Top Items:
The Blotter:
Al Qaeda Sends a Message to Democrats — Brian Ross and Hoda Osman Report: — Al Qaeda has sent a message to leaders of the Democratic party that credit for the defeat of congressional Republicans belongs to the terrorists. — In a portion of the tape from al Qaeda No. 2 man …
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ict.org.il:
Realities of the Conflict - Between Islam and Unbelief — In the Name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and may peace and prayers be on the Messenger of Allah and on his family, companions and allies. — Muslim brothers everywhere: peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Hindrocket / Power Line:
ZAWAHIRI DRONES ON... ...and on. You could say that Zawahiri is a blowhard, but that would be a disservice to the blowhards of the world. He's really in a different league. The complete text of Zawahiri's latest video tape, released a couple of days ago, is here. But, hey—I read it all, so you won't have to.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters
Aaron Beard / Associated Press:
Rape Charges Dropped in Duke Case — DURHAM, N.C. — Prosecutors dropped rape charges Friday against three Duke University lacrosse players accused of attacking a stripper at a team party, but the three still face kidnapping and sexual offense charges. — According to court papers filed Friday …
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New York Times:
Rape Charges Dropped in Duke Case — The district attorney today dropped rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players, but plans to go forward with sexual assault and kidnapping charges, his office said. — Michael B. Nifong, the Durham district attorney …
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Breaking: Durham D.A. drops rape charges against Duke lacrosse players; Update: Press conference video added — But the kidnapping and sexual offense charges remain. … I haven't followed the case at all and was planning to ignore the news, but then I got an e-mail from the boss reminding me that the story was breaking.
Discussion:
Redstate, Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, Durham-in-Wonderland, Slublog, QandO, Daily Pundit, protein wisdom and Ace of Spades HQ
CNN:
Ellison: Lawmaker has 'a lot to learn about Islam' … WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Virginia lawmaker criticized for writing an "Islamophobic" letter to his constituents would be wise to learn more about Islam, the first Muslim elected to Congress said Thursday. — Minnesota Rep.-elect Keith …
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Shreema Mehta / newstandardnews.net:
Big Pharma's Profit Pursuit Means Fewer New Drugs, Report Says — Although drug makers typically justify the high cost of medicines by citing research expenses, a new government report says their research investments are mostly funding highly profitable modifications of existing drug designs, not new treatments.
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Mel Konner / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Carter's about-face betrays Jews, Christians — We are in that season when Jews celebrate one of their few successful rebellions against oppression. Christians celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. How ironic, then, that Jewish-Americans are embroiled in a grim struggle …
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Michael van der Galien / The Moderate Voice:
Carter... and Carter — More on Jimmy Carter, or more precisely his book.
Carter... and Carter — More on Jimmy Carter, or more precisely his book.
Discussion:
forward.com
KCCI-TV:
KCCI Poll Shows Vilsack 3rd Among Democratic Hopefuls — DES MOINES, Iowa — The Tom Vilsack campaign said it will get out the message that he is the best nominee for the party. But an exclusive new poll by KCCI-TV shows he has some work to do in his own state.
Discussion:
Middle Earth Journal, The Carpetbagger Report, The Debate Link, MyDD and Taegan Goddard's …
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Rich Miller / Chicago Sun Times:
Pundits lose grip on reality when dealing with the Internet — What is it about the Internet that makes some political pundits, columnists and reporters so goofy? It seems like almost every time I read a mainstream media story about political Web sites and bloggers, the pieces are full of ill-informed junk.
Wichita Eagle:
Spending freeze targets pet projects for members of Congress — WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders in the new Congress plan to strip funding for thousands of pet projects for individual members, a big display of fiscal discipline they say will help cut deficits and curb spending abuses.
Discussion:
Angry Bear
Media Matters for America:
"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser — Cat videos — unlike NBC News — don't impart conservative misinformation — Time magazine's selection of "You" as its "Person of the Year" has — justifiably — drawn criticism. — Writing for CJR Daily, for example, Christian Vachon argued …
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Hassan M. Fattah / New York Times:
Bickering Saudis Struggle for an Answer to Iran's Rising Influence in the Middle East — At a late-night reading this week, a self-styled poet raised his hand for silence and began a riff on neighboring Iraq, in the old style of Bedouin storytellers. — "Saddam Hussein was a real leader …
Peggy Noonan / Opinion Journal:
News of a Sleighing — This just in: Santa Claus is coming to town. — Sunday is Christmas Eve. It feels wrong to speak here of small and sentimental things such as politics. The most passionately committed Americans right now, and the most imaginative, are children waiting for a large laughing man with a full white beard.
Talking Points Memo:
Lovely. — According to Network World's Paul McNamara, the communications director for U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), Todd Shriber, hired two 'hackers' to break into the computer of his alma mater, Texas Christian University, and change his college grades.
Media Matters for America:
Most outrageous comments of 2006 — How extreme were conservative commentators in their remarks this year? How about calls to nuke the Middle East and an allegation that a "gay ... mafia" used the congressional page program as its own "personal preserve."
Discussion:
ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES