memeorandum: U.S. judge orders Bush to release records of telecom firm contacts (Bob Egelko/San Francisco Chronicle)

11:55 AM ET, November 29, 2007

Top Items:

Digging out more CNN/YouTube plants: Abortion questioner is declared Edwards supporter (and a slobbering Anderson Cooper fan); Log Cabin Republican questioner is declared Obama supporter; lead toy questioner is a prominent union activist for the Edwards-endorsing United Steelworkers

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 …

Discussion: The Swamp, CNN Political Ticker, michellemalkin.com and All Spin Zone

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 …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Outside The Beltway, Redstate, Power Line, Balloon Juice, Fausta's blog, PrestoPundit, Firedoglake, CNN, TBogg and Taylor Marsh

Kenneth P. Vogel / The Politico:

'Gay question' general linked to Clinton — The retired general who asked about gays and lesbians serving in the military at the CNN/YouTube Republican debate on Wednesday is a co-chair of Hillary Clinton's National Military Veterans group. — Retired Brig. Gen. Keith H. Kerr was named …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, The Corner, OPENERS, Moonbattery, Donklephant and Los Angeles Times

New York Times:

The Republican Debate — Following is a transcript of the Republican Presidential debate in St. Petersburg, Fla., as provided by the Federal News Service. — PARTICIPANTS: — FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI — FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE

Discussion: Liberal Values, The Carpetbagger Report, Shakespeare's Sister, The American Street, Booman Tribune, Better Living and THE LIBERAL JOURNAL

Andrew Sullivan / The Atlantic Online:

Rove's Frankenstein Moment — I'm not a fiscal liberal, or a supporter of the death penalty, or someone who believes that a candidacy for the presidency of the United States should be based on someone's religious faith. So Huckabee is not for me. But he is easily the most appealing candidate …

Discussion: Boston Globe

Mark Finkelstein / NewsBusters.org:

Scarborough: 'Total Crap' CNN Didn't Know Gay Questioner Is Clinton Campaigner — Update | 8:05 AM: Hillary's Howard tries to weasel out. See update at foot. — Like Rudy and Romney going after each other over immigration last night at the GOP debate, MSNBC was taking some jabs …

Discussion: Macsmind

Fred Barnes / Weekly Standard:
Two Hours of Humiliation — When the CNN-You Tube debate among …

Discussion: Commentary and PrairiePundit

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Debate questioner is affiliated with Hillary's …

Discussion: Power Line, Suitably Flip, Confederate Yankee, Six Meat Buffet, Gateway Pundit, A Blog For All, GINA COBB, Stop The ACLU and The American Mind

CNN:
Transcript: CNN/YouTube debate Part I

Discussion: TPM Election Central, CBS News, The Sundries Shack, Right Wing News, Liberty Pundit, Dick Polman's American Debate, Threat Level and Flopping Aces

CNN Political Ticker:
General from GOP debate linked to Democratic campaign

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The Opinionator, Think Progress and PrezVid

Matthew Balan / NewsBusters.org:
CNN Fails to Mention Retired Gay General's Endorsement of Hillary

Discussion: Wizbang, Betsy's Page, BizzyBlog, Bluey Blog, MoJoBlog and TechRepublican.com

Bryan / Hot Air:
At CNN, November is planting season; Update: Plant video edit added!

Discussion: snapped shot

Adam Yoshida:
Why is a Hillary Clinton Campaign Member Asking Questions at a Republican Debate?

Discussion: TownHall Blog, The Corner, BitsBlog, Political Machine and About.com US Politics

CNN Political Ticker:
Romney, Thompson criticize Confederate flag

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Stop The ACLU and The American Mind

Mary Katharine Ham / TownHall Blog: More Plants at the CNN Debate

Perry Bacon Jr / Washington Post:

Foes Use Obama's Muslim Ties to Fuel Rumors About Him — In his speeches and often on the Internet, the part of Sen. Barack Obama's biography that gets the most attention is not his race but his connections to the Muslim world. — Since declaring his candidacy for president in February …

Discussion: Horses Mouth, MSNBC, Chicago Sun Times, Daily Kos, The Swamp, Crooks and Liars, The Caucus, Shakespeare's Sister and PrairiePundit

Digby / Hullabaloo:
Pssst. Pass It On — It doesn't matter if it's true or not.

Discussion: Corrente and Sadly, No!

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
CAN'T WE SAY HE'S KINDA MUSLIM?

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report

John Bresnahan / CBS News:

Henry Hyde Dies — Former Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) died early Thursday morning in a Chicago-area hospital, according to congressional sources. He was 83. — Hyde underwent open-heart surgery back in July and never completely recovered from the procedure, said a source close to Hyde.

Discussion: The Swamp and CNN Political Ticker

William Neikirk / Chicago Tribune:

Henry Hyde dies at 83 — Henry J. Hyde — known for his courtly manners, oratorical skills and historical knowledge during 32 years as the conservative voice of the western suburbs in Congress — died today, according to the office of House Republican Leader John Boehner. He was 83.

Discussion: On Deadline

The Corner:

A Honorable American Moves On [Kathryn Jean Lopez] — NRO has sadly confirmed that Henry Hyde died at around 3 A.M. this morning. — He, of course, was recently a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but his infirmity prevented him from attending the ceremony. His son attended in his place.

Discussion: The Newshoggers, Stubborn Facts and Redstate

Julia Preston / New York Times:

Immigration at Record Level, Analysis Finds — Immigration over the past seven years was the highest for any seven-year period in American history, bringing 10.3 million new immigrants, more than half of them without legal status, according to an analysis of census data released today …

Discussion: Washington Post, PrairiePundit, Liberty Pundit and ImmigrationProf Blog

Steven A. Camarota / cis.org:
Immigrants in the United States, 2007

Discussion: The Corner and Bill Hobbs

Washington Post:
In Debate, Romney and Giuliani Clash on Immigration Issues

Discussion: Salon, MSNBC, USA Today, CNN, Wall Street Journal and TIME

Eric Dienstfrey / Pollster.com:

POLL: INSIDERADVANTAGE POST DEBATE SURVEYS — InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion released two new statewide surveys (conducted 11/28) of 1,035 registered Republicans in Iowa and 341 undecided Republicans in Florida who said they watched tonight's debate and were willing to call in after the debate to answer questions.

Discussion: MyDD, Political Machine, Booman Tribune and New York Times

Matt Towery / Southern Political Report:
SPECIAL ALERT — InsiderAdvantage Poll Of CNN/YouTube Debate And Controversy After Debate

Discussion: Redstate, MSNBC, The Fix, Mike Huckabee for President, Pollster.com and race42008.com

John O'Connor / The State:
Giuliani, Clinton slip in SC polls

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker

Jerry Mitchell / Clarion-Ledger:

Oxford lawyer indicted — Scruggs among 5 accused in alleged judicial bribery — Multimillionaire Mississippi lawyer Dickie Scruggs, portrayed in a 1999 Hollywood film about his legal fight against the tobacco industry, is facing federal charges of conspiring to bribe a judge handling $26.5 million …

Discussion: MoJoBlog and The Next Hurrah

Joseph B. Treaster / New York Times:
Lawyer Battling for Katrina Payments Is Indicted

Discussion: SunHerald.com, Washington Post, Shakespeare's Sister, Insurance Coverage Blog and michellemalkin.com

Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:

Why Lott Cashed It In — Well-connected Republicans in Mississippi were shocked by more than the unexpected nature of Trent Lott's resignation announcement Monday. They were stunned that Lott, in good health at age 66 and at the top of his game, was leaving the Senate just one year into his fourth term in order to make more money.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Heading Right

Juan Forero / Washington Post:

Old Allies Abandon Chávez as Constitution Vote Nears — CUMANA, Venezuela — Few associates had been as loyal to President Hugo Chávez as the governor of the coastal state of Sucre, Ramón Martínez. And few are now more determined to defeat Chávez …

Discussion: PoliBlog (TM)

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

ACU President David Keene Endorses Romney — Less than 24 hours after former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) jousted with his rivals over his conservative credentials at the CNN/YouTube debate in Florida, he is set to receive the endorsement from American Conservative Union President David Keene.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Power Line and TownHall Blog