Top Items:
Associated Press:
Bush: 'I'm the decision-maker' in Iraq troops — President challenges lawmakers to give 'surge' plan a chance to work — President Bush, right, meets with Defense chief Robert Gates, left, and Army Lt. General David Petraeus at the White House. — NBC VIDEO — Jan. 26: President Bush speaks to reporters on Friday.
Discussion:
Sister Toldjah, The Moderate Voice, The Caucus, The Political Pit Bull, The Democratic Daily and Liberal Values
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Think Progress:
President Bush: 'I'm The Decision-Maker' — In remarks to reporters this morning, President Bush said he would ignore Congress' opposition to his escalation plan, saying, "I'm the decision-maker." Watch it: — UPDATE: Flashback to 4/18/06: "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."
William Branigin / Washington Post:
Bush: 'I'm the Decision-Maker' on Iraq — President Bush today rebuffed congressional opponents who want to stop his plan to increase U.S. troop strength in Iraq, declaring that "I'm the decision-maker" on the war effort and challenging skeptics to produce their own plan for success.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Captain's Quarters, Redstate, TPMCafe blogs, Blogs of War, The Fourth Rail and The Carpetbagger Report
San Francisco Chronicle:
Pelosi to meet with al-Maliki in quick visit to Iraq — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has traveled to Iraq for a quick fact-finding visit that will include a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. — The congressional delegation traveling with the Democratic speaker …
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Shailagh Murray / Washington Post:
Hagel Ponders White House Run As War Criticism Raises His Profile — His Republican colleagues regard him warily. The White House barely speaks to him. He is reviled by his party's conservative base. — Looks as though Sen. Chuck Hagel is on a roll. — Both parties have their Iraq war contrarians.
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John Hawkins / Right Wing News:
Right-Of-Center Bloggers Select The Most & Least Desired 2008 Republican Nominee (First Half Of 2007 Edition) — Right Wing News emailed more than 230 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to send us a ranked list 1-5 of the candidates that they would most like to take the Republican nomination …
CBC News:
Ottawa reaches $10M settlement with Arar — Ottawa has reached a $10-million settlement with Maher Arar over Canada's role in a U.S. decision to deport him to Syria, where he was jailed and tortured. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to make the settlement announcement on Friday afternoon …
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Editor and Publisher:
AP Disputes Military Claims on Deaths of Americans in Iraq — BAGHDAD Contrary to U.S. military statements, four U.S. soldiers did not die repelling a sneak attack at the governor's office in the Shiite holy city of Karbala last week. New information obtained by The Associated Press shows …
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Associated Press:
4 troops abducted, killed in Iraq attack — BAGHDAD, Iraq - In perhaps the boldest and most sophisticated attack in four years of warfare, gunmen speaking English, wearing U.S. military uniforms and carrying American weapons abducted four U.S. soldiers last week at the provincial headquarters …
Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Back in the Saddle — You know things are going well on your blog when everyone is so busy they don't even have room for you to post. Our site administrator RBG finally gave me the thumbs up to start blogging again today since things are thankfully a bit slower (emptywheel's fingers must …
Discussion:
spazeboy
Matea Gold / Los Angeles Times:
Fox to air controversial excerpts from 'Path to 9/11' — It got them by taping a public talk by the docudrama's writer, who showed clips from a scene toned down after ex-officials' criticism. — NEW YORK — In a move that could rekindle a heated political debate, Fox News said Thursday …
Zogby:
Zogby Poll: Bush Job Approval: 32% — President's rating remains low, though his State of the Union speech received solid marks — The nation's opinion of the job President Bush is doing in office improved slightly following his nationally-televised State of the Union message to Congress …
Kathy Kiely / American Journalism Review:
Politico Mojo — FEBRUARY/MARCH ISSUE PREVIEW » Robert Allbritton hopes his ambitious new print and Internet ventures will lure political junkies and benefit from a fast-changing media landscape. — Kathy Kiely is a USA Today Washington correspondent.
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Secrecy Is at Issue in Suits Opposing Spy Program — The Bush administration has employed extraordinary secrecy in defending the National Security Agency's highly classified domestic surveillance program from civil lawsuits. Plaintiffs and judges' clerks cannot see its secret filings.
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, The Impolitic, Washington Post, Andrew Sullivan, Reason Magazine, Stop The ACLU and The Heretik
Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
Energy Independence? — A Serious Plan Requires Taxes, ANWR and Nukes — Is there anything more depressing than yet another promise of energy independence in yet another State of the Union address? By my count, 24 of the 34 State of the Union addresses since the oil embargo of 1973 have proposed solutions to our energy problem.
Julia Preston / New York Times:
Immigration Raid Draws Protest From Labor Officials — An immigration raid at a huge North Carolina pork-packing plant provoked protests yesterday from union officials, who said the company, Smithfield Foods, had collaborated with the authorities searching for illegal immigrants to discourage its workers from organizing.