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An Incomplete Field — First impressions of the GOP's 2008 candidates. — They stood earnestly in a row, combed, primped and prepped, as Nancy Reagan gazed up at them with courteous interest. But behind the hopeful candidates, a dwarfing shadow loomed, a shadow almost palpable in its power …
Discussion:
WSJ.com, Crooks and Liars, Hot Air, Eunomia, Sister Toldjah, Connecting.the.Dots, Roger Ailes and Blue Crab Boulevard
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Republicans walk tightrope over war in Iraq — In first debate, 2008 hopefuls say conflict mismanaged, but worthwhile — Presidential contenders Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback and Ron Paul line up Thursday on stage before the first Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Discussion:
Pajamas Media, Shakesville, Chronicle of the Conspiracy and Dick Polman's American Debate

Candidates: — Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, R-N.Y.C. — Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R- Ark. — Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas — Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R- Mass — Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Col. — Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, R-Wis.


Tag Clouds for the Republican Debate — Having posted a set of tag clouds last week on the Democrats comments during last weeks' MSNBC debate, we naturally wanted to do the same for last night's Republican debate. So we once again turned to Janet Harris (president of the media analysis firm …

Who Doesn't Believe in Evolution? — A show of hands please …
Discussion:
News Bloggers Blog, Pam's House Blend, Booman Tribune, Little Thom's Blog, Pharyngula, Lean Left and Liberal Values

A Show Where Candidates Are More Prop Than Player
Discussion:
On Politics

The U.S. Attorney, the G.O.P. Congressman and the Timely Job Offer — There is yet another United States attorney whose abrupt departure from office is raising questions: Debra Wong Yang of Los Angeles. Ms. Yang was not fired, as eight other prosecutors were, but she resigned under circumstances …
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General Dave Petraeus . . . A Small World — I received a number of e-mails this morning asking for more information about Lois Romano's piece in today's Washington Post subtitled "Petraeus's Lifesaver," which describes emergency surgery I performed on Gen. David Petraeus …
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Have Bill Frist and right-wing bloggers plagiarized their new Iraq plan? — After having created "The Victory Caucus" two months ago only to stand by helplessly as it died a rapid and painful death, right-wing bloggers have now joined forces with former Senator Bill Frist to create a new Victory website …


When a Blogger Jumps the Shark — Familiarity does indeed sometimes breed contempt, but I've had a case of the ass lately over Captain Ed Morrissey, whose usually thoughtful and reliably conservative musings at Captain's Quarters command my respect, if not necessarily agreement.
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Where Do You Stop? — The Los Angeles Times reports …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times

I Guess the Word "Immediately" Has a Different Meaning When Used by Old Media — The L.A. Times asks: Will Fred Thompson's racist role have political repercussions? … The paper mulls over the meaning of this — and looks to conservative blogs! … Which conservative blogs? I'm so glad you asked!
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Thompson and his ideas are now online
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report


CONGRESS' WILLFUL IGNORANCE ON IRAQ — WHEN Nancy Pelosi confessed last year that she felt "sad" about President Bush's claims that al Qaeda operates in Iraq, she seemed to be disputing what every American soldier in Iraq, every al Qaeda operative and anyone who reads a newspaper already knew to be true.
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BILL'S HARD DRIVE — MICROSOFT EYES SEARCH GIANT IN PROPOSED TAKEOVER — Stung by the loss of Internet advertising firm DoubleClick to Google last month, Microsoft has intensified its pursuit of a deal with Yahoo!, asking the company to re-enter formal negotiations, The Post has learned.

Military: New Iraqi school had bombs built in … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — American soldiers discovered a girls school being built north of Baghdad had become an explosives-rigged "death trap," the U.S. military said Thursday. — The plot at the Huda Girls' school in Tarmiya was a …

Dems Outline Plans for Iraq Bill — Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.) outlined a new plan for an Iraq funding bill in private meetings Thursday afternoon, congressional aides said. — The plan would split the now vetoed supplemental spending bill into two bills, one that would provide two months …


The Colorful Case of A Well-Named Lawyer — Montgomery Blair Sibley's Current Client Isn't the Juiciest Part of His Story — Montgomery Blair Sibley, attorney for the morally impugned and legally challenged, is first and foremost Montgomery Blair Sibley, which is to say a descendant …


Age of Innocence Revisited — A lot of those girls "gone wild" are disturbingly young. — Joe Francis, founder of the "Girls Gone Wild" video company, may be 34 years old, but these days he is barely legal. — The controversial impresario has built a $100 million soft-core porn empire based …

Bush Wants Phone Firms Immune to Privacy Suits — The Bush administration is urging Congress to pass a law that would halt dozens of lawsuits charging phone companies with invading ordinary citizens' privacy through a post-Sept. 11 warrantless surveillance program.
Discussion:
Discourse.net