Top Items:
Peggy Noonan / Opinion Journal:
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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Alex Johnson / MSNBC:
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
Chris Matthews / MSNBC:
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.
Mark Blumenthal / Pollster:
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 …
Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
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
Redstate:
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.
SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:
Who Doesn't Believe in Evolution? — A show of hands please …
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
New York Times:
'08 Republicans Differ on Defining Party's Future
'08 Republicans Differ on Defining Party's Future
Discussion:
The Democratic Daily, On Politics, Comment Central, News Bloggers Blog, Althouse, San Francisco Chronicle, Wonkette and WSJ.com
Alessandra Stanley / New York Times:
A Show Where Candidates Are More Prop Than Player
A Show Where Candidates Are More Prop Than Player
Discussion:
On Politics
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
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 …
RELATED:
Senator Bill Frist:
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 …
Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
Where Do You Stop? — The Los Angeles Times reports on the suddenly veto-happy White House, which warned Congress yesterday that its expansion of the federal hate-crimes law would not survive if brought to the Oval Office. The House passed the bill yesterday anyway, leaving it to the Senate …
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Adam Cohen / New York Times:
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 …
Discussion:
Washington Post, TPMmuckraker, DownWithTyranny!, The Carpetbagger Report, WSJ.com and Talking Points Memo
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New York Post:
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.
Josephine Hearn / The Politico:
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 …
Orlando Sentinel:
Florida set to add clout with earlier primary date — The national parties vow to penalize the state by taking away convention delegates. — TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a sweeping election-reform package that moves the state's presidential-preference primary to Jan. 29 …
RELATED:
CNN:
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 …
Ellen Nakashima / Washington Post:
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
Spencerackerman / toohotfortnr:
REAL CHILD OF HELL: — Behold! Mitt Romney rides a pale horse. From last night's debate: … Bin Laden is a singular figure, but, you know, fair enough; there will be a successor to bin Laden. But where might Romney be going with this? … Mitt Romney's War: the total conflation of all Islamist movements.