memeorandum: Teddy teacher facing flogging charged with 'insulting religion … (Daily Mail)

1:10 PM ET, November 28, 2007

Top Items:

Byron York / The Corner:

South Carolina Poll: Mitt, Huck Up, Rudy Cratering, Race Super-Volatile — Greetings from Clemson, South Carolina, where John McCain is scheduled to make an appearance this morning before heading to Florida for the YouTube debate. — But the big news here is a new Palmetto Poll …

Discussion: Hot Air and PrairiePundit

Michael Luo / New York Times:

In Iowa, Mormon Issue Is Benefiting Huckabee — The religious divide over Mitt Romney's Mormon faith that his supporters had long feared would occur is emerging in Iowa as he is being challenged in state polls by Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor who has played up his faith in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Discussion: Associated Press, The Atlantic Online, Hot Air, Boston Globe, TPM Election Central and The Politico

David Mark / The Politico:

Huck supporters like his softer side — GREENVILLE, S.C. — Rep. Bob Inglis is a staunch social conservative who opposes gay marriage and abortion and believes the concept of intelligent design should be taught in public schools along with evolution. — But that's not what's driving …

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker and race42008.com

Paul Steinhauser / CNN:

Poll: Giuliani holds solid lead in Florida — ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (CNN) — With two months left until they go to the polls in the Florida primary, Republicans in the Sunshine State are shedding new light on how they feel about the candidates and some of the key issues in the presidential race.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, MSNBC, TownHall Blog, The Van Der Galiën Gazette and Pollster.com

Democratic National Committee:
DNC Launches FlipperTV

Discussion: michellemalkin.com and The Caucus

John R. Wilke / Wall Street Journal:

Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself — Bloch Used Private Company, — Geeks on Call, to Delete Files — On His Office Computer — WASHINGTON — The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly …

Discussion: Salon, The Swamp, Think Progress, Wonkette, The Impolitic, The Next Hurrah, Corrente, On Deadline, The American Street, Suitably Flip, Shakespeare's Sister and Prairie Weather

Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:
Today's Must Read

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report

Patrick Healy / New York Times:

Bill Clinton Flatly Asserts He Opposed War at Start — During a campaign swing for his wife, former President Bill Clinton said flatly yesterday that he opposed the war in Iraq "from the beginning" — a statement that is more absolute than his comments before the invasion in March 2003.

Atrios / Eschaton:
Bill Clinton's War Against Norbziness

Discussion: Cassy Fiano, Hot Air and Attytood

Garrett M. Graff / The Politico:

The GOP and 'the Internets' — Tonight in Florida, the Republican presidential field will reluctantly take the stage at the CNN/YouTube debate to answer some of the more than 3,000 questions submitted online from ordinary people over the previous weeks. — Just like the Democratic YouTube debate …

Discussion: Cheat Seeking Missiles, techPresident and Threat Level

Amy Schatz / Wall Street Journal:
YouTube Debate Raises Stakes

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, MSNBC, Boston Globe, CNN, New York Times, Bloomberg, Des Moines Register, NY Daily News, The Caucus and TIME

Sarah Lai Stirland / Wired News:
CNN-YouTube Debate Producer Doubts the Wisdom of the Crowd

Discussion: ScrappleFace, Suitably Flip, First Draft, US News, TownHall Blog, techPresident and Say Anything

New York Times:

Text of Bush's Remarks at Annapolis Conference — Here are the remarks President Bush delivered today at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., as transcribed by Federal News Service, Inc., a private firm not affiliated with the government. — Mr. Bush's remarks opened a meeting …

Discussion: Power Line, Middle East Progress, New York Sun, White House, Elder of Ziyon, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Jules Crittenden, Soccer Dad, The New Republic, The Swamp, Death, Done With Mirrors and Israel Matzav

Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:
Oasis or Mirage? — The Middle East is experiencing something …

Discussion: RealClearPolitics, Soccer Dad, Middle Earth Journal, PrairiePundit and Israel Matzav

Daily Mail:

Teddy teacher facing flogging charged with 'insulting religion' as militants demand action — A British teacher who faces 40 lashes after naming a teddy bear Mohammed has been charged with insulting religion, showing contempt for religious belief, and inciting hatred.

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, The Jawa Report, Fox News, Little Green Footballs, Telegraph, Hot Air and JammieWearingFool

Kevin G. Hall / McClatchy Washington Bureau:

Democrats' health plans echo Nixon's failed GOP proposal — WASHINGTON — Even before Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton unveiled her new health-care plan, Republicans attacked it as socialized medicine. They neglected to mention, however, that her plan bears a striking resemblance …

Discussion: The Newshoggers, The American Street and Prairie Weather

Demetri Sevastopulo / Financial Times:

US public opinion shifts on Iraq 'surge' — US public opinion on military progress in Iraq has improved sharply since the troops "surge" started in February but a majority of Americans still want soldiers brought home, according to a new poll. — Some 48 per cent of Americans now believe …

Discussion: The Corner and Dean's World

Associated Press:

GOP will demand 'oath' of February primary voters — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — If you're planning to vote in Virginia's February Republican presidential primary, be prepared to sign an oath swearing your Republican loyalty. — The State Board of Elections on Monday approved a state Republican Party request …

Discussion: The Newshoggers, Salon and TPM Election Central

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:

Rudy and the gays — The Empire State Pride Agenda, the main New York gay group, launched a site today with video of Rudy Giuliani's appearances before the group. — The best moment — which gives you a feel for who he was as New York's mayor — comes with what his audience took …

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

Senate Race That Fizzled Honed Skills for '08 Stage — By the time Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York stepped before a wall of television crews in the Public Hearing Room at City Hall on May 19, 2000, there were no surprises left. — In the course of three tumultuous weeks …

Discussion: The Swamp, Spin Cycle, Salt Lake Tribune, New York Post and TalkLeft

Gateway Pundit:

BUSTED!!.... ANOTHER BOGUS IRAQI SLAUGHTER STORY!!! — LAY THIS BOGUS IRAQI SLAUGHTER STORY TO REST... Reportedly, on Sunday 11 close family members of Jordanian-based Baathist reporter Dia al-Kawwaz, who runs the online anti-Iraq newspaper Shabeqat Akhbar al-Iraq, were slaughtered in Baghdad.

Discussion: The Jawa Report

Amit R. Paley / Washington Post:

Cabbies, Though Still Wary, Find a Wider Comfort Zone — BAGHDAD — Haider Abbas, a 36-year-old taxi driver, had only a few moments to answer what is often a life-or-death question in this city: Would he drive a passenger home? — The home, on that scorching afternoon last month …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, The Corner, Pirate's Cove and PrairiePundit

Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:

Another dirty trick against Mitt in Iowa? — Watch out South Carolina, Iowa is shaping up to be just as down and dirty this cycle. — Hawkeye State Republicans received an e-mail yesterday purportedly from David Overholtzer, co-chair of the Pottawattamie County GOP and a paid Romney-backer there.

Peter Baker / Washington Post:

Military Progress Doesn't Make War More Popular — The debate at home over the Iraq war has shifted significantly in the two months since Gen. David H. Petraeus testified to Congress and President Bush ordered the first troop withdrawals, with more Americans now concluding that the situation on the ground is improving.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Think Progress, Sweetness & Light, MSNBC and Pew Research Center