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Joe Strupp / Editor and Publisher:
Tony Snow Tells E&P: 'NYT' Deserves Special Criticism — NEW YORK White House Press Secretary Tony Snow told E&P today that The New York Times deserves the brunt of criticism for disclosure of a secret bank records monitoring program, even though two other newspapers - The Wall Street Journal …
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Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
Bush ignores laws he inks, vexing Congress — WASHINGTON - A bill becomes the rule of the land when Congress passes it and the president signs it into law, right? — Not necessarily, according to the White House. A law is not binding when a president issues a separate statement saying …
Glenn Greenwald / Unclaimed Territory:
The Bush lynch mob against the nation's free press — (updated below) — Any doubts about whether the Bush administration intends to imprison unfriendly journalists (defined as "journalists who fail to obey the Bush administration's orders about what to publish") were completely dispelled this weekend.
Ibrahim Barzak / Associated Press:
Israeli Planes Attack Bridge in Gaza — Israeli planes attacked a bridge in central Gaza late Tuesday, Israel Radio reported, and Israeli tanks were said to be on the move, possibly signaling the start of a military operation. — Palestinian security forces said Israeli tanks were moving near …
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Haaretz:
IAF bombs Gaza bridge to prevent transport of seized soldier — An Israel Air Force aircraft attacked the main bridge between Gaza City and Khan Yunis on Monday, in an effort to prevent miltants from transporting kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit within Gaza. — IDF officials said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved a "limited
Ibrahim Barzak / Associated Press:
Israeli planes attack 3 Gaza bridges — GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israeli planes attacked three bridges in central Gaza, the military said Wednesday, and Israeli tanks were on the move after the government approved a limited operation — a response to a weekend Palestinian attack in which two soldiers were killed and a third captured.
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
In the Senate, Covering Themselves in Old Glory — The Citizens Flag Alliance, a group pushing for the Senate this week to pass a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution, just reported an alarming, 33 percent increase in the number of flag-desecration incidents this year.
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Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
Senate rejects flag desecration amendment
Senate rejects flag desecration amendment
Discussion:
The Democratic Daily
Rick Hasen / Election Law:
SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE VERMONT CAMPAIGN FINANCE DECISION — The decision in Randall v. Sorrell today is a monumental one, because it marks the first time that the two new Justices have considered a campaign finance case. Though the decision is a defeat for Vermont …
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Rick Hasen / Election Law:
MORE ON CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS' VIEWS IN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE DECISION: WHAT HAPPENED AFTER ORAL ARGUMENT? — This post follows up on my earlier initial thoughts on the Vermont campaign finance case. — At oral argument in the Vermont contribution limits case, Chief Justice Roberts was quite skeptical of the state's arguments.
Matthew Mosk / Washington Post:
Steele's Donor List Stirs Racial Questions — The fundraiser thrown for Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele on Thursday night, while ordinary in most ways, struck some African American leaders as notable because of the host. — Unlike the dozens of high-dollar events across the country …
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Paul Bass / New Haven Independent:
A Divided Labor House Backs Joe — Connecticut's labor movement goes into the Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate deeply divided. As expected, the state AFL-CIO endorsed Sen. Joe Lieberman for reelection at a convention at New Haven's Omni Hotel Tuesday.
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Palm Beach Post:
Limbaugh detained after luggage search produces pills — Less than two months after striking a deal to avoid criminal prosecution, conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after customs agents found a bottle …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, skippy the bush kangaroo, world-o-crap.com, TalkLeft, Billmon, Brilliant at Breakfast and Making Light
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BBC:
Womb environment 'makes men gay' — A man's sexual orientation may be determined by conditions in the womb, according to a study. — Previous research had revealed the more older brothers a boy has, the more likely he is to be gay, but the reason for this phenomenon was unknown.
Discussion:
Clayton Cramer's BLOG, Bring it On!, Feministing, Preemptive Karma, PoliPundit.com and BrothersJudd Blog
Jeff Dufour / The Hill:
Making love in the White House is even better — Because he was the first Democrat to step up and say publicly last year that he's exploring running for president, we can assume that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is plenty interested in the office. — But like most other men, apparently there are things that interest him more.
Discussion:
The Florida Masochist
ACLU:
Government Drops Demand for Library Records — With Help of ACLU, Connecticut Library Group Successfully Keeps Patron Records Private — NEW YORK — The American Civil Liberties Union today declared victory in their legal battle with the FBI over a Connecticut library group's right to keep patron records private.
Michael Gove / Times of London:
The roots of Islamism — In the second extract from his book Celsius 7/7, Michael Gove claims Islamism is not a campaign to restore piety but a revolutionary attempt to re-make society — The First World War began with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Second with the invasion …
Seth Borenstein / Associated Press:
Scientists OK Gore's movie for accuracy — WASHINGTON - The nation's top climate scientists are giving "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's documentary on global warming, five stars for accuracy. — The former vice president's movie — replete with the prospect of a flooded New York City …
Michaelgalien / Liberty and Justice:
It's Official: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Keeps Dutch Nationality — NOS journaal reports that, during a meeting between different ministers - that lasted until well past midnight - the Dutch Cabinet decided that Ayaan Hirsi Ali is, and will remain, officially Dutch. Although Minister Verdonk …
Ryan Sager / Real Clear Politics:
Revenge of the Wal-Mart Voters — Live by Wal-Mart. Die by Wal-Mart. That could be the fate of the Republican Party this November if millions of government-loving voters suddenly abandon the GOP and return to their natural home in the Democratic Party. — The worst-case scenario …
The Ugly American / The Real Ugly American.com:
Mort and Me: An Interview with Morton Kondracke — I hope he forgives me for the headline. I am a big fan of Mr. Kondracke's work on Special Report, his Beltway Boys program, and Roll Call. — If you are a political news superfreak like me I would highly recomend subscribing to Roll Call.
Discussion:
Ace of Spades HQ
USA Today:
Analysis finds e-voting machines vulnerable — WASHINGTON — Most of the electronic voting machines widely adopted since the disputed 2000 presidential election "pose a real danger to the integrity of national, state and local elections," a report out Tuesday concludes.