Top Items:
Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Bush to Democrats: 'We are at war' — WASHINGTON - President Bush compared Congress' Democratic leaders Thursday with people who ignored the rise of Lenin and Hitler early in the last century, saying "the world paid a terrible price" then and risks similar consequences for inaction today.
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White House:
President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror — Washington, D.C. — In Focus: Defense — In Focus: National Security — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Ed, thanks. Thanks for the kind introduction. I'm looking forward to working with you for the next 14 months …
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Redstate, AirCongress, Flopping Aces, JURIST, The Heretik, Wake up America, Gateway Pundit, National Review and First Draft
Amanda / Think Progress:
Bush: 'war on terror' critics are 'disingenuous or naive.'
Bush: 'war on terror' critics are 'disingenuous or naive.'
Discussion:
Shakespeare's Sister
New York Times:
Obama Pledges 'Aggressive' Iran Diplomacy — Senator Barack Obama said he would "engage in aggressive personal diplomacy" with Iran if elected president, and would offer economic inducements and a possible promise not to seek "regime change" if Iran stopped meddling in Iraq and cooperated on terrorism and nuclear issues.
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Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:
New '08 Iran Rift: Obama Refuses To Sign Dem Letter To White House — Thirty senators sent a letter to the White House on Thursday warning President Bush not to take offensive military action against Iran without the consent of Congress. Noticeably absent from the list of signatories is presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL.
Kenneth P. Vogel / The Politico:
S.C. Dems reject Colbert candidacy — Stephen Colbert's satirical run for the presidency has run into its first roadblock - his bid to be on the ballot in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary was rejected on Thursday. — The party's executive council voted 14 to 3 …
Discussion:
MoJoBlog, The Raw Story, Outside The Beltway, Hot Air, The Rachel Maddow Show, Balloon Juice, The BRAD BLOG, Open Left and D-Day
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Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
But They're Unaffiliated, Of Course — Media Matters insists that it has no intention of supporting a candidate, but it's hard to tell that from its content. As Jonah Goldberg noted, the site went into a full-throated defense of Hillary Clinton by attacking Tim Russert for ... well, asking questions about issues:
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, Media Matters for America, JammieWearingFool, The Hill and Weasel Zippers
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Greg Sargent / Horses Mouth:
There's A History Here: Russert Blindsided Hillary With Question …
There's A History Here: Russert Blindsided Hillary With Question …
Discussion:
Eunomia, Firedoglake, Sister Toldjah, Political Machine, The Atlantic Online and Angry Bear
Nicole Belle / Crooks and Liars:
Bush "Playing the 9-11 card" to force the Mukasey nomination through: Attacks Bloggers! — (guest blogged by Bill W.) — Download (1090) | Play (1164) Download (980) | Play (611) — The message from Bush to the Democratically controlled Congress was simple: Approve Mukasey or we will all die, and it will be all your fault.
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Aram Roston / MSNBC:
Blackwater sneak silencers into Iraq? — Security firm under investigation for allegedly sidestepping export controls — A Blackwater employee shows off a silencer-equipped rifle in Iraq in a photo obtained by NBC News. The picture has been digitally altered to protect the identity of the subject.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Murdoc Online, Cliff Schecter, LeftWord, Prairie Weather, SayUncle and Brilliant at Breakfast
Patrick Harker / FIRE:
Victory at University of Delaware — University Dumps Thought Reform Program — Late Thursday, University of Delaware President Patrick Harker released on the school's website a Message to the University of Delaware Community terminating the university's ideological reeducation program …
Pachacutec / Firedoglake:
"He's an Incumbent. That's What We Do." — The beautiful thing about primaries is how they clarify people, players and priorities. — Lest there be any confusion about the incumbent protection racket for Bush Dogs, here's today's statement from Pelosi's office, justifying her fundraiser for Maryland Corruptocrat Al Wynn:
Discussion:
TIME: Swampland, Crooks and Liars, The Influence Peddler, Eschaton, Open Left and DownWithTyranny!
John Bresnahan / The Politico:
Knollenberg aide who went nuts on YouTube takes leave of absence — When we last saw Trent Wisecup, chief of staff to Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), he was busy blowing a gasket on YouTube and berating an anti-war protester for following around the congressman with a video camera.
Telegraph:
The most influential US conservatives: 21-40 — As the US prepares for what is arguably the most open presidential election since 1928, the last time there was no incumbent president or vice-president on the ballot, the Daily Telegraph's Washington correspondents compile a list of the 100 …
Discussion:
Don Surber, The Carpetbagger Report, Washington Monthly, UrbanGrounds and Reason Magazine
Juan Cole:
Time to Close the US Embassy — I don't try to start an internet campaign very often, because the blogosphere has its own priorities and logic that are democratic and should not be forced. But here is a plea for everyone in the blogging world to help force congress to save our diplomats.
Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:
Feds Probing Dem Sen. Relationship to Former Aide — As the feds are bearing down hard on Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), raiding his Alaska home and convening a grand jury in Washington, D.C., another investigation into a sitting senator has been proceeding quietly up in New Jersey.
Brian Beutler / Gristmill:
Tracking Lieberman-Warner: What's next? — America's Climate Security Act — aka the Lieberman-Warner bill — passed through its first markup hearing today, but not without losing support from the Senate's most vigilant advocate for action against climate change, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Kevin Whitelaw / US News:
U.S. Falls Short of Iraqi Refugee Target — The United States accepted only some 450 Iraqi refugees in October, well short of the Bush administration's stated goal of 1,000 a month. — The figure also marks a decline from September, when 889 refugees were admitted.