Top Items:
Slate:
Dispatches From the Scooter Libby Trial — I wanted to raise my hand and ask, "Your Honor, may I approach the bench?" — I was at the Scooter Libby trial to cover it, and all of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of the case. In his testimony today, former White House press secretary …
RELATED:
Booman Tribune:
Did Ari Fleischer Commit Perjury Today? — I think I may have found evidence that Ari Fleischer committed perjury today. If Ari Fleischer did not commit perjury today, then former Time Magazine reporter John Dickerson is a big-time liar. First I will introduce the principals …
Michael Isikoff / Newsweek:
A Damning Witness — Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer took the stand at the Scooter Libby trial, and proved a surprisingly effective witness for the prosecution. — Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer exits the federal courthouse — A WEB EXCLUSIVE
Discussion:
CorrenteWire
Christy Hardin Smith / Firedoglake:
B-I-N-G-O — Here is my favorite bit from today:
B-I-N-G-O — Here is my favorite bit from today:
Discussion:
Political Animal, Gun Toting Liberal ™, Jesus' General, Taylor Marsh, Angry Bear, Needlenose and skippy the bush kangaroo
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Bush Directive Increases Sway on Regulation — President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Big Brass Blog, Bring it On!, Hullabaloo, Mia Culpa, The Mahablog, The Democratic Daily, AMERICAblog and Prairie Weather
Anthony Shadid / Washington Post:
With Iran Ascendant, U.S. Is Seen at Fault — DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Kuwait rarely rebuffs its ally, the United States, partly out of gratitude for the 1991 Persian Gulf War. But in October it reneged on a pledge to send three military observers to an American-led naval exercise in the Gulf …
RELATED:
William Branigin / Washington Post:
Bush Warns Iran Against Action in Iraq — President Bush said today he has no intention of sending U.S. forces into Iran, but he vowed to "respond firmly" if Iran steps up a campaign that the United States charges is aimed at killing U.S. troops and derailing democracy in Iraq.
Marc Santora / New York Times:
Missteps by Iraqi Forces in Battle Raise Questions — Iraqi forces were surprised and nearly overwhelmed by the ferocity of an obscure renegade militia in a weekend battle near the holy city of Najaf and needed far more help from American forces than previously disclosed, American and Iraqi officials said Monday.
Discussion:
Rising Hegemon
RELATED:
Bill Roggio / The Fourth Rail:
Iraqi Army battles Shia cult, Sunni insurgents in Najaf
Iraqi Army battles Shia cult, Sunni insurgents in Najaf
Discussion:
Associated Press, Fox News, Reuters, iraqupdates.com, Unqualified Offerings, Power Line, DefenseLINK and The Political Pit Bull
Ali Ansari / Guardian:
Only the US hawks can save the Iranian president now — Ahmadinejad is failing to deliver for the poor and losing support, but he could yet survive because of the international threat — The honeymoon is over. Iran's controversial president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has finally come unstuck.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, The Reaction, The Belmont Club, BrothersJudd Blog and Blue Crab Boulevard
RELATED:
Gregg Easterbrook / Slate:
What the President Got Right — GIVE BUSH CREDIT FOR HIS ENERGY PROPOSAL. — It "fell far short" (Washington Post editorial) and offers only "marginal" gains (New York Times editorial) and is "nonsense" (Charles Krauthammer) and "isn't much" (Thomas Friedman).
RELATED:
Jack Langer / Human Events:
All the Old Dudes — "A man could make a fortune selling Geritol to these people." — Capitalist stooge that I am, that was my first reaction upon reaching the Washington Mall last Saturday to observe tens of thousands of demonstrators rally against the war in Iraq.
Jon Keller / CBS4Boston:
Exclusive Survey Shows Tight Race In N.H. — (CBS4) With the field of candidates growing every week, the New Hampshire primary is shaping up to be a political free-for-all. And exclusive new WBZ-TV Fast Track survey results show tight races in both parties.
Hindrocket / Power Line:
PRESIDENT BUSH'S SUPPORT HOLDING STEADY — We hear a lot of hysteria in the press about the American people deserting President Bush. Every time a new poll is released, it is trumpeted as documenting a new low in the President's approval rating. But these polls follow a variety of methodologies …
NPR:
Full Transcript: NPR Interview with President Bush — · The following is a full transcript of NPR's interview with President George W. Bush, conducted by Juan Williams on Monday, Jan. 29, 2007. — JUAN WILLIAMS: Mr. President, we can't say thank you enough for giving NPR this time, so thank you.
Ibrahim Barzak / Associated Press:
Cease-fire starts taking hold in Gaza — GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A cease-fire started taking hold in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, after five days of intense Hamas- Fatah fighting that left 34 people dead. — However, previous truce deals struck in recent weeks of factional clashes quickly collapsed …