memeorandum: 'All the troops in the world won't make any difference' (Michael Hirsh/Newsweek)

11:05 PM ET, January 9, 2007

Top Items:

Official: First wave of troops to Iraq by Jan. 31 — Kennedy says Hill must act on surge; move may spark constitutional debate — WASHINGTON - A first wave of additional U.S. troops will go into Iraq before the end of the month under President Bush's new plan, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

Discussion: DownWithTyranny! and Wake up America

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy / The Huffington Post:

Escalation? It's Not His Decision to Make — Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam, and we cannot allow history to repeat itself any longer. Our troops deserve better. We must act now. — Today, I introduced legislation to reclaim the people's right to a full voice in the president's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

Discussion: The Reaction, PoliBlog (TM), Macsmind, The Impolitic and TPMmuckraker

Kate Phillips / The Caucus:

Kennedy: 'George Bush's Vietnam' — Senator Ted Kennedy spoke at the National Press Club this afternoon, detailing a resolution he plans to introduce today that would require Congress to vote on President Bush's anticipated plan to send more troops to Iraq and any additional funding for those troops.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

CNN:

Kennedy fights 'immense new mistake' of troop surge … WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Edward Kennedy launched a pre-emptive strike Tuesday against President Bush's anticipated plans to send more troops to Iraq. — The Massachusetts Democrat introduced legislation to require congressional approval before force levels can be increased.

Discussion: The Fix, Crooks and Liars, The Democratic Daily, The Carpetbagger Report, Wonkette and The Huffington Post

Senator Edward M Kennedy / Daily Kos:

Escalation: It's Not Up To Him — Update: Video of the speech is now up on The Huffington Post. — I am on my way to the National Press Club in Washington in a few minutes to speak about a new bill. If passed, it will prohibit escalation in Iraq without express Congressional approval of a plan and budget.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Swords Crossed, skippy the bush kangaroo and ACSBlog

John Dickerson / Slate:

CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS HATE THE SURGE. BUT THEY DON'T DARE TRY TO STOP IT. — Sen. Ted Kennedy is the Senate Democrats' army of one, trying to launch a revolution when they would prefer cordial discussion. Scheduled to discuss health care at the National Press Club …

Discussion: Decision '08, Blue Crab Boulevard, DownWithTyranny! and New York Times

The Raw Story:

FLASH: FULL TEXT: KENNEDY INTRODUCES BILL TO BLOCK ESCALATION IN IRAQ — Print page sponsored by Velvet Revolution. — WASHINGTON — In a surprise speech to the National Press Club this afternoon, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) announced he is introducing today legislation that would require Congress …

Discussion: The Democratic Daily, The Mahablog and Needlenose

Alexander Mooney / CNN Political Ticker:
GOP Senator calls Kennedy's Iraq vote requirement a 'good idea'

Discussion: Think Progress and Unclaimed Territory

IAN / Hot Air: Video: Ted Kennedy says Iraq is Bush's Vietnam

Big Tent Democrat / TalkLeft:
Congressional War Power and the Iraq "Surge": Can Congress Restrict …

Discussion: QandO and Balkinization

Randy Hall / CNSNews: Kennedy: Send No New Troops Into 'Cauldron of Civil War'

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Gallup: 61% oppose surge; Update: "Put 'em on the glass"

Discussion: New York Times, Telegraph, CNN Political Ticker, Riehl World View and Stop The ACLU

Frank Newport / Gallup Poll:
Public Opposes Troop Surge by 61% to 36% Margin

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, New York Times, Balloon Juice, Taylor Marsh, The Reaction, Liberty Street, The Next Hurrah, The Swamp, The Heretik, Don Surber, Gun Toting Liberal ™ and Daily Mail

Curt / Flopping Aces:

The Latest On Jamil Hussein — I've been in touch with Bill Costlow (the CPATT (Civilian Police Assistance Training Team) representative) since he has been back in-country and I have a few interesting developments on this story. — First, the AP story: … But guess what Bill just confirmed?

Discussion: Media Matters for America, Confederate Yankee, Gateway Pundit, Blue Crab Boulevard, Power Line, A Blog For All and New York Times

Hindrocket / Power Line:

WE TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO SENATOR MCCAIN — We have disagreed strongly with Senator John McCain on several issues, but have also applauded his unwavering support for a strong national defense and for vigorous prosecution of the global war on terror. When the Senator's staff requested …

Ryan Block / Engadget:

Live from Macworld 2007: Steve Jobs keynote — The game is on! Keep refreshing this page for a steady stream of updates. The keynote should get rolling sometime after 9am PST. — 7:54am - We're here, standing in line waiting to get in. People have been camped out since 9pm last night …

Discussion: Ezra Klein, Matthew Yglesias, Roger L. Simon, digg, Cafe Hayek, Boing Boing and Pajamas Media

Center for American Progress:

Congressional Limitations and Requirements for Military Deployments and Funding — The 110th Congress has an important responsibility to shape the country's national security policy in order to make Americans safer and advance U.S. national security interests more effectively.

Discussion: Nitpicker, Sirotablog, The Carpetbagger Report and Left in the West

David Espo / Associated Press:

Bush Judicial Nominees Ask to Withdraw … WASHINGTON (AP) — In a concession to the Senate's new Democratic majority, four of President Bush's appeals court appointees have asked to have their nominations withdrawn, Republican officials said Tuesday. — These officials said that William Haynes …

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!, Abovethelaw.com and ACSBlog

Heidi / Euphoric Reality:

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Mexican Gunmen Involved in Arizona Border Incident Actually A Uniformed Mexican Force — The incursion into U.S. territory last week by "Mexican gunmen" was not a chance confrontation between the Arizona National Guard and untrained illegal immigrants, but a deliberate …

Discussion: Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, Riehl World View, Hot Air, Gun Toting Liberal ™, Something, third world county, The Uncooperative Blogger, Florida Cracker, stikNstein and Bill's Bites

Associated Press:

Senator's condition upgraded after brain surgery — WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Tim Johnson's condition has been upgraded from critical to fair, four weeks after he was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage, his office said Tuesday. — The South Dakota Democrat, who was rushed to the hospital December 13 …

Discussion: Pajamas Media

David Andreatta / New York Post:

PACE'S DOCU DRAMA — BIGS 'THREATEN' JEWS — Pace University administrators threatened to sic the cops on a Jewish-student club if it went ahead with plans to screen a critically acclaimed film about radical Islam, the head of the group charged yesterday.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Woman Honor Thyself, Little Green Footballs, A Blog For All and Atlas Shrugs

Tom Curry / MSNBC:

Does a McCain-Lieberman ticket make sense? — Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2000 praises Arizona Republican — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the independent Democrat from Connecticut, as they prepare to discuss a troop surge in Iraq last Friday.

Discussion: Centerfield, DownWithTyranny!, The Caucus, Wake up America, Demagogue and The Carpetbagger Report