Top Items:
Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:
Sen. Obama launches White House run — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Democrat Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) announced Saturday that he is running for the White House in 2008, evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and promising to lead a new generation to "transform this nation."
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Washington Post:
Obama Formally Launches Presidential Bid — Illinois Sen. Barack Obama formally launched his candidacy for the White House here this morning, invoking memories of Abraham Lincoln and challenging a new generation of Americans to help bridge political divisions and transform the nation.
Jonathan Schwarz / A Tiny Revolution:
New York Times Reveals "Reporter" Michael Gordon Actually Voice-Activated Tape Recorder — NEW YORK—New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller today announced that the paper's longtime staff writer Michael Gordon is not an actual person, but rather a voice-activated tape recorder.
Discussion:
The Sideshow
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Greg Mitchell / Editor and Publisher:
'NYT' Reporter Who Got Iraqi WMDs Wrong Now Highlights Iran Claims — NEW YORK Saturday's New York Times features an article, posted at the top of its Web site late Friday, that suggests very strongly that Iran is supplying the "deadliest weapon aimed at American troops" in Iraq.
Discussion:
PoliBlog (TM)
Michael R. Gordon / New York Times:
Deadliest Bomb in Iraq Is Made by Iran, U.S. Says — The most lethal weapon directed against American troops in Iraq is an explosive-packed cylinder that United States intelligence asserts is being supplied by Iran. — The assertion of an Iranian role in supplying the device …
Dafna Linzer / Washington Post:
Al-Qaeda Suspects Color White House Debate Over Iran — Last week, the CIA sent an urgent report to President Bush's National Security Council: Iranian authorities had arrested two al-Qaeda operatives traveling through Iran on their way from Pakistan to Iraq.
City Journal:
Facing the Islamist Menace — Mark Steyn's new book is a welcome wake-up call. — In the prologue to his new book, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, Mark Steyn sarcastically alludes to two people whom, in different ways, I know well. The first is novelist Martin Amis …
Discussion:
The Heretik
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David Neiwert / Orcinus:
Cull them all — Everybody's favorite moral/ethical wastrel …
Cull them all — Everybody's favorite moral/ethical wastrel …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars
Matt Stoller / MyDD:
When Petty Reporters Get Mad — Looks like the blogs are going to be busy this cycle rebutting smears against our candidates. This latest is penned by Mike Allen. … How suspicious! The answer, as both Brad Delong and The Poorman note, is that Swahili and Arabic are extremely similar languages …
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Ewen MacAskill / Guardian:
Target Iran: US able to strike in the spring — Despite denials, Pentagon plans for possible attack on nuclear sites are well advanced — US preparations for an air strike against Iran are at an advanced stage, in spite of repeated public denials by the Bush administration, according to informed sources in Washington.
neo-neocon:
Getting Feith: Emily Litella, ace reporter for the WaPo, says "never mind" — Last night I was in the middle of preparing a piece about the Washington Post article that described the Pentagon's sharp criticism of Douglas Feith for giving too much credence to some faulty prewar intelligence reports …
Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:
Obama formally kicks off presidential campaign — About a month ago, we talked about Barack Obama creating a presidential exploratory committee, and today, Obama made it official, giving a strong speech in front of what appeared to be thousands of very cold supporters in Springfield, Ill.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Personal Democracy Forum blogs, Political Radar, The Swamp and Upper Left
Real Cities:
Democratic voters growing impatient with Congress — CHICAGO - In Washington, Democrats are blaming Republicans for the Senate's failure so far to vote on a resolution opposing a troop increase in Iraq. — But in the heartland, some voters say such excuses no longer are good enough.
Discussion:
DownWithTyranny!, The Mahablog, The Heretik, The Glittering Eye, Upper Left and Oliver Willis
Ann Althouse / Althouse:
Has Rudy Giuliani gotten incoherent about abortion? — Here's a NYT piece about how Rudy Giuliani is reframing his stance on abortion to appeal to conservatives. It contains a quote that I found puzzling: … How is "strict construction" supposed to protect liberty …
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David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:
Congress Finds Ways to Avoid Lobbyist Limits — The 110th Congress opened with the passage of sweeping new rules intended to curb the influence of lobbyists by prohibiting them from treating lawmakers to meals, trips, stadium box seats or the discounted use of private jets.
Media Matters for America:
"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser — This Week: — Ain't No Man Righteous (No Not One) — Last week, ABC played a video clip of Rush Limbaugh accusing "libs" of "prejudice" — without noting Limbaugh's own voluminous history of outright bigotry. — ABC gave Rush Limbaugh a forum …
Spiegel Online:
Life Insurance for Palestinian Suicide Bombers — An important bank in the Arab world offers accounts paying a type of life insurance to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. But now it could soon face a lawsuit from American lawyers representing the victims.