Top Items:
David E. Sanger / New York Times:
Book Says Bush Ignored Urgent Warning on Iraq — The White House ignored an urgent warning in September 2003 from a top Iraq adviser who said that thousands of additional American troops were desperately needed to quell the insurgency there, according to a new book by Bob Woodward, the Washington Post reporter and author.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Kiko's House, Associated Press, War and Piece, Think Progress, Taegan Goddard's …, AMERICAblog, The Heretik and Pajamas Media
Roll Call:
House Report Details 485 Contacts Between Abramoff Team and White House Officials — Hundreds of contacts between top White House officials and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates "raise serious questions about the legality and actions" of those officials, according …
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Susan Schmidt / Washington Post:
Abramoff Put White House Contacts at 400 — Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his colleagues billed their clients for more than 400 contacts with White House officials between 2001 and 2004, according to a report released yesterday by the House Government Reform Committee.
Discussion:
TPMmuckraker
Philip Shenon / New York Times:
Report Links White House and Lobbyist — A bipartisan Congressional report documents hundreds of contacts between White House officials and the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his partners, including at least 10 direct contacts between Mr. Abramoff and Karl Rove, the president's chief political strategist.
William Branigin / Washington Post:
Senate Narrowly Rejects Detainee Bill Provision — The Senate today narrowly rejected a measure that would have allowed suspected terrorists to challenge their detention in federal court, as the body moved closer to passing a White House-backed bill to authorize special military tribunals …
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Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Bush Criticizes Democrats on Terror War — BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - President Bush suggested Thursday that Democrats don't have the stomach to fight the war on terror, battling back in the election-season clamor over administration intelligence showing terrorism spreading.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Preemptive Karma, Shot In The Dark, Confederate Yankee and Don Surber
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White House:
Remarks by the President at Bob Riley for Governor Luncheon — Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex — THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. It is a joy to be back in Alabama. And I appreciate your warm welcome. I am proud to stand with one of the nation's finest governors …
Michael A. Fletcher / Washington Post:
Bush Attacks 'Party of Cut and Run'
Bush Attacks 'Party of Cut and Run'
Discussion:
Booman Tribune
UPI:
UNIFIL confronts Israeli troops — U.N. peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon intervened for the first time Thursday with Israeli forces who arrested journalists in violation of Resolution 1701. — Israel has not completed its total withdrawal behind the Blue Line dividing the two countries …
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Agence France Presse:
UN, Israeli tanks in brief face-off in south Lebanon — MARWAHEEN, Lebanon (AFP) - UN and Israeli tanks have been involved in a brief face-off on a road in southern Lebanon where the Israeli army has been setting up checkpoints. — Four French Leclerc tanks with UN peacekeepers moved …
New York Times:
Iraqi Journalists Add Laws to List of Dangers — BAGHDAD — Ahmed al-Karbouli, a reporter for Baghdadiya TV in the violent city of Ramadi, did his best to ignore the death threats, right up until six armed men drilled him with bullets after midday prayers. — He was the fourth journalist killed …
wmur.com:
Students Start Petition To Remove UNH Professor For 9/11 Views — Professor Says Government May Have Had Knowledge Of Attacks — DURHAM, N.H. — A small group of students has started a petition to remove a University of New Hampshire professor who believes that Bush administration officials planned …
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Democrats See Strength in Bucking Bush — The Democratic vote in the Senate on Thursday against legislation governing the treatment of terrorism suspects showed that party leaders believe that President Bush's power to wield national security as a political issue is seriously diminished.
Discussion:
The Next Hurrah, Big Brass Blog, JustOneMinute, Brilliant at Breakfast and Rising Hegemon
William Bender / zwire.com:
Poll: Weldon, Sestak locked in dead heat — The first nonpartisan poll conducted in the 7th Congressional District shows U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon and Democrat Joseph Sestak locked in a statistical dead heat, with less than 40 percent of registered voters believing the Republican incumbent deserves re-election …
Discussion:
Daily Kos
David A. Fahrenthold / Washington Post:
Wildlife Waste Is Major Water Polluter, Studies Say — Does a bear leave its waste in the woods? — Of course. So do geese, deer, muskrats, raccoons and other wild animals. And now, such states as Virginia and Maryland have determined that this plays a significant role in water pollution.
Discussion:
Inactivist
Washington Post:
Ugly Words — Past and present in the Virginia Senate race — DID REPUBLICAN Sen. George Allen use racial slurs years ago? Did his Democratic challenger, James Webb? Does it matter, in a race between two candidates with long public records and substantial differences on Iraq, health care, the economy and other critical issues?
The Star-Ledger / nj-community:
Menendez Dumps Key Adviser Caught On Tape Seeking 'Favors' — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's closest political adviser was secretly recorded seven years ago boasting of political power and urging a Hudson county contractor to hire somone as a favor to Menendez, according to a transcript obtained by The Star-Ledger.