Top Items:
Richelieu / Weekly Standard:
A Depressing Debate — What a depressing debate. CNN's long slide into mediocrity accelerates. Is this what running for president of the greatest democracy in the world has become? Standing in front of CNN's corporate logo in a hall full of yowling Ron Paul loons and enduring clumsy webcam questions …
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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
A powerful moment — A retired Army general, Keith Kerr, just listed all his military credentials and then left the crowd silent by saying at the end of his video that he is "an openly gay man" and wants to know why gays can't serve in the military. — Romney was hit by Anderson Cooper …
Adam Yoshida:
Why is a Hillary Clinton Campaign Member Asking Questions at a Republican Debate? — So, the fellow who just asked the Republican candidates about Don't Ask, Don't Tell, retired Brigader General Keith Kerr, is a member of Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Presidency.
Michelle Malkin:
Liveblogging the CNN/YouTube debate: "Edginess," "elbows, "eh. " Update: Romney's the Energizer candidate; Update: PLANT ALERT; The biggest stumble of the night award goes to...CNN — Retired gay Brigadier Gen./Hillary-Kerry campaign mouthpiece Keith Kerr = Another CNN potted plant. — Kerr's question:
Discussion:
Publius Endures, Riehl World View, Hot Air, HRC Back Story, ScrappleFace, Wired News, Gateway Pundit and UrbanGrounds
CNN:
Transcript: CNN/YouTube GOP debate — ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (CNN) — The eight candidates vying to be the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 elections answered questions submitted by CNN and YouTube users in a debate Wednesday night. Here is a full transcript of the event:
Matthew Balan / NewsBusters.org:
CNN Fails to Mention Retired Gay General's Endorsement of Hillary — UPDATE: Keith Kerr was known to CNN as a gay activist as far back as December 2003, when he was featured in this CNN article. — CNN, as part of its Republican debate with YouTube, failed to mention that retired general Keith Kerr …
CNN:
GOP hopefuls step into unknown at CNN/YouTube debate — (CNN) — Eight Republican presidential hopefuls are preparing for a challenge unlike anything they've faced as they step onto the stage for their party's first CNN/YouTube debate Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Discussion:
Think Progress, Crooks and Liars, Cheat Seeking Missiles, Donklephant, Liberty Pundit, MSNBC and Sister Toldjah
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Debate questioner is affiliated with Hillary's — and Kerry's — campaigns
Video: Debate questioner is affiliated with Hillary's — and Kerry's — campaigns
Discussion:
Stop The ACLU, The American Mind, Liberty Pundit, Suitably Flip, Gateway Pundit and Assorted Babble
CNN Political Ticker:
Gay war vet presses candidate on gays in the military
Gay war vet presses candidate on gays in the military
Discussion:
The Politico
Ben Smith / The Politico:
Giuliani billed obscure agencies for trips — As New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses amassed during the time when he was beginning an extramarital relationship with future wife Judith Nathan in the Hamptons …
Discussion:
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Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Politico: Rudy hid security expenses for visits to Judi in obscure …
Politico: Rudy hid security expenses for visits to Judi in obscure …
Discussion:
The Page
Martin Kady II / The Politico:
Lott's brother-in-law indicted — Sen. Trent Lott's brother-in-law, Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, a high profile trial lawyer best known for suing big tobacco and insurance companies, has been indicted on bribery charges. — Several media outlets are reporting the news about Scruggs …
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Ron Fournier / Associated Press:
ON DEADLINE: "Good Bill" vs "Bad Bill" — DES MOINES, Iowa - As only he can do, Bill Clinton packed campaign venues across eastern Iowa and awed Democratic voters with a compelling case for his wife's candidacy. He was unscripted, in-depth and generous. — He also was long-winded, misleading and self-absorbed.
Reuters:
Venezuela Chavez: CNN may be instigating my murder — CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday CNN may have been instigating his murder when the U.S. TV network showed a photograph of him with a label underneath that read "Who killed him?"
Faiz / Think Progress:
John Ashcroft: I'm Willing To Be Waterboarded — Last night, former Attorney General John Ashcroft delivered an address on national security at the University of Colorado. The event was marked by heated protests. About 20 student protesters wearing "shirts with 'shame' written on the backs …
Discussion:
Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, NYT, Say Anything, Wonkette, The Huffington Post, Truthdig, TIME: Swampland, Big Head DC and Firedoglake
Jennifer Parker / Political Radar:
Obama Scoffs at Clinton War Claim — ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., scoffed Wednesday at former President Bill Clinton's recent claim that he opposed the Iraq war from the very beginning. — "Well if he did," Obama said on a conference call with reporters, "I don't think most of us have heard about it."