Top Items:
Michael A. Fletcher / Washington Post:
Experts: Tactic Would Be Legal but Unusual — Legal experts say that President Bush had the unquestionable authority to approve the disclosure of secret CIA information to reporters, but they add that the leak was highly unusual and amounted to using sensitive intelligence data for political gain.
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New York Times:
Cheney's Aide Says President Approved Leak — WASHINGTON, April 6 — Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff testified that he was authorized by President Bush, through Mr. Cheney, in July 2003 to disclose key parts of what until then was a classified prewar intelligence estimate on Iraq, according to a new court filing.
New York Times:
Playing Hardball With Secrets — For more than two years, Senate Republicans have dragged out an investigation into how the Bush administration came to use bogus intelligence on Iraq to justify a war. A year ago, Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called it …
Michael A. Fletcher / Washington Post:
Testimony Adds New Element to Probe of CIA Leak — The allegation that President Bush authorized the dissemination of secret intelligence as part of an effort to buttress his case for war with Iraq introduces a new dimension to the long-running CIA leak investigation, while posing troubling …
Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
Hopelessy Compromised (II) — The NY Times editors tackle the latest Fitzgerald filings, and are more disingenuous than their reporters. … Emphasis added throughout. Regarding the "unmasking of... a covert C.I.A. agent", it is clear that Ms. Plame's status was classified …
Discussion:
Instapundit.com, Cold Fury, The Left Coaster, Booman Tribune, HolyCoast.com and Decision '08
John Dickerson / Slate:
We've Found the Leaker in the White House!
We've Found the Leaker in the White House!
Discussion:
MSNBC, War and Piece, Outside The Beltway, The Reaction, The Carpetbagger Report and Macsmind
Juan A. Lozano / Associated Press:
DeLay Supporters Crash Democrat's Event — SUGAR LAND, Texas - Supporters of U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay protested at an event Thursday held by the Democratic candidate for the congressman's seat, and the event quickly dissolved into a shouting and shoving match. Police were called, but made no arrests.
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E. J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
Run-Down Republicans — Imagine that: Tom DeLay speaking truth to power. — "We don't have an agreed agenda," DeLay told a group of sympathetic reporters this week. "Breaking up our leadership has taken its toll." — Self-serving? Absolutely. DeLay is saying the Republicans …
Dan Eggen / Washington Post:
Warrantless Wiretaps Possible in U.S. — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales left open the possibility yesterday that President Bush could order warrantless wiretaps on telephone calls occurring solely within the United States — a move that would dramatically expand the reach …
Discussion:
The Washington Monthly, The Carpetbagger Report, Lean Left, Andrew Sullivan, Firedoglake, Obsidian Wings, Democrats.com, Liberty Street, Air America Radio, The Democratic Daily Blog, Blue Crab Boulevard, Brilliant at Breakfast, TalkLeft, Concurring Opinions, CorrenteWire, Balloon Juice and Daily Kos
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Rachel L. Swarns / New York Times:
Senate Deal on Immigration Falters — WASHINGTON, April 6 — Senate leaders reached agreement Thursday on a broad, bipartisan compromise that would put the vast majority of the nation's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship, but its prospects for passage grew …
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Ron Fournier / Associated Press:
Bush, GOP Approval Ratings Hit New Lows — WASHINGTON - President Bush's approval ratings hit a series of new lows in an AP-Ipsos poll that also shows Republicans surrendering their advantage on national security — grim election-year news for a party struggling to stay in power.
Washington Post:
Newly Translated Gospel Offers More Positive Portrayal of Judas — The National Geographic Society released yesterday the first modern translation of the ancient Gospel of Judas, which depicts the most reviled villain in Christian history as a devoted follower who was simply doing Jesus's bidding when he betrayed him.
Discussion:
The Green Knight
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Con Coughlin / Telegraph:
Iran has missiles to carry nuclear warheads — Iran has successfully developed ballistic missiles with the capability to carry nuclear warheads. — Detailed analysis of recent test firings of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile by military experts has concluded that Iran has been able to modify …
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Peter Baker / Washington Post:
Bush Faces Rare Audience Challenge in N.C. — President Defends Warrantless Spying Program After Criticism at Open-Forum Event — CHARLOTTE, April 6 — Harry Taylor got the chance Thursday to do what frustrated liberals across the country have wanted to do for a long time: He stood up and told off the president.
CNN:
More than 70 killed in Baghdad mosque attack — Shrine has ties to Shiite political party; imam is in parliament — BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Three suicide bombers on Friday struck a Baghdad mosque affiliated with a major Shiite political party, killing at least 74 people, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry.
Patrick Healy / New York Times:
Decided or Not, Giuliani Charts a Path to 2008 — After four years of enjoying private life, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani is taking several steps that could lay the groundwork for a presidential bid, strengthening alliances with Republicans nationwide and especially with conservative leaders of the party.