Top Items:
Associated Press:
SENATE GRIDLOCKED ON IRAQ TROOP BUILDUP — Feb. 16: Sgt. John Guerra, 21, from Dallas, Tex., walks with his platoon from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team during a patrol in Iraq. — WASHINGTON — The Senate gridlocked on the Iraq war in a sharply worded showdown on Saturday …
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William Branigin / Washington Post:
Senate Republicans Block Floor Vote on Iraq Resolution — Senate Republicans today blocked a floor vote on a House-passed resolution that expresses disapproval of President Bush's plan to send thousands of additional U.S. troops to Iraq, as a procedural motion to cut off debate on the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed.
CNN:
Senate won't vote on rebuke of troop buildup … WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Democrats failed to garner the necessary 60 votes they needed to consider a nonbinding resolution that opposes President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq. — The vote was 56-34, with seven Republicans crossing …
Washington Post:
Not the 'Real Vote' — REP. JOHN MURTHA (D-Pa.) has a message for anyone who spent the week following the House of Representatives' marathon debate on Iraq: You've been distracted by a sideshow. "We have to be careful that people don't think this is the vote," the 74-year-old congressman …
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New York Times:
On to the Hard Part on Iraq — President Bush lost touch long ago with Iraq's political reality — not to mention Americans' anguish and disbelief at his mismanagement of the war. So we welcome the House of Representatives' long-overdue attempt to shake some sense into Mr. Bush …
Patrick Healy / New York Times:
Antiwar Anger at '02 Vote on Iraq Follows Clinton — One of the most important decisions that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made about her bid for the presidency came late last year when she ended a debate in her camp over whether she should repudiate her 2002 vote authorizing military action in Iraq.
Discussion:
TalkLeft, Booman Tribune, culturekitchen, Riehl World View, Daily Pundit and Liberty Street
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Media Matters for America:
"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser — (Double) standard operating procedure: why "America's Mayor" isn't "America's ex-husband" — Two weeks ago, we noted that ABC News' Charlie Gibson asked Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton if she would be in a position to be a "credible" candidate for president were it not for her husband.
Discussion:
Mercury Rising
Joe / AMERICAblog:
Forget Iraq. McCain wants to be the anti-sex candidate. He's preaching abstinence now. — fark it! Oh, this is rich. John McCain can't make the votes on Iraq — the dominant issue of these times. No, McCain has more pressing matters on his plate. He's too busy working on his no-sex agenda.
Discussion:
The Real McCain
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David Saltonstall / NY Daily News:
Rudy's inner diva is outed — Demands private jet, fancy hotel — and 100G — to give speech, sez Web site — Move over, J.Lo. There's a new diva on the scene - and his name is Rudy Giuliani. — At least that's the impression given by a copy of the basic contract the former mayor …
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Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:At least he didn't specify which M&Ms were to be removed from his dressing room
Discussion:
The Right's Field
Russell Roberts / Los Angeles Times:
Workers are fine with fewer unions — Wealth and productivity have soared while union membership has declined. — LABOR UNIONS' importance in the workplace has fallen steadily since 1950, when roughly a third of American workers were unionized. Today, that number is well below 10% in the private sector.
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Victoria Toensing / Washington Post:
Trial in Error — Could someone please explain to me why Scooter Libby is the only person on trial in the Valerie Plame leak investigation? — Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald charged Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff with perjury on the theory that Libby had a nefarious reason …
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NewDonkey.com:
Dissent and Wars of Choice — There's been a lot of buzz around the blogosphere about a phony Abraham Lincoln quote that Bush Iraq War supporters keep throwing out there (most recently senior House GOPer Don Young of Alaska), suggesting that dissenters in Congress during wartime are "saboteurs" …
Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
Back at Home, McCain Annoys the G.O.P. Right — The chairman of the local Republican Party here in the most populous county in Arizona has in his possession a bright yellow button with a black line slashed through the name McCain. — "I don't wear it out very often," said the chairman …
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Little Green Footballs:
Video: SLC Killer's Father Believes Son Was Trained — Here's video from Salt Lake City's KSL TV, showing an interview with the father of Sulejman Talovic, in which he voices his suspicion that his son was influenced and trained to commit the murders. (Hat tip: Gateway Pundit.)
Discussion:
The Jawa Report
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Steve Clemons / The Washington Note:
Trita Parsi's Role in Promulgating Knowledge of 2003 Iran Proposal — Gareth Porter has an important article out today, "Rove Said to Have Received 2003 Iranian Proposal." — Porter writes: … The revelation that Trita Parsi made about Congressman Ney's interaction with the White House …
Greyhawk / Mudville Gazette:
WHILE CONGESS WAS VOTING... ...this happened in Iraq: — Iraqi Government and 1st Iraqi Army Division assumes control … IA Captures Al Qaeda In Iraq Cell Leader, Recovers Weapons Cache … BOMB-MAKING FACILITY DESTROYED … IA, CF target terrorist cells in Muqdadiya
Gary Hart / The Huffington Post:
Iraq and Homeland Security — Both the U.S. Commission on National Security for the 21st Century and the follow-on — Council on Foreign Relations report a year after 9-11 concluded that the backbone of — homeland security is the 50-state National Guard. Properly trained and equipped,
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Pajamas Media:
BAGHDAD TODAY: A REPORT FROM THE CITY — "The Surge is showing signs of success. The progress made so far invites hope and optimism, but it's still too early to celebrate." Omar Fadhil, PJM's editor in Iraq files this report. — Since the multiple bombings in Shroja market district on the 12th …
Discussion:
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