Top Items:
Murray Waas / nationaljournal.com:
Cheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information — Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby, testified to a federal grand jury that he had been "authorized" by Cheney and other White House "superiors" in the summer of 2003 to disclose classified information …
Discussion:
firedoglake, The Left Coaster, TalkLeft, The Next Hurrah, Shakespeare's Sister, The Carpetbagger Report, Democrat Taylor Marsh …, Obsidian Wings, AMERICAblog, Andrew Sullivan, Wonkette, Stygius, Balloon Juice, WTF Is It Now??, IntoxiNation-News …, skippy the bush kangaroo, King of Zembla, Middle Earth Journal, The Democratic Party, Crooks and Liars, War and Piece and Prairie Weather
Associated Press:
Bush: Al Qaeda attack on West Coast thwarted — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush said the U.S.-led global war on terror has "weakened and fractured" al Qaeda and allied groups, outlining as proof new details about the multinational cooperation that foiled purported terrorist plans to fly …
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Smash / The Military Outpost:
WEST COAST TERROR PLOT THWARTED — Since Septemeber 11th, the United States and our coalition partners have disrupted a number of serious al Qaeda terrorist plots, including plots to attack targets inside the United States. — Let me give you an example:
White House:
President Discusses Progress in War on Terror to National Guard — Washington, D.C. — In Focus: National Security — In Focus: Defense — THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for that warm welcome. I'm delighted to be here with the men and women of the National Guard Association of the United States.
MSNBC:
Bush highlights foiled 2002 L.A. terror plot — Mayor says White House didn't inform city of threat … MSNBC TV — MSNBC staff and news service reports — WASHINGTON - Seeking to justify his tactics in the war on terrorism, President Bush on Thursday disclosed new details …
Discussion:
The Daily Nightly
Associated Press:
Reid Aided Ambramoff Clients, Records Show — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator's staff regularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist's team about legislation affecting other clients.
Glenn Greenwald / Unclaimed Territory:
A Catch-22 for the Administration — (updated below) — This article by The Washington Post's Dan Eggen (who, as I've said before, has been one of the best journalists by far covering this story) analyzes one of the truly inexplicable aspects of the Administration's rationale …
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Bill Theobald / gallatinnewsexaminer.com:
Hastert, Frist said to rig bill for drug firms — Frist denies protection was added in secret — WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert engineered a backroom legislative maneuver to protect pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits, say witnesses to the pre-Christmas power play.
Jonah Goldberg / Los Angeles Times:
One sorry mess of a party — AND FOR ANOTHER week, the Democrats managed to hold themselves hostage to, well, themselves. — Item 1: Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the wunderkind of the Democratic Party who, we've been told, not only transcends race, partisanship and personal ambition …
Discussion:
Cold Fury
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James Rainey / Los Angeles Times:
Lone Gun in War Reporting — Michael Yon's blog made him a hero among backers of the effort in Iraq. As his profile grew, so did debate on the quality of his work. — More than one U.S. senator endorsed him. So did retired Lt. Col. Oliver North and platoons of American fighting men and women.
Associated Press:
Ex-FEMA chief: I may tell all about Katrina — Michael Brown asks White House if they want him to stay quiet — WASHINGTON (AP) — Former disaster agency chief Michael Brown is indicating he is ready to reveal his correspondence with President Bush and other officials during Hurricane Katrina unless …
Discussion:
IntoxiNation-News …, The Carpetbagger Report, The Heretik, Talking Points Memo and Shakespeare's Sister
ReddHedd / firedoglake:
Having a Big Brother Sort of Morning — The day has definitely started off on a science fiction and fantasy sort of bent. First, NPR played some Dr. Who music between news segments this morning. Then, as I was driving home from the morning school drop-off for our exchange student, a black cat ran across the road in front of me.
Media Matters for America:
After Fox edited out applause following Lowery's remarks at King funeral, Kondracke expressed surprise at audience's muted reaction … The February 8 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume featured an edited video clip of civil rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery's address …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars
Celeste Calvitto / Rapid City Journal:
Measure promoting intellectual diversity approved by House — PIERRE — The South Dakota House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure that sponsors say is intended to promote a balance of ideas on college campuses. — HB1222, passed by a vote of 42-26, asks the Board of Regents …
Reuters:
Anti-war mom Sheehan will not run for Senate — SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Cindy Sheehan, the anti-Iraq war activist whose son was killed in the conflict there, put an end to speculation on Thursday that she would launch a long-shot bid to become a U.S. senator from California.
Discussion:
PunditGuy
Kevin Sites / Reuters:
EU mulls media code after cartoon protests — LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union may try to draw up a media code of conduct to avoid a repeat of the furor caused by the publication across Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, an EU commissioner said on Thursday.
Scot Lehigh / Boston Globe:
Pondering a second act for Kerry — IS JOHN KERRY'S future behind him? — Put another way, is the 2008 presidential campaign that Kerry hopes to wage merely a political pipe dream given his 2004 loss, or could he actually be a serious candidate? — Kerry obviously thinks he's viable.
