Top Items:
David Espo / Associated Press:
Dems set war bill without Iraq timeline — WASHINGTON - In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday.
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Ryan Sager / Latest Politics:
McCain Hits Romney Hard — Mitt Romney has been trying to make quite a bit of political hay out of the compromise immigration bill — he sees it as one of John McCain's key weaknesses as relates to the Republican base and a great way to differentiate himself as the One True Conservative in the race …
Discussion:
Townhall.com, Washington Times, DownWithTyranny!, The Carpetbagger Report, Taylor Marsh and The Populist
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Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
McCain Conference Call — I just completed a conference call with John McCain which meant to cover a wide range of topics — but in the end focused almost entirely on immigration. Senator McCain clearly understood that the press reports of his sharp exchange with Senator Jon Cornyn had nicked …
James Joyner / Outside The Beltway:
McCain on Immigration Bill — I just got off a blogger conference call with Senator John McCain. The main topic, as one might imagine, was the immigration bill he and Senator Teddy Kennedy have put together. — His position and mine are identical at a high level, although we likely disagree on some of the nuts and bolts.
Ann Althouse / Althouse:
Another blogger conference call with McCain. — Starting momentarily. I don't have a question planned. Too busy getting that podcast up and so forth. I'm not going to ask why he said "f*ck you" to Senator Cornyn, or why he thinks people aren't going to think that he's too much of a hothead …
Dean Barnett / Boston Globe:
I'm pro-life, but not religious — AT ONE POINT during John Kerry's 2004 presidential run, the candidate told the press that as a matter of his "Catholic belief" he thought life began at conception and thus "oppose(d) abortion personally." Being the modest sort, however …
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Ben Smith / The Politico:
Edwards not involved in haircut — As he told the New York Times's Matt Bai of the haircut mess, "Other people arrange these things, and I wasn't personally involved in it." — To be fair, this one should probably just be filed, at least in part, under the weirdness of the campaign life …
NPR:
Pentagon Studies Long-Term Commitment in Iraq — · The White House and Pentagon are under increasing pressure from Congress and the public to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq. But the Pentagon is considering maintaining a core group of forces in Iraq, possibly for decades.
Discussion:
The Newshoggers, Democrats.com, American Footprints, On Deadline, Daily Kos, Michael P.F. van der Galiën and BlondeSense
Francis Elliott / Times of London:
Secret plans to turn staff into police informers — Council workers, charity staff and doctors will be required to tip off police about anyone whom they believe could commit a violent crime, under secret Home Office plans. — Civil liberties campaigners last night said that the proposal raised …
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Robert E. Rector / Heritage Foundation:
Executive Summary: The Fiscal Cost of Low-Skill Immigrants to the U.S. Taxpayer — Each year, families and individuals pay taxes to the government and receive back a wide variety of services and benefits. When the benefits and services received by one group exceed the taxes paid …
Discussion:
Bluey Blog
The Atlantic Online:
The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist — By popular demand, you'll find the playlist for the Nineties Alt-Rock Party below. A few words. For one thing, this is just the songs in alphabetical order; at the party itself, the Party Shuffle was in effect.
Spencer Ackerman / The Nation:
Training Iraq's Death Squads — Tucked into the corner of Major Ali's mirror is a postcard displaying the handsome, airbrushed visage of Imam Hussein, the venerated Shiite martyr. Ali probably needs no reminder of sacrifice when he sees his tired reflection.
Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
They're Ugly and Stupid and Nobody Likes Them — I know I've had boatloads of fun mocking wingnut bloggers for being the toenail clippings of the Mighty Wurlitzer, unable do anything but echo the messages that come down to them from on high while liberal blogs organize, raise money …
Discussion:
Townhall.com, Balloon Juice, Beltway Blogroll, Hot Air, Washington Post, TIME, Crooks and Liars and Oliver Willis
Brian Faler / Bloomberg:
Lott, `Scorned' After Katrina, Targets State Farm, Allstate — ``Are you kidding me?'' says Senator Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican, when asked why he's so critical of insurance companies. — Lott, 65, launches into a critique of the industry, peppering it with words such as ``arrogant …
Associated Press:
Early primary gives Florida big say — State jumps ahead of most others with primary set for Jan. 29, 2008 — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill Monday moving Florida's 2008 presidential primary up to Jan. 29, leapfrogging several other states in a change …
Discussion:
Shakesville
Ze'ev Schiff / Haaretz:
U.S. policy turnabout may enable Israel to enter talks with Syria — Washington has given Israel the green light to accept Syrian President Bashar Assad's call for peace talks, in a change of position accompanied by several preconditions. — The Bush administration has given Israel permission …