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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 …
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WSJ.com, Crooks and Liars, 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:
Shakesville, Pajamas Media, 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 Won & Who Lost — First Take — THE GUY WHO WASN'T THERE AND ADVANTAGE MCCAIN — John McCain won. Let's not dance around this. Mitt Romney shined, he stood out, he did well. Rudy Giuliani imploded. Rudy totally and utterly self-destructed tonight.

Debate Analysis: Romney Wins — The first Republican debate has finished, and the analysis and spin will begin in earnest. I'm sure that by morning, my e-mail will be filled with messages insisting on promoting one candidate over another, but I already have a few conclusions to share …
Discussion:
Right Wing Nut House


Who Doesn't Believe in Evolution? — A show of hands please... Let me remind you this is the only top vote-getting question asked. — Download (10638) | Play (19199) Download (4861) | Play (12839) — (That's Brownback, Tancredo and Huckabee with their hands up.)
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News Bloggers Blog, Pam's House Blend, Booman Tribune, Little Thom's Blog, Pharyngula, Lean Left and Liberal Values

The 1st GOP debate
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Sister Toldjah, The American Street, Power Line, Hot Air, The Caucus, GINA COBB, Wizbang, The Anonymous Liberal and The Seventh Sense

'08 Republicans Differ on Defining Party's Future
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The Democratic Daily, On Politics, News Bloggers Blog, Althouse, San Francisco Chronicle and Wonkette

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 …

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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Brody File Exclusive: Rudy Giuliani is Against Hate Crimes Bill — I file this story from the GOP Presidential debate here in Simi Valley, California. I just finished an interview with Bill Simon, one of Rudy Giuliani's top campaign advisors. He told me that Rudy Giuliani …
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The Daily Dish
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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 …

McKay made firing list in March '05; was Wales killing a factor? — Former U.S. Attorney John McKay's name was on a list of federal prosecutors to be fired in March 2005, 18 months earlier than previously reported, according to a document released by the House Judiciary Committee today.
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Former Supervisor Extols Fired Prosecutors
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The Carpetbagger Report, The Volokh Conspiracy, WSJ.com, TPMmuckraker and Political Animal

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

CNN'S DOBBS ON '60 MINUTES': U.S. COULD DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS — He has never called for the deportation of all illegal immigrants, but Lou Dobbs believes the U.S. could pull off such a feat if it really wanted to. The CNN anchor, whose stance against illegal immigration has helped raise …