Top Items:
MSNBC:
Hayden: Spying has become political football — CIA nominee complains of constant scrutiny of intelligence gatherers — WASHINGTON - CIA nominee Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden complained Thursday that intelligence-gathering has become "football in American political discourse."
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New York Times:
U.S. Focused on Obtaining Long-Distance Phone Data, Company Officials Indicate — Government efforts to obtain data from the nation's largest phone companies for a national security database appear to have focused on long-distance carriers, not local ones, statements by company officials indicate.
Discussion:
OrinKerr.com, Concurring Opinions, JustOneMinute, The Democratic Daily Blog, Amygdala and Unfogged
Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
Feingold, Specter Clash Over Gay Marriage — WASHINGTON - A Senate committee approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage Thursday, after a shouting match that ended when one Democrat strode out and the Republican chairman bid him "good riddance." — "I don't need to be lectured by you.
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Michael Rogers / pageoneq.com:
Sen. Feingold walks out as Marriage Amendment Hearing moved behind closed doors
Sen. Feingold walks out as Marriage Amendment Hearing moved behind closed doors
Discussion:
Riehl World View
Bryan / Hot Air:
Breaking: Ahmadinejad to send a Letter to the Pope — As nearly every single character in the Star Wars universe says, "I have a bad feeling about this." … He also invited Bush to become a Muslim. And you would be wise to interpret the word "invite" to have a whiff of the mob inviting you to dinner at the end of a pier.
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Reuters:
Iran president to send letter to Pope - paper — TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is writing a letter to Pope Benedict, following an unprecedented letter to U.S. President George W. Bush earlier this month, a newspaper said on Thursday.
Mary Katharine Ham / Hugh Hewitt:
Whaaat???: Illegal Immigration Edition — Seriously, if you could see me now, I'm very Yosemite Sam. Very stampy and tantrumy and incoherent. — Just a few minutes ago, on the floor of the United States Senate, senators debated an amendment to the McCain immigration bill.
Discussion:
Hot Air, Riehl World View, BizzyBlog.com, Ankle Biting Pundits › News, E L Frederick, JunkYardBlog and Blue Crab Boulevard
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Peggy Noonan / Opinion Journal:
Out of Touch — What the president's immigration speech and "The DaVinci Code" have in common. — What was missing in the president's approach the other night was the expression, or suggestion, of context. The context was a crisis that had gone unanswered as it has built …
Eric Lipton / New York Times:
Seeking to Control Borders, Bush Turns to Big Military Contractors — WASHINGTON, May 17 — The quick fix may involve sending in the National Guard. But to really patch up the broken border, President Bush is preparing to turn to a familiar administration partner: the nation's giant military contractors.
Hotline On Call:
Have A Heart — This has to be just about the nastiest piece of direct mail we've ever seen. — A candidate for State Assembly in the central valley region of CA, Bill Conrad (R) is apparently running on the platform that his opponent won't survive his term because he had a heart transplant.
Frederic J. Frommer / Associated Press:
Sensenbrenner: Bush Turned Back on Bill — WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who has pushed a tough border security bill through the House, accused President Bush on Wednesday of abandoning the legislation after asking for many of its provisions. — "He basically turned his back on provisions …
Discussion:
Hot Air
The Raw Story:
International poll shows world is turning against Americans, not just President Bush — In increasing numbers, people around the globe resent American power and wealth and reject specific actions like the occupation of Iraq and the campaign against democratically elected Palestinian leaders …
John Conyers Jr / Washington Post:
No Rush to Impeachment — As Republicans have become increasingly nervous about whether they will be able to maintain control of the House in the midterm elections, they have resorted to the straw-man strategy of identifying a parade of horrors to come if Democrats gain the majority.
Discussion:
Sister Toldjah, Right Wing News, Gateway Pundit, Hullabaloo, The Washington Monthly, The RCP Blog, Carol Platt Liebau, The Carpetbagger Report, TAPPED, Blue Crab Boulevard, The Political Pit Bull, GOP Bloggers, California Conservative, Ankle Biting Pundits › News, PunditGuy, Brainster's Blog, THE BRAD BLOG and Ace of Spades HQ
Ken Silverstein / Harper's:
"Fairy Tales" — The (lack of) intelligence underpinning Bush's Iraq policy — During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein's Information Minister became the butt of a million jokes for predicting that American soldiers were being routed, even as U.S. troops were quickly closing in on Baghdad.
Jason DeParle / New York Times:
G.O.P. Conservatives Topple Veteran State Lawmakers in Pennsylvania — WASHINGTON, May 17 — A revolt among Pennsylvania conservatives gained national attention on Wednesday after challengers toppled at least 12 state lawmakers they deemed insufficiently committed to small government and fiscal restraint.
New York Times:
And if It's a Boy, Will It Be Lleh? — Chances are you don't have any friends named Nevaeh. Chances are today's toddlers will. — In 1999, there were only eight newborn American girls named Nevaeh. Last year, it was the 70th-most-popular name for baby girls, ahead of Sara, Vanessa and Amanda.