Top Items:
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Hmmm ... It hasn't gotten much attention outside of the Boston suburbs and truly hardcore political junkies. But there was a congressional election today. The topline is that the Democrat, Nikki Tsongas, wife of the late Massachusetts senator and presidential candidate Paul Tsongas, won.
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Lowell Sun Online:
Tsongas declared 5th District winner — LOWELL — Democrat Niki Tsongas of Lowell defeated Republican John Ogonowski of Dracut today to capture the 5th District congressional seat vacated by Marty Meehan earlier this year. — With 195 of 195 precincts reporting, Tsongas captured 54,363 votes …
New York Times:
Questions of Justice — Michael B. Mukasey, President Bush's nominee for attorney general, appears today before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Op-Ed page asked four legal experts to pose the questions they would like to hear Judge Mukasey answer. — 1. Griffin Bell …
Discussion:
Balkinization
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Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Support Wanes in House for Genocide Vote — Worried about antagonizing Turkish leaders, House members from both parties have begun to withdraw their support from a resolution supported by the Democratic leadership that would condemn as genocide the mass killings of Armenians nearly a century ago.
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Marilyn W. Thompson / New York Times:
An Ex-Leader in Congress Is Now Turkey's Man in the Lobbies of Capitol Hill
An Ex-Leader in Congress Is Now Turkey's Man in the Lobbies of Capitol Hill
John Whitesides / Reuters:
Voters unhappy with Bush and Congress — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deepening unhappiness with President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress soured the mood of Americans and sent Bush's approval rating to another record low this month, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.
Carrie Budoff Brown / The Politico:
Sarah Maria Santorum's tears inspire song — This is the story of a defeated senator, his crying daughter, a Nashville songwriter and Martina McBride, the country music star. — It begins in Pittsburgh on election night 2006. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), losing to Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr …
Discussion:
protein wisdom
Des Moines Register:
Iowa caucuses: GOP shuffle 'keeps us first' — Iowa party's move protects caucuses' relevance, officials say; Democrats maintain later date (for now) — Iowa Republicans have scheduled the party's presidential caucuses for Jan. 3, arguing the date would preserve the state's coveted leadoff status …
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Washington Post:
Many GOP Donors Yet to Open Wallets — More than a third of the top fundraisers who helped elect George W. Bush president remain on the sidelines in 2008, contributing to a gaping financial disparity between the GOP candidates and their Democratic counterparts.
Discussion:
The Swamp, Washington Times, MSNBC, PrairiePundit, USA Today, Los Angeles Times and Quad City Times
Shawn Macomber / American Spectator:
Mugged by Unreality — MANHATTAN — So perhaps Jon Elliott wasn't exactly cool as a cucumber when he took to the airwaves early Tuesday to announce fellow Air America host Randi Rhodes had lost several teeth in an cold-blooded assault while walking her dog on the streets of New York City.
Agence France Presse:
Republicans saber rattle on Iran — WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican White House candidates pounded Iran Tuesday, with Rudolph Giuliani warning of a military strike to deprive it of a nuclear bomb, and a top rival lashing "terror masters" in Tehran. — The candidates talked tough …
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Bill Schneider / CNN:
Poll: As Thompson's star fades, Clinton's on the rise
Poll: As Thompson's star fades, Clinton's on the rise
Discussion:
Pollster.com, Washington Post, Death, MyDD, Chuck Adkins, Comments from Left Field, The Moderate Voice and Taegan Goddard's …
Bob Willis / Bloomberg:
U.S. Consumer Price Index Rises 0.3% in September; Core Up 0.2% — Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) — Prices paid by U.S. consumers rose more than forecast in September as food and energy costs climbed, while core measures showed inflation remains contained. — The .3 percent increase followed …
Cahal Milmo / The Independent:
Africans are less intelligent than Westerners, says DNA pioneer — Fury at James Watson's theory: "All our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really" — One of the world's most eminent scientists was embroiled …
George Will / Real Clear Politics:
Democratic Pandering to the Middle Class — Explaining a simple proposal to help people squirrel away gold for their golden years, Hillary Clinton said that a person "should not require a Ph.D. to save for retirement." But can even Ph.D.s understand liberalism's arithmetic and logic?
Ian Swanson / The Hill:
Knocking Turkey easier than bashing the Chinese — While Congress seems willing to pick a fight with Turkey over the World War I-era killing of Armenians, members have been much more cautious about confronting China over next year's Olympics in Beijing. — Three House bills urging a boycott …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters
Reuters:
Gore rules out presidential bid — Ex-VP says he is now running 'a different kind of campaign' for environment — OSLO, Norway - Former Vice President Al Gore has ruled out joining the U.S. presidential race after winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his work fighting climate change.