Top Items:
Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
Ex-Aide Details a Loss of Faith in the President — In 1999, Matthew Dowd became a symbol of George W. Bush's early success at positioning himself as a Republican with Democratic appeal. — A top strategist for the Texas Democrats who was disappointed by the Bill Clinton years …
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Digby / Hullabaloo:
"Base" Motivation — So President Bush's former pollster …
"Base" Motivation — So President Bush's former pollster …
Discussion:
Sisyphus Shrugged
Larry McShane / Associated Press:
Gallery told to shut down chocolate Jesus display — NEW YORK — A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday after Cardinal Edward Egan and other outraged Roman Catholics complained.
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Zuzu / Feministe:
Outrage comes cheap these days, and death threats come cheaper … My God! What could it be? What could be making the little vein throb in the forehead of anti-Semite and professional pearl-clutcher Bill Donahue now? ONE OF THE WORST ASSAULTS ON CHRISTIAN SENSIBILITIES EVER???
Discussion:
The Sideshow
Digby / Hullabaloo:
Piss Donohue — I'm sorry to have to say this because I am generally pretty tolerant of religion and try to be respectful of others' beliefs. But until the Catholic Church steps up and says that this screaming nutcase Bill Donohue and his band of freaks don't speak for them …
Kansas City Star:
Catholics outraged at `My Sweet Lord' chocolate crucifix display
Catholics outraged at `My Sweet Lord' chocolate crucifix display
Discussion:
The American Street
Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:
This Week in God — Saturday-morning contributor Morbo tried …
This Week in God — Saturday-morning contributor Morbo tried …
Discussion:
The Mahablog, The Impolitic, Norwegianity, Midtopia, Reuters, The Reaction, The Huffington Post and On Deadline
Nasser Karimi / Associated Press:
Iranian Official: Sailors May Be Tried — TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's ambassador to Russia renewed a threat Iranian officials made earlier this week, saying 15 British sailors held by Iran could be tried for violating international law, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported Saturday.
Discussion:
Clayton Cramer's BLOG
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Nicola Boden / Sydney Morning Herald:
Iran will punish 'guilty' British sailors: diplomat — On video ... Nathan Thomas Summers, left, with other British captives in Iran. — IRANIAN authorities have started legal proceedings against the British military personnel it has seized and said they would be punished if found guilty, Iran's ambassador to Moscow said last night.
Discussion:
The Strata-Sphere
Telegraph:
Ministers seek deal with Iran for captives — Ministers are preparing a compromise deal to allow Iran to save face and release its 15 British military captives by promising that the Royal Navy will never knowingly enter Iranian waters without permission. — The Sunday Telegraph has learnt …
Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
Feed A Foe, Starve A Friend — Let me see if I get this straight. The Democrats want to condemn Turkey for a genocide that the Ottoman Empire committed before the Turks overthrew them, in order to invest Congress with a certain level of moral authority, if not historical illiteracy.
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Anne Flaherty / Associated Press:
Pelosi Going to Syria Despite Objections
Pelosi Going to Syria Despite Objections
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, Booman Tribune, The Reaction, Associated Press, Tammy Bruce, DownWithTyranny! and Roger L. Simon
Lexington Herald-Leader:
Terror suspect gets 9 months in plea deal — AUSTRALIAN WILL SERVE HIS SENTENCE IN HOMELAND, CAN'T ALLEGE ABUSE — Australian David Hicks pleaded guilty at the Guant‡namo Bay Navy Base yesterday to supporting terrorism in exchange for a nine-month prison sentence under a plea deal …
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Michael Melia / Associated Press:
Australian Gitmo Detainee Gets 9 Months
Australian Gitmo Detainee Gets 9 Months
Discussion:
PoliBlog (TM), The Impolitic, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times and Brilliant at Breakfast
Steven R. Weisman / New York Times:
In Big Shift, U.S. Imposes Tariffs on Chinese Paper — The Bush administration, in a major escalation of trade pressure on China, said Friday that it would reverse more than 20 years of American policy and impose potentially steep tariffs on Chinese manufactured goods on the ground that China …
Edward Wong / New York Times:
Shiite Cleric Condemns U.S. as His Militia Takes to Streets — Religious leaders commanded by the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr delivered a searing speech at Friday Prayer condemning the American presence in Iraq, while militiamen loyal to Mr. Sadr engaged in street battles against Iraqi Army soldiers …
Discussion:
The Daily Dish
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Phoenix Woman / Firedoglake:
2001: A Timeline of What Could Have Been — (This is an updated version of an old post of mine over at the old version of my blog; it lost all its formatting and links when Blogger switched formats. I decided that with all the talk of President Gore lately, it was time to revive and revisit it.)
Steven Erlanger / New York Times:
Olmert Rejects Right of Return for Palestinians — Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in interviews published Friday that Israel would not allow a single Palestinian refugee to return to what is now Israel, and that the country bore no responsibility for the refugees because their plight resulted …
Pajamas Media:
BAGHDAD DISPATCH: MIDNIGHT COMPANY — "I often find myself in arguments with people about the behavior of American soldiers when they search homes. Many of the people I talk to base their argument and negative impression on the footage of some raids we see on TV or on experiences of presumed relatives or friends.
WSJ.com: Washington Wire:
'A Very Spartan Operation' — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who's running for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, established a low bar for rivals to clear in disclosing his initial campaign contribution totals. At a breakfast with reporters in Washington …
Tom Baldwin / Times of London:
EU refuses to back Britain over call to threaten exports freeze — Blair is left to make a statement of disgust after the airing of another video from captured British troops — European foreign ministers failed last night to back Britain in a threat to freeze the €14 billion trade …
Discussion:
Samizdata.net