Top Items:
David S. Cloud / New York Times:
Here's Donny! In His Defense, a Show Is Born — WASHINGTON, April 18 — It has become a daily ritual, the defense of the defense secretary, complete with praise from serving generals, tributes from the president and, from the man on the spot, doses of charm, combativeness and even some humility.
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Washington Post:
Why Are They Speaking Up Now? — The retired general officers who have recently called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld want to convince the public that civilian control has silenced military wisdom regarding the war in Iraq. They have chafed at Rumsfeld's authoritarian style …
Discussion:
Wizbang, irishpennants.com, Outside The Beltway, Betsy's Page, Right Wing News, Economist's View and PSoTD
John Batiste / Washington Post:
A Case for Accountability — We have the best military in the world, hands down. We must complete what we started in Iraq, and there is no doubt in my mind that we have the military capacity to do that, provided the political will is there. Our success in Iraq is due to the incredible performance of our servicemen and women.
Cori Dauber / Rantingprofs:
Do You Want Rumsfeld Gone? — You know the thing that strikes me about these retired generals calling for Rumsfeld's head? (Batiste can't seem to help himself now that he's started.) — What they're doing is amazingly counterproductive, because they are making it impossible for the President …
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Moving to the Right — Brit Hume's Path Took Him From Liberal Outsider to The Low-Key Voice of Conservatism on Fox News — It was a different era, a different administration and a very different Brit Hume. — Thirty-six years ago, as a long-haired reporter for columnist Jack Anderson …
Andy Sullivan / Reuters:
News outlets resist Scooter Libby subpoenas — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former White House aide fighting perjury charges should not get access to reporters' notes and other newsroom material because they have no relevance to his case, several news outlets told a U.S. judge on Tuesday.
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David E. Sanger / New York Times:
China's Rising Need for Oil Is High on U.S. Agenda — WASHINGTON, April 18 — The competition for access to oil is emerging high on the agenda for President Hu Jintao's visit to the White House this week. President Bush has called China's growing demand for oil one reason for rising prices …
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Bob Kemper / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
McKinney report cites assault with 'closed fist' — The official police report on Rep. Cynthia McKinney's clash with a Capitol Hill police officer three weeks ago says the DeKalb County congresswoman struck the officer "in his chest with [a] closed fist." — The "event report" …
Editor and Publisher:
Bennett: Pulitzer Winners Risen, Lichtblau, Priest 'Worthy of Jail' — NEW YORK On his national radio program today, William Bennett, the former Reagan and George H.W. Bush administration official and now a CNN commentator, said that three reporters who won Pulitzer Prizes yesterday were not …
Discussion:
Attytood, Flopping Aces, Blue Crab Boulevard, COUNTERCOLUMN, NewsBusters.org, cjrdaily.org, San Diego Union-Tribune and Blinq
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Justin Gardner / Donklephant:
Courage And Treason
Courage And Treason
Discussion:
Liberty Street, The Carpetbagger Report, The Reaction, Midtopia, The Moderate Voice and azerbic
Mark Magnier / Los Angeles Times:
China Hopes Hu Makes Good Impression — The president lacks the spontaneity of his predecessors. But officials know the image he projects on U.S. visit could pay dividends. — BEIJING — Visiting Chinese leaders in the past have warmed American hearts by donning cowboy hats …
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Mark Stevenson / Associated Press:
Mexico Harsh to Undocumented Migrants — TULTITLAN, Mexico - Considered felons by the government, these migrants fear detention, rape and robbery. Police and soldiers hunt them down at railroads, bus stations and fleabag hotels. Sometimes they are deported; more often officers simply take their money.
Karen DeYoung / Washington Post:
GAO Faults Agencies' Sharing of Terror Data — Despite more than four years of legislation, executive orders and presidential directives, the Bush administration has yet to comprehensively improve sharing of counterterrorism information among dozens of federal agencies …
Kathy Sierra / Creating Passionate Users:
Angry/negative people can be bad for your brain — Everyone's favorite A-list target, Robert Scoble, announced the unthinkable a few days ago: he will be moderating his comments. But what some people found far more disturbing was Robert's wish to make a change in his life that includes steering clear of …
Chris Flood / Financial Times:
Broad based rally for European bourses — European equities extended their early gains by mid-morning in a broadly-based rally on Wednesday following strong overnight gains on Asia and Wall Street, prompted by the latest minutes of the Federal Reserve which suggested that rising US interest rates were coming to an end.
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Thomas Harding / Telegraph:
British brigadier attacks America's John Wayne generals — A senior British officer has criticised "shoulder-holster" American generals for trying to emulate film stars. — Brig Alan Sharpe, who worked alongside Americans in Baghdad, said there was a "strong streak of Hollywood" …
Wall Street Journal:
Bush's Approval Remains Low, Pessimism Grows, Poll Shows — President Bush's job-approval rating slipped for the third consecutive month and remains near the lowest mark of his presidency, according to a new Harris Interactive poll. — Thirty-five percent of 1,008 U.S. adults surveyed …
Reuters:
Palestinian militants threaten to attack Jews abroad — GAZA, April 17 (Reuters) - Palestinian militants linked to President Mahmoud Abbas's increasingly fractured Fatah movement threatened on Monday to attack Jews overseas to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners from its jails.