Top Items:
Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
Former Bush Aide Will Answer Some Questions — Sara Taylor, the former White House political director, has agreed to answer some questions as a "willing and cooperative private citizen," during testimony about the United States attorney firings last year when she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Washington Post, TalkLeft, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Taylor Marsh, Daily Kos, The Next Hurrah, Shakesville and If I Ran the Zoo
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Ex-Aide Refuses to Testify on Attorney Firings — Former White House aide Sara M. Taylor refused to testify today about White House discussions surrounding the firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year, but, treading carefully around a White House claim of executive privilege, did offer some details about the episode.
Kevin Drawbaugh / Reuters:
White House threatens House student loan bill veto
White House threatens House student loan bill veto
Discussion:
Air America Radio
Dick Morris / The Hill:
Bush will have to pull out of Iraq, or face historical obliteration — Are they traitors or prophets, these Republicans who have jumped ship and called for Bush to begin pulling out of Iraq — Sens. George Voinovich (Ohio), Richard Lugar (Ind.), John Warner (Va.), and Pete Domenici (N.M.)?
RELATED:
Katherine Shrader / Associated Press:
Officials Worry of Summer Terror Attack — WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. counterterror officials are warning of an increased risk of an attack this summer, given al-Qaida's apparent interest in summertime strikes and increased al-Qaida training in the Afghan-Pakistani border region.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Reason Magazine, Vox Popoli, State of the Day, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, At-Largely, Ali Eteraz and The Agitator
RELATED:
Avedon / Eschaton:
Thought for the day — Shouldn't it concern us that Republicans are constantly talking about how people will all wise up when the next terrorist attack at home comes? — I mean, they really seem to be looking forward to it, and they take great delight in the thought that, by God, people will see things differently when it happens.
RELATED:
D-Mac / Philadelphia Will Do:
Rick Santorum Would Very Much Like It If You Blew Up And Couldn't Vote Democrat — Rick Santorum apparently has some sort of info that we don't, as he said yesterday on Hugh Hewitt's radio show that there's going to be a terrorist attack before the elections so people will vote Republican.
Associated Press:
Marine Investigator Recommends Dropping Charges in Haditha Killings — SAN DIEGO — An investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in a squad action that killed 24 civilians in the town of Haditha, according to a report.
RELATED:
Thomas Watkins / Associated Press:
Officer Advises Against Trial for Marine — SAN DIEGO (AP) - The government's case against a Marine accused of fatally shooting Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha lacks sufficient evidence to go to a court-martial and should be dropped, a hearing officer determined.
Kimberly Kagan / Opinion Journal:
Moving Forward in Iraq — The "surge" is working. Will Washington allow the current progress to continue? — In Washington perception is often mistaken for reality. And as Congress prepares for a fresh debate on Iraq, the perception many members have is that the new strategy has already failed.
Discussion:
Washington Post, QandO, TigerHawk, Betsy's Page, Rising Hegemon, National Review and Air America Radio
RELATED:
John Solomon / Washington Post:
Gonzales Knew About Violations, Officials Say — Two senior Justice Department officials said yesterday that they kept Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales apprised of FBI violations of civil liberties and privacy safeguards in recent years. — The two officials spoke in a telephone call arranged …
Ruth Marcus / Washington Post:
From Barack Obama, Two Dangerous Words — PHILADELPHIA — Barack Obama has the teachers cheering. The National Education Association is meeting here, and Obama— like the Democratic candidates who have spoken before him — is telling the crowd everything it wants to hear.
Christopher Lee / Washington Post:
Ex-Surgeon General Says White House Hushed Him — Former surgeon general Richard H. Carmona yesterday accused the Bush administration of muzzling him on sensitive public health issues, becoming the most prominent voice among several current and former federal science officials who have complained of political interference.
Guardian:
Pope says Protestants cannot have churches — John Hooper in Rome and Stephen Bates — Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.
Discussion:
Outside The Beltway, The Democratic Daily, Daily Kos, The American Mind and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES
Michael Yon:
Al-Qaeda on the Run: Feasting on the Moveable Beast — "No al Qaeda Zone": Hefty Buhriz Policeman smoking in public. — The last major mission I did while in Baqubah in early 2005 was into Buhriz. That mission had begun with our artillery firing some 155mm shots into a palm grove on the banks of the Diyala River.
USA Today:
'08 money race: Some nickel-and-diming it — WASHINGTON — Presidential candidates are using low-cost tickets to fundraisers, online contests and concerts featuring pop stars to lure a group they hope will give them an edge: donors who contribute in small amounts.
White House:
President Bush Unveils Renovated Press Briefing Room — Fact Sheet: The 2007 Renovation of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room — Life in the White House - The Press Briefing Room — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. I like a good, short introduction. (Laughter.) — Q — (inaudible) —
Discussion:
Ian Schwartz