Top Items:

Rep. Wilson Says She Contacted Prosecutor — Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) acknowledged today that she contacted a federal prosecutor to complain about the pace of his public corruption investigations, as the Senate Ethics Committee signaled that it had opened a preliminary inquiry …
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Former Prosecutor Says Departure Was Pressured — The former federal prosecutor in Maryland said Monday that he was forced out in early 2005 because of political pressure stemming from public corruption investigations involving associates of the state's governor, a Republican.

U.S. attorney worried 'gloves would come off' over criticism of ouster — WASHINGTON _ A high-ranking Justice Department official told one of the U.S. attorneys fired by the Bush administration that if any of them continued to criticize the administration for their ousters …


Gonzales Defends Move to Fire Attorneys, Denies Political Role — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, facing criticism for the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, defended the action as appropriate but said the Justice Department handled the situation poorly. — "We could have rolled …


Messenger in Prosecutors' Firings Quits — The Justice Department official who told seven United States attorneys in December that they were being dismissed said Monday that he was resigning. — Michael A. Battle, director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys …

US Attorney Hearings Promise Some Fireworks Today (And Tomorrow)


9 U.S. soldiers killed north of Baghdad — BAGHDAD, Iraq - Nine American soldiers died in explosions north of Baghdad, the U.S. military announced Tuesday after the deadliest single day for U.S. troops in Iraq in nearly a month. — Six soldiers died when a bomb exploded Monday near …
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Companies to pull ads from Coulter's Web site … WASHINGTON (CNN) — At least three major companies want their ads pulled from Ann Coulter's Web site, following customer complaints about the right-wing commentator referring to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot."
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report, Crooks and Liars, Michael P.F. van der Galiën, Heading Left and The Populist
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Our Ann Coulter Problem — WHY THE PRESS CAN'T IGNORE HER. — Ann Coulter shocked nobody last week by calling presidential candidate John Edwards a "faggot" during her appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference. — Here's the YouTube video, as well as the quotation captured by the Associated Press:
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Video: Michelle talks Coulter and Maher on O'Reilly; Update …
Discussion:
protein wisdom, Ezra Klein, Reason Magazine, Ace of Spades HQ, Little Miss Attila, PostWatch and Riehl World View


Apologies, Anger at Walter Reed Hearing — Army Chiefs Plead Ignorance, But Lawmakers Are Skeptical — Senior commanders of the Army offered profuse apologies yesterday for the poor treatment accorded many soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but lawmakers expressed skepticism …
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Two Generals Provide A Contrast in Accountability
Discussion:
Op For

States may force megaprimary, winnow the 2008 field early — 19 states look to have early say in '08 race — WASHINGTON — States with more than half the nation's population are zeroing in on Feb. 5 next year to stage their presidential primaries, creating a single day that could determine …
Discussion:
The News Buckit
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A WARMING WORLD — China about to pass U.S. as world's top generator of greenhouse gases — Far more than previously acknowledged, the battle against global warming will be won or lost in China, even more so than in the West, new data show. — A report released last week …
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War of words after call for independence
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice


Kidnapped or Defected? Top Iranian General Disappears — Hoda Osman and Christopher Isham Report: — The mysterious disappearance of an Iranian general in Turkey in early February has led to speculation he either was kidnapped or defected. — Iran has reportedly asked Interpol to investigate the general's disappearance.
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Democrats Alter Plan To Restrict Iraq War — Senior House Democrats, seeking to placate members of their party from Republican-leaning districts, are pushing a plan that would place restrictions on President Bush's ability to wage the war in Iraq but would allow him to waive them if he publicly justifies his position.


The Romney Rehab Plan — Mitt Romney may be low in the polls right now, but he is a man with a plan, a plan to make him the Republican nominee for president. — Though he is at only 4 percent in national polls, The Politico has learned that in the coming weeks and months, he will:

WEBB INTRODUCES BILL BARRING FUNDING FOR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN — WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator on Monday introduced legislation that in some cases would deny funding for the Bush administration to take military action against Iran without first getting congressional approval.
Discussion:
Outside The Beltway, Taylor Marsh, AmSpec Blog, GOP Bloggers, The Political Pit Bull and Jules Crittenden

Privacy board clears U.S. spy programs — WASHINGTON - A White House privacy board is giving its stamp of approval to two of the Bush administration's controversial surveillance programs — electronic eavesdropping and financial tracking — and says they do not violate citizens' civil liberties.

Hil & Bam gear up for battle over Jewish vote — WASHINGTON - Fresh off their battle for the hearts of black Americans, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are about to go head to head for Jewish votes. — The leaders for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 plan dueling receptions Monday …
Discussion:
The Caucus