Top Items:
Washington Post:
The Phony Debate — THE SENATE Democratic leadership spent the past week trying to prove that Congress is deeply divided over Iraq, with Democrats pressing and Republicans resisting a change of course. In fact that's far from the truth. A large majority of senators from both parties favor …
RELATED:
Margaret Talev / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Senate tied in knots by filibusters — WASHINGTON — This year Senate Republicans are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever before, a pattern that's rooted in — and could increase — the pettiness and dysfunction in Congress. — The trend has been evolving for 30 years.
McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Bush bars CIA from using torture, but details remain cloudy — WASHINGTON — President Bush signed an executive order Friday barring the CIA from using torture, acts of violence and degrading treatment in the interrogation and detention of terrorism suspects, but human rights experts questioned its scope.
RELATED:
William Glaberson / New York Times:
Court Tells U.S. to Reveal Data on Detainees at Guantánamo — A federal appeals court ordered the government yesterday to turn over virtually all its information on Guantánamo detainees who are challenging their detention, rejecting an effort by the Justice Department …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, The Corner, Norwegianity, Kiko's House, The American Street, Balloon Juice and Prairie Weather
RELATED:
Somini Sengupta / New York Times:
Chief Justice Is Reinstated in Pakistan
Chief Justice Is Reinstated in Pakistan
Discussion:
WorkingForChange
Washington Post:
Fight Over Documents May Favor Bush, Experts Say — Contempt Charge Precedents Cited in Firings Case — The Bush administration's vow this week to block contempt charges from Congress could prove to be a successful strategy for protecting White House documents about the multiple firings of U.S. attorneys …
RELATED:
Chris Weigant / The Huffington Post:
White House Declares Bush Emperor
White House Declares Bush Emperor
Discussion:
Burnt Orange Report
Online NewsHour:
Senate Debates Iraq Withdrawal; Report Shows Al-Qaida Regrouping — As the Senate debated different proposals for redeploying troops from Iraq, the National Intelligence Estimate revealed that al-Qaida is regrouping despite the war on terrorism. Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's events.
Discussion:
Obsidian Wings
RELATED:
Faiz / Think Progress:
David Brooks: 'I'm so confused' about what to do in Iraq. — Fresh off his hero worship of President Bush, New York Times columnist David Brooks said last night on the PBS Newshour that he's more confused than ever about Iraq. "Let me say, I'm more uncertain about what to do than I've ever been in this war," he said.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
William Kristol / Weekly Standard:
They Don't Really Support the Troops — The latest from the New Republic and the Nation. — Cindy Sheehan, mother of a soldier who was killed in Iraq, emerged on the American political scene two years ago. Distraught and unstable, she was shamelessly exploited by opponents of George W. Bush …
RELATED:
Steve Benen / Talking Points Memo:
Aside from the tragedy of the war itself, one of the more disconcerting elements of the ongoing political debate is just how little progress we've seen in nearly five years. Vapid arguments that were absurd in 2003 are still used routinely. Offensive talking points that were discredited …
Karen DeYoung / Washington Post:
The Pentagon Gets a Lesson From Madison Avenue — U.S. Needs to Devise a Different 'Brand' to Win Over the Iraqi People, Study Advises — In the advertising world, brand identity is everything. Volvo means safety. Colgate means clean. IPod means cool.
KAL / Democracy in America:
Bald eagles — Our political cartoonist casts his eye towards the presidential campaign — A GROWING number of Republicans are hoping that Fred Thompson, a former senator and television actor, will throw his hat into the presidential ring. Should he do so, he'd be wise to keep his head …
Greg Sargent / Election Central:
Breaking: Gates Distances Himself From Edelman's Attack On Hillary Clinton — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is distancing himself from an under secretary's assertion that Senator Hillary Clinton's public questions about Pentagon troop withdrawal plans are aiding the enemy.
RELATED:
CNN:
Doctors remove polyps from Bush's colon — WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush on Saturday reclaimed his presidential power from Vice President Dick Cheney after undergoing a routine colonoscopy, a White House spokesman said. — Five polyps were found in the examination, spokesman Scott Stanzel said.
Discussion:
Wonkette
Nigel Bunyan / Telegraph:
Binman's St George bandana 'is racist' — A black dustman has been banned from wearing a St George's Cross bandana because council officials say it could be regarded as racist. — Matthew Carter, 35, who was born in Barbados, used the headgear to keep his dreadlocks out of the way while he was on his rounds in Burnley, Lancs.
Discussion:
Harry's Place
Karol / Alarming News:
"Sometimes I can't believe it when I look up in the mirror" — All Russian female names end in "A". My grandmother was Sarra, her sister Raya. My other grandma was Antonina. My mom is Nina. Her sister is Gyala. So, when people meet me and learn I was born in the Soviet Union they ask "so what is your Russian name?"
Discussion:
QandO
Lynn Sweet / Chicago Sun Times:
Romney targets Obama - with a twist — Promoting sex education for kindergarten students—kind of a sexy topic — was injected into the 2008 presidential race. It conjures up visions of condoms and cupcakes passed around before the afternoon naptime. Except that it is not true.
RELATED: