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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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:
Gay Patriot, The Anchoress, Instapundit.com, Cold Fury, New York Times, The Left Coaster, Booman Tribune, HolyCoast.com and Decision '08
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 …
New York Post:
DUBYA CAN'T LEAK — IT'S amazing how the common topics …
DUBYA CAN'T LEAK — IT'S amazing how the common topics …
Discussion:
Austin Bay Blog, Donklephant, Gateway Pundit, Sister Toldjah, USS Neverdock, Carol Platt Liebau and small dead animals
Suzanne Gamboa / Associated Press:
Senate Shelves Immigration Bill — The Senate sidetracked sweeping immigration legislation Friday, leaving in doubt prospects for passing a bill offering the hope of citizenship to millions of men, women and children living in the United States illegally. — A carefully crafted compromise …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Right Wing Nut House, Right Wing News, TexasRainmaker and Ace of Spades HQ
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Kris W. Kobach / New York Post:
HIDDEN BOMBS — HOW do you slip legislative poison past a U.S. senator? Bury it on page 302 of a bill. — The Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders yesterday announced a compromise on an immigration bill - with some details still to be worked out.
New York Times:
Immigration Deal Falls Short in Senate — WASHINGTON, April 7 — A carefully constructed compromise on immigration reform apparently fell apart in the Senate today after Democrats fended off conservative Republican efforts to amend the agreement and an effort to cut off debate failed by a lopsided vote.
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 …
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brazosriver.com:
Here's the deal: This ain't a blog. …
Here's the deal: This ain't a blog. …
Discussion:
Off the Kuff, Daily Kos, NewDonkey.com, Swing State Project, Bride Of Acheron, CorrenteWire, Wonkette and BlondeSense
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, Liberty Street, Democrats.com, Air America Radio, Brilliant at Breakfast, The Democratic Daily Blog, Blue Crab Boulevard, TalkLeft, Concurring Opinions, Balloon Juice, CorrenteWire and Daily Kos
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Eric Lichtblau / New York Times:
Gonzales Suggests Legal Basis for Domestic Eavesdropping — WASHINGTON, April 6 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales suggested on Thursday for the first time that the president might have the legal authority to order wiretapping without a warrant on communications between Americans that occur exclusively within the United States.
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.
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 …
Discussion:
In the Bullpen
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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 …
Josh Marshall / TPM Muckraker:
McClellan Bobs and Weaves, But Certainly Doesn't Leak — This morning's White House gaggle, started at 10 AM ... QUESTION: Did the President authorize the leak of intelligence information? — Scott McClellan: Terry, there is an ongoing legal proceeding, and our policy has been that we're …
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.