Top Items:
Washington Post:
Petraeus, Crocker Face Skepticism on Drawdown — Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker went before Congress for a second day today to deliver a progress report on the war in Iraq and explain a new military plan to withdraw the 30,000 reinforcements sent there earlier this year to improve security.
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McClatchy Washington Bureau:
What Crocker and Petraeus didn't say — WASHINGTON — The Bush administration's top two officials in Iraq answered questions from Congress for more than six hours on Monday, but their testimony may have been as important for what they didn't say as for what they did.
Paul Richter / Los Angeles Times:
Bush policy to bequeath Iraq to successor — The president plans to end his term with a strong U.S. military in the country and leave the issue of exiting to his successor. — WASHINGTON — The talk in Washington on Monday was all about troop reductions, yet it also brought …
George Will / Real Clear Politics:
By Bush's Own Standard, Surge Has Failed — Before Gen. David Petraeus' report, and to give it a context of optimism, the president visited Iraq's Anbar province to underscore the success of the surge in making some hitherto anarchic areas less so. More significant, however, was the fact that the president did not visit Baghdad.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Outside The Beltway, New York Post, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, michellemalkin.com, QandO, DownWithTyranny!, Washington Post, Newsweek, Democratic Strategist, The Huffington Post, race42008.com, Balloon Juice, Jon Swift, The Galloping Beaver, RADAMISTO, CFR.org and Atlantic Free Press
Jackie Kucinich / The Hill:
Republicans introduce measure condemning MoveOn ad — House Republican leaders introduced a resolution Monday condemning a full-page newspaper ad from MoveOn.org that criticizes the character of Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of U.S. troops in Iraq.
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Hoystory:
MoveOn's money — You can see a full size PDF of today's MoveOn.org ad in today's New York Times by clicking on the accompanying image. I've got to say that this is probably the most disgusting piece of political hackery since Grover Cleveland had to endure taunts of "Ma, Ma, where's my pa?
Michael Luo / The Caucus:
Romney Campaign Tied to Anti-Thompson Site — At least two top members of Mitt Romney's South Carolina operation appear to be connected to an anti-Fred Thompson Web site that was taken down today after reporters began to make inquiries about it. — The Web site, PhoneyFred.org …
Discussion:
Rasmussen Reports, Associated Press, Wonkette, The Right's Field, The Politico and The Carpetbagger Report
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Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:
Romney Adviser Linked to Anti-Thompson Internet Site — A top adviser to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney appears to be behind the launch of a new Web site attacking GOP presidential rival Fred D. Thompson during his first week on the trail. — The site, PhoneyFred.org …
Norman Podhoretz / Opinion Journal:
'America the Ugly' — Six years after 9/11, it's notable how little the politics of the left have changed. — In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on us that took place on this very day six years ago, several younger commentators proclaimed the birth of an entirely new era in American history.
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John Bresnahan / The Politico:
Miers, Bolten contempt filings delayed — House Democratic leaders have decided to postpone a vote on a criminal contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers for several weeks, and possibly longer, according to top lawmakers and aides.
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Rasmussen Reports:
Minnesota Senate — Coleman at 46% Democrats Close Behind — Minnesota is likely to host one of the more interesting and competitive Senate races in Election 2008. — The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone poll of the race shows incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (R) attracting just 46% support …
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Michelle Malkin:
9/11: Remembrance and resistance — Update 1:30pm Eastern. Memorial photo of the day comes from Iraq, via MNF-I: — The caption reads: — Never Forget — Task Force Marne Soldiers take time on the sixth anniversary of the attacks Sept. 11, 2001, for a remembrance ceremony at the Task Force Marne Headquarters.
Johnny Dollar / Olbermann Watch:
Keith Olbermann Admits He Is Un-American! — And reprehensible too. Don't blame us...it's his words:
Andrew Sullivan / The Atlantic Online:
The Surge's Real Target: Iran? — That's NRO's Andy McCarthy's instructive take on the Petraeus testimony. He cites this comment from the general: … I predict an echoing chorus from the far right. In fact, I think Petraeus' testimony and the administration's agenda makes the most sense …
Discussion:
The Newshoggers
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Tom Gross / Media Blog:
What the BBC is telling children about the 9/11 attacks — Here is what the BBC's widely-read children's section of their website (CBBC) is telling kids about the 9/11 attacks, the 6th anniversary of which falls today. — It is not quite the al-Qaeda view, but it almost is.
Dahlia Lithwick / Slate:
THE FIGHT TO FILL JUDICIAL VACANCIES GROWS EVER WEIRDER. — Last week, President Bush nominated two candidates for seats on the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which now is operating with five vacancies on its 15-member bench. The president opted to casually insult Virginia's …
CNN:
ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES — Top U.S. General in Iraq Testifies Before Congress; Life in Iraq — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. — ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening from Baghdad. As Larry said, we're coming to you tonight …