memeorandum: Mistrial in Holy Land terrorism financing case (Greg Krikorian/Los Angeles Times)

11:25 AM ET, October 23, 2007

Top Items:

Stephen Colbert Moves Ahead of Richardson, Closes in on Biden, in National Poll! — NEW YORK He's been "in" the race for less than a week, and already faux-pundit Stephen Colbert has surged ahead of longtime candidate Gov. Bill Richardson in one national poll gauging the race for the Democratic nod for president.

Discussion: Shakespeare's Sister

Think Progress:

McCain: 'Seven Or Eight Months' More Until We Can Start Iraq Withdrawal — In an interview with the Nashua Telegraph editorial board, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said yesterday that the "next eight months" will determine whether the Iraq war can be "won":

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!

Kevin Landrigan / Nashuatelegraph.com:

McCain: Next eight months may decide war — You need to upgrade your Flash Player — Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., predicted the next eight months will reveal whether the battle against insurgents in Iraq will be won, and, if not, the American people will demand we withdraw American troops short of that victory.

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report

Mike Huckabee / PolitiFact:

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were "brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen." — 1 out of 56 equals 'most'? No, it doesn't — During the Republican debate, Mike Huckabee said he believes one of the defining issues facing the country is the sanctity of human life.

Discussion: Comments from Left Field, The Carpetbagger Report, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Rising Hegemon and Alternate Brain

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Mostest — I've sort of gotten tired of explaining that, no …

Discussion: All Spin Zone and Shakespeare's Sister

Jonathan E. Kaplan / The Hill:

Pelosi to launch PR blitz to beat '08 media frenzy — Nearly one year after recapturing control of Congress, House Democratic leaders will embark on a publicity blitz starting in November to combat a dismal 25 percent approval rating. — Democratic leadership aides huddled with rank …

Discussion: The Van Der Galiën Gazette, MSNBC, JammieWearingFool and CNN Political Ticker

John McCormick / The Swamp:

Obama going on offensive on Iran — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is going on the offensive in Iowa on Iran. — The Illinois Democrat's campaign is sending out a color mailing today in the early voting state that includes the headline, "While others went along, Obama opposed Bush's war plans."

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker, The Politico, The Atlantic Online and RealClearPolitics

Katharine Q. Seelye / The Caucus:
Obama Criticized Over Singer

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker, The Carpetbagger Report, Election Central and Facing South

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Islamofascism — Did you know it was Islamofascism Awareness Week? And have you thought about what you're going to do to raise awareness about this concept the loss of which would be such a devastating blow to the vanity and intellectual pretensions of countless right-wing bloggers …

Discussion: The American Street, Washington Times, The Carpetbagger Report, Kesher Talk and Eunomia

Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:

Thompson's Daughter's Death Informs Right-to-Die Stance — Thompson Says End-of-Life Decisions Should Not Become 'Political Football' — In a moving, pointed and rare response to a question about the Terri Schiavo controversy, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee Monday afternoon described details …

Discussion: Redstate, Buck Naked Politics, race42008.com, Political Radar, Central Sanity, Right-Thinking … and Pandagon

Marc Santora / New York Times:
Thompson Finds Reason to Discuss Schiavo Case

Discussion: St. Petersburg Times, National Review, TIME and race42008.com

Greg Krikorian / Los Angeles Times:

Mistrial in Holy Land terrorism financing case — The government's prosecution of a now-defunct Islamic charity collapses in confusion after initial verdicts are read. — DALLAS — The U.S. Justice Department suffered a major setback in another high-profile terrorist prosecution Monday …

Discussion: Eschaton and The Gate

Leslie Eaton / New York Times:
U.S. Prosecution of Muslim Group Ends in Mistrial

Discussion: TalkLeft, Death and Brave New Films blog

Jed Rubenfeld / New York Times:

Lawbreaker in Chief — AT his confirmation hearings last week, Michael B. Mukasey, President Bush's nominee for attorney general, was asked whether the president is required to obey federal statutes. Judge Mukasey replied, "That would have to depend on whether what goes outside …

Discussion: Prairie Weather, Brilliant at Breakfast, Law Blog and The Heretik

New York Times:

Even Closer to the Brink — The news out of Iraq just keeps getting worse. Now Turkey is threatening to send troops across the border to wipe out Kurdish rebel bases, after guerrillas killed at least a dozen Turkish soldiers. This latest crisis should have come as no surprise.

Discussion: TigerHawk, Prairie Weather and Jules Crittenden

Associated Press:

Lessing Says Sept. 11 Attacks Not So Bad — MADRID, Spain (AP) - Nobel laureate Doris Lessing said the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States were "not that terrible" when compared to attacks by the IRA in Britain. — "September 11 was terrible, but if one goes back over the history of the IRA …

Discussion: Neocon News, Left in the West, Buck Naked Politics, Gawker, BitsBlog, Big Lizards and Sister Toldjah

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters: The Nobel Glory Of Doris Lessing

Gary L. McDowell / Opinion Journal:

The War for the Constitution — The anniversary of Robert Bork's failed nomination reminds us what's at stake in the coming election. — Twenty years ago today the United States Senate voted to reject President Reagan's nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court.

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard

Cindy Horswell / Houston Chronicle:

Liberty outraged over grave desecration — Police seek suspects for the damage done at Marine's plot — LIBERTY — To Jeremy Burris the word "liberty" was more than the name of his hometown. It was something worth fighting for. — An all-American kid from a little all-American town …

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Stop The ACLU, BitsBlog, Moonbattery and Weasel Zippers

Pundit Review Radio / BLACKFIVE:

ISLAMO-FASCISM LAMENESS- HOROWITZ SUCKED HOOVER — What a let down. My buddy Ebo and I attended Horowitz' opening night of Islamo-Fascism Awareness week and if this is our answer to sharia, then I guess Dirka Dirka Mohammed Jihad it will be. — Both of us were predisposed to agree wth …

Discussion: Althouse, Bookworm Room and michellemalkin.com

Roy / alicublog:

NO GUARDRAILS. Today's crackpot statement: … You might think Responsible Conservatives would either ignore this or give it the Coulter's-gone-too-far treatment. That's pre-October 22 thinking, buddy: … Just some nut, right? Like this one, right? Surely the Serious People among them will go another way.

Discussion: Orcinus, Brave New Films blog and Lean Left

Ertugrul Ozkok / Watching America:

Let the Americans Try and Stop Us! ... "What if American F-16s come in front of us to block us? Let them try, that's their business. ... Our targets will be on Barzani's military and economic targets. Our goal will be to transform the 'Kurdish dream' into a 'Turkish nightmare.'"