Top Items:
White House:
Press Conference by the President — Initial Benchmark Assessment Report — THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Thank you. Yesterday, America lost an extraordinary First Lady and a fine Texan, Lady Bird Johnson. She brought grace to the White House and beauty to our country.
Discussion:
The Left Coaster, Los Angeles Times, Mixter's Mix, Multi-National Force, Gateway Pundit, Happy Furry Puppy Story …, Hullabaloo, NewsBusters.org, The Carpetbagger Report, First Draft, Corrente, TIME: Swampland, Taylor Marsh, Hot Air, Charleston Daily Mail, Macsmind, USA Today, The Politico and Washington Post
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David Espo / Associated Press:
House OKs plan to withdraw US troops — WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government is achieving only spotty military and political progress, the Bush administration conceded Thursday in an assessment that war critics quickly seized on as confirmation of their dire warnings.
Discussion:
Left I on the News, The Democratic Daily, Daily Kos, The Newshoggers, Gateway Pundit and White House
New York Times:
Defending an Iraq Strategy in a Race Against Time — Once again, President Bush tried today to buy more time for his strategy in Iraq, refusing to say when conditions there might allow him to begin the troop drawdown that he insists is his ultimate goal. — For now, at least …
New York Times:
Clash Over Iraq Becomes Bitter Between Bush and Congress — President Bush struck an aggressive new tone today in his clash with Congress over Iraq, telling lawmakers that they had no business trying to manage the war, portraying the conflict as a showdown with Al Qaeda and warning …
Times of India:
Christian activists disrupt Hindu prayer in US Senate — WASHINGTON: Christian activists briefly disrupted a Hindu invocation in the US Senate on Thursday, marring a historic first for the chamber and showing that fundamentalism is present and shouting in the US too.
RELATED:
Eric Kleefeld / Election Central:
Christian Right Activists Disrupt Hindu Chaplain In The Senate — Today was a historic first for religion in America's civic life: For the very first time, a Hindu delivered the morning invocation in the Senate chamber — only to find the ceremony disrupted by three Christian right activists.
Reuters:
Thieves steal nearly $300 million from Baghdad bank — BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Thieves have stolen nearly $300 million from a bank in Baghdad, police and a bank official said Thursday, in what is probably one of the biggest thefts in Iraq since the 2003 war to topple Saddam Hussein.
Discussion:
The Newshoggers
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Zzaki / Political Punch:
What about the Iraqis? — From today's press conference with the Senate Democratic leaders. — I tried to get an answer to what I blogged earlier today. — I did not succeed. — TAPPER: Senator Reid, what do you say to critics who say, "Look, the Senate voted, including two of you up on the stage …
CindySheehan / Daily Kos:
I have been "warned" — I can't post here anymore because my potential run for Congress — is not on the Democratic ticket. — I have been deeply grateful for all of your support over the years. — Your love and kindness helped me through lots of sleepless nights — at Camp Casey '05.
Scott Whitlock / NewsBusters.org:
Courtroom Explodes in Laughter After ABC's Sawyer Touts Fairness of Journalists — Thursday's edition of "Good Morning America" featured a Diane Sawyer anecdote that revealed the low opinion Americans have of journalists. After wrapping up a segment on people who avoid jury duty …
Ezra Klein:
Delta Dental's Terrible Coverage — Delta Dental is currently arguing that my root canal — done at an in-network dentist — does not merit much in the way of reimbursement, and is telling me that my share of the procedure comes out to around $2,000. A procedure, mind you, that's already been done …
Tom Goldstein / SCOTUSblog:
The Democratic (Not So) Short List — Tom Goldstein prepared this post with extensive research and input from summer associate Jonathan Eisenman and assistance from Adam Chandler, as well as very helpful thoughts and advice from others on potential nominees.
Discussion:
The Debate Link, The Moderate Voice, The Volokh Conspiracy, Althouse and michellemalkin.com
Greg Sargent / Election Central:
New York Times' Leslie Wayne Continues Twisted Jihad Against Edwards — The journalistic titans who run The New York Times don't give a damn what I think. But I'm going to tell them this anyway: You guys are badly botching your coverage of John Edwards, in a way that raises the question …
Sara Schaefer Muñoz / Wall Street Journal:
An Inconvenient Turbine: Conservation vs. Preservation — Homeowners Who Go Green — Face Neighbors' Objections; — How Gore Got His Solar Panels — In neighborhoods across the country, there's a battle brewing: the environmentalists vs. the aesthetes.
Discussion:
The Belmont Club
David Roberts / Gristmill:
Dingell calls our bluff — Last Sunday, Rep. John Dingell appeared on the C-SPAN show Newsmakers for a 30-min. interview (transcript here; video accessible via the website), and caused an enormous ruckus with this: … The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press …