of James Frey's best-selling memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," were made up …
wsbtv.com:
Flaming Mouse Story Found To Be False — Rumor Squashed: Flaming Mouse Didn't Start House Fire — FORT SUMNER, N.M. — A small -town rumor that sparked world -wide interest about a mouse burning down a house has been found to be untrue. — After 81-year-old Chano Mares's house burned …
Tom Peyer / Slate:
360 Degrees of Anderson Cooper — What will he feel next? — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. — ANNOUNCER: Shock. Grief. Outrage. Glee. — One year after a devastating tsunami, four months after the fury of Katrina …
