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Sarah El Deeb / Associated Press:
Abbas to Ask Hamas to Form Next Government — RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will ask Hamas to form the next Palestinian government after the Islamic militants swept parliamentary elections, and the defeated Fatah Party will serve in the opposition, a senior Fatah legislator said Thursday.
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CNN:
Palestinian PM says government will quit after Hamas win — Israeli PM: 'Will not negotiate' with those who won't fight terrorism — RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) — In a stunning development ahead of official election results, Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei said Thursday he and others …
New York Times:
Anticipating Hamas Victory, Palestinian Cabinet Resigns — RAMALLAH, West Bank - The Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, and his government submitted their resignations Thursday as the radical Islamic faction Hamas appeared to have scored a major upset and defeated the ruling Fatah party in parliamentary elections.
Discussion:
A Blog For All
MSNBC:
Hamas captures election majority, officials say — Peace efforts in doubt; Hamas says recognizing Israel 'not on our agenda' — RAMALLAH, West Bank - Hamas' top official told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday the Islamic militant group is ready for a partnership after defeating …
Sarah El Deeb / Associated Press:Palestinian Premier, Cabinet Resigns
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Secular Blasphemy
Khaled Abu Toameh And / Associated Press:Mashal calls Abbas to inquire about political partnership
Discussion:
Power Line
Dan Eggen / Washington Post:
White House Dismissed '02 Surveillance Proposal — The Bush administration rejected a 2002 Senate proposal that would have made it easier for FBI agents to obtain surveillance warrants in terrorism cases, concluding that the system was working well and that it would likely be unconstitutional to lower the legal standard.
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Jonathan S. Landay / Knight Ridder:
In 2002, Justice Department said eavesdropping law working well — WASHINGTON - A July 2002 Justice Department statement to a Senate committee appears to contradict several key arguments that the Bush administration is making to defend its eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without court warrants.
Jim Puzzanghera / Lexington Herald-Leader:
More Americans favor impeaching Bush, poll says — Today's topic: Domestic spying — WASHINGTON - The word "impeachment" is popping up increasingly these days and not just off the lips of liberal activists spouting predictable bumper-sticker slogans. — After the unfounded claims …
New York Times:
Senators in Need of a Spine — Judge Samuel Alito Jr., whose entire history suggests that he holds extreme views about the expansive powers of the presidency and the limited role of Congress, will almost certainly be a Supreme Court justice soon. His elevation will come courtesy …
Drew Brown / Knight Ridder:
Army reaching breaking point, experts warn — WASHINGTON - A pair of reports by outside experts in the last two days warn that the Army has been stretched thin by repeated combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and could soon reach the breaking point. — The first, a report on the Iraq war …
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Mickey Kaus / Slate:
Worst Beltway Incest Yet? — Tim Russert isn't doing his son any favor. — Earl Ofari Hutchinson contributes a forceful and admirably BS-free post on a dirty little un-PC secret of the Democratic coalition: Anti-illegal immigrant sentiment among blacks. ...
Jackie Spinner / Washington Post:
The Other Beat Of Her Heart — In Iraq, the Reporter Learns You Go Into Battle Alone — That can't be Jill, I whispered to myself, over and over, even as her picture hung on the TV screen. — No, it's not her, I said to myself in denial. Jill? Jill Carroll?
Right Wing Nut House:
OH THOSE PESKY IRAQI WMD'S! — For almost three years, the conventional wisdom regarding Iraq WMD's prior to our invasion was that Saddam never had them, we knew it, Bush lied, and we invaded anyway because we wanted their oil, or to establish military bases, or because George Bush is a meany …
Michelle Malkin:
25 WAYS TO IGNORE JOEL STEIN AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS — 1. Join Shauna Fleming's campaign to send thank-you cards and valentines to our troops. — 2. Support Operation Homelink to help provide computers to either parents or spouses of deployed service men and women in the ranks of E-1 through E-5 …
LiberalOasis:
The Worst-Case Alito Scenario Looms — Senate Dems are perhaps heading into a worst-case scenario with the Alito nomination, at least, worst-case for the party's reputation. — Achieving 41 "No" votes, yet not filibustering the nomination. — The NY Times reports: … And CNN's Ed Henry reported yesterday:
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The Huffington Post, Legal Fiction, Pharyngula, Middle Earth Journal, SpeakSpeak News and firedoglake
Arianna Huffington / The Huffington Post:
CSI: K Street — Why is the White House so desperate to downplay any contact between the president and Jack Abramoff — even though the photos of Bush making nice with Abramoff are bound to surface sooner or later? And why is the White house refusing requests to release information …
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Demagogue, Republicans, Scrutiny Hooligans, The Carpetbagger Report, Norwegianity and TalkLeft
Hindrocket / Power Line:
NOT EXACTLY A JUGGERNAUT — I've been saying for some time that Hillary Clinton will not be as formidable a Presidential candidate as many people assume. That view finds support in this Gallup poll, which finds that 51% of registered voters "definitely will not vote for" Hillary.
Chicago Business:
Wal-Mart gets 25,000 applications for Evergreen Park store — Interest for 325 jobs biggest in company's history — (Crain's) — The new Wal-Mart Stores Inc. location opening Friday in suburban Evergreen Park received a record 25,000 applications for 325 positions, the highest …
CNN:
Exit poll: Militant Hamas slashes Fatah majority — Nearly 80 percent of voters are thought to have cast ballots — RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) — Palestinian voters loosened the dominant Fatah movement's hold in their first election in a decade, but the ruling party remains No. 1, according to an exit poll late Wednesday.
Jeffrey H. Birnbaum / Washington Post:
GOP Freezes Jobs List, a Vestige of the K Street Project — Republican lawmakers yesterday ended their long practice of routinely summoning lobbyists to the Capitol to try to persuade them to hire their aides and colleagues, in the wake of the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal.
Elaine Sciolino / New York Times:
France Battles a Problem That Grows and Grows: Fat — ROUBAIX, France - In a cold, stark municipal hall, 8-year-old Hatim sat silently as the pediatrician passed judgment. — At about 4 feet 6 inches and 95 pounds, the boy was declared overweight and in danger of becoming obese.
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JustOneMinute
Ron Fournier / Associated Press:
Sen. Clinton Blasts Bush on Eavesdropping — WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called President Bush's explanations for eavesdropping on domestic conversations without warrants "strange" and "far-fetched" Wednesday in blistering criticism ahead of the president's State of the Union address.
Greg Gutfeld / The Huffington Post:
FINALLY! THE ROE V. WADE JOKE PAGE!!! — Judging from my last post, there are a lot of people here who take abortion VERY seriously - so seriously in fact that they worry me. I think what's needed are a few "belly" laughs to ease the tension! — So, in honor of National Abortion Week …
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Vox Popoli
