Top Items:
Brian Montopoli / Public Eye:
CBS News Asks Batiste To Step Down As Consultant — Last night, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann." Batiste has been a CBS News consultant, but last night it was disclosed that he has been asked to leave that position due to his participation in an ad criticizing President Bush.
Discussion:
Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, Heading Right, Blue Crab Boulevard, Think Progress, Macsmind, NewsBusters.org and Romenesko
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Talking Points Memo:
Another CBS News Consultant "Advocated" For Surge And Against Congressional Action
Another CBS News Consultant "Advocated" For Surge And Against Congressional Action
Discussion:
Think Progress
Brian / TVNewser:
CNN International Chyron: "Bush Resigns" — Following up on this post, it did happen. Here's a screen grab from CNN International around midnight ET: — This appeared on screen for 12 seconds. (Two seconds before, President Bush had appeared on screen, but the chyron accurately said "Pressure over Iraq.")
WorldNetDaily:
'Vote for Romney is vote for Satan' — Christian leader follows up Sharpton attack on Mormons — While some evangelical Christians are defending the presidential candidacy of Mormon Mitt Romney from an attack by Al Sharpton, another prominent pastor is going further in his condemnation …
Discussion:
Michael P.F. van der Galiën, DownWithTyranny!, NewDonkey.com, Preemptive Karma and The Atlantic Online
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Ronald Kessler / NewsMax.com:
Romney to the Rescue — Mitt Romney's Got the — Right Stuff for 2008 — NewsMax Magazine has just released its April 2007 cover story. Please take a moment to read Ronald Kessler's exclusive story on the former Massachusetts governor. Also check out our FREE offer for our Romney edition with a special gift — Click Here Now.
Discussion:
TAPPED
Eric Lipton / New York Times:
Colleagues Cite Partisan Focus by Justice Official — Two years ago, Robin C. Ashton, a seasoned criminal prosecutor at the Department of Justice, learned from her boss that a promised promotion was no longer hers. — "You have a Monica problem," Ms. Ashton was told, according to several Justice Department officials.
Discussion:
Associated Press, TalkLeft, Balkinization, The Heretik, Rising Hegemon and Cliff Schecter
Andrew Sullivan / The Atlantic Online:
Petraeus Comes Through — It's a stunning letter. And it's one of the most important letters to come from a senior military official in a very long time. The very fact that it is necessary reveals the extent of the damage that Bush and Rumsfeld and Cheney have done.
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Marty Lederman / Balkinization:
General Petraeus on Torture and "Other Expedient Methods" — This is a remarkable, powerful letter. (Text below.) Imagine, if you can, how different the world might look if such a letter had been promulgated throughout the military by someone of such stature at the beginning of 2003.
Discussion:
Unqualified Offerings
FIRE:
Tyranny at Tufts — Breaking Promises of Free Expression, University Punishes Student Publication for Political Satire — Showing profound disregard for free speech and freedom of the press, Tufts University has found a conservative student publication guilty of harassment and creating …
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MSNBC:
FBI probes Nevada governor for corruption — Did Jim Gibbons accept cash and gifts in exchange for defense contracts? — Then-Congressman Jim Gibbons, seated, toasts with Dennis Montgomery during a March 2005 cruise. Montgomery has now accused Gibbons of accepting cash on the trip.
Robin Wright / Washington Post:
In Gulf, Cheney Pointedly Warns Iran — As He Talks Tough, U.S. Pursues Diplomacy — Aboard an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf 150 miles off Iran's coast, Vice President Cheney warned Tehran yesterday that the United States and its allies will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons …
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Allison Hoffman / Fresno Bee:
New charges filed against former top CIA official, contractor — New charges have been filed alleging that the CIA's former No. 3 official used his influence in that role to support a proposed $100 million government contract for his best friend, a defense contractor, in return for lavish vacations …
Discussion:
Pacific Views
David Smith / Times of London:
Pakistan set to declare state of emergency — President Musharraf could declare a state of emergency in Pakistan amid growing civil unrest against his increasingly embattled regime. — Security forces were placed on high alert yesterday, detaining hundreds of activists on the eve of an anti-government rally in Karachi.
Lori Montgomery / Washington Post:
Congress Gets Warning On Budget — The White House threatened yesterday to use the president's veto to prevent Democrats from increasing spending on education, health care and other domestic programs. — In a letter to lawmakers, the president's budget director, Rob Portman …
Real Clear Politics:
Plan B For Iraq: Winning Dirty — Without prejudging whether President Bush's "surge" policy will work, the administration and its critics ought to be seriously thinking about a Plan B, the "80 percent solution" - also known as "winning dirty." Right now, the administration is committed …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Riehl World View, Think Progress, Right Wing Nut House, Weekly Standard, War and Piece and Done With Mirrors
Media Matters for America:
CBS contributor Dobbs defends false leprosy claim after confrontation by CBS' Stahl — During a CBS News interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl, which aired on the May 6 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes, CNN host and CBS Early Show special contributor Lou Dobbs defended CNN correspondent Christine …
Discussion:
The RBC
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David B. Caruso / ABCNEWS:
Terror Suspect Testifies, It Goes Badly — Terror Suspect Admits Fascination With Guns, History of Violence on Witness Stand in NYC — When he began testifying at his own trial this week, a Florida doctor accused of pledging to support al-Qaida hoped to convince a jury that the FBI had it all wrong: He was a man of peace.
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Mark Blumenthal / Pollster.com:
IRAQ WAR: LOSING OR LOST? — Thanks to Washington Post blogger Dan Froomkin for tipping me off to this exchange from yesterday's press briefing by presidential press secretary Tony Snow that leads indirectly to some fundamental questions regarding public opinion and the Iraq War: … Is Snow right?