memeorandum: Is Huckabee Democrats' Biggest Nightmare? (Chris Cillizza/The Fix)

10:35 AM ET, December 6, 2007

Top Items:

The Flaws In the Iran Report — Rarely has a document from the supposedly hidden world of intelligence had such an impact as the National Intelligence Estimate released this week. Rarely has an administration been so unprepared for such an event. And rarely have vehement critics of the …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Power Line, The Glittering Eye, Sigmund, Carl and Alfred, Macsmind, The Democratic Daily, TBogg, The Washington Note, Jules Crittenden, Atlas Shrugs, Gateway Pundit, Connecting.the.Dots, Hot Air and American Footprints

New York Times:

Details in Military Notes Led to Shift on Iran, U.S. Says — American intelligence agencies reversed their view about the status of Iran's nuclear weapons program after they obtained notes last summer from the deliberations of Iranian military officials involved in the weapons development program …

Discussion: Think Progress, The Swamp, The Newshoggers, The Strata-Sphere, Reason Magazine, KnoxViews, Danger Room, The Belmont Club, Washington Monthly and The Heretik

Mark Thompson / Time:

Why the Pentagon Is Happy about the NIE — The latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iran was the final factor in a military equation that now appears to guarantee that there will be no war with Iran during the Bush Administration. It meshes with the views of the operational types at the Pentagon …

Discussion: DownWithTyranny! and Macsmind

Ed Henry / CNN:
Bush told in August that Iran nuke program 'may be suspended'

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Talking Points Memo, Salon and Think Progress

Dan Froomkin / Washington Post:
A Pattern of Deception — President Bush changed the way he talked …

Discussion: Danger Room and Crooks and Liars

Jonathan S. Landay / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Bush defends Iran policy amid doubts on new U.N. sanctions

Discussion: Atlas Shrugs, The Road to Surfdom, Wall Street Journal and AMERICAblog

Mitt Romney For President News:

Excerpts Of Governor Romney's "Faith In America" Address — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — CONTACT: Romney Press Shop (857) 288-6390 — College Station, TX - Speaking at The George Bush Presidential Library, Governor Romney will address the American people about his views on religious liberty …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, TownHall Blog, Patrick Ruffini, Heading Right, michellemalkin.com, Sister Toldjah, No More Mister Nice Blog, Gateway Pundit and Riehl World View

Michael Luo / New York Times:

Crucial Test for Romney in Speech on His Religion — Mitt Romney's planned speech today at the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas to confront suspicions about his Mormon faith is being viewed as the biggest moment of his presidential campaign. — With surveys showing …

Discussion: The Swamp and TIME

CNN Political Ticker:

Romney: I'll serve no one religion — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney says he'll serve no one religion or cause if he's elected president of the United States. — The Republican presidential hopeful will speak about religion and faith in America in an address Thursday …

Discussion: Jonathan Martin's Blogs

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

First Read: Romney's big day — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro — *** Mitt's big day: Twenty-eight days until Iowa... When Romney delivers his "Faith in America" speech from College Station, TX at 10:30 am ET, it will be the first time since he formally announced …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and TIME

Jon Meacham / Newsweek:
What Romney Should Say — The candidate would do well to recall …

Discussion: Betsy's Page

Glen Johnson / Associated Press:
Romney: No religious test for president

Discussion: PoliBlog (TM)

Robert Novak / Chicago Sun Times:
Mormon speech pivotal for Romney

Discussion: Redstate, MSNBC and National Review

Mike Allen / The Politico:
Romney: 'Freedom requires religion'

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker and PoliGazette

PewForum.org:
How the Public Perceives Romney, Mormons

Discussion: The Huffington Post, The Atlantic Online, Eunomia and Political Machine

Guardian:
Mitt and Mormonism — Mitt Romney cannot ape JFK's speech on Catholicism.

Discussion: L.A. Times, The Atlantic Online and Unqualified Offerings

Russell Arben Fox / In Medias Res:
What I'd Say If I Were Romney...

Discussion: The Caucus, Eunomia, The American Scene, The Atlantic Online and Los Angeles Times

New York Times:

Pulpit Was the Springboard for Huckabee's Rise — In August 1980, as the conservative Christian movement was first transforming American politics, Ronald Reagan stood before a Dallas stadium full of 15,000 foot-stomping, hand-clapping evangelicals and pledged his fealty to the Bible.

Discussion: JustOneMinute, Hot Air and PoliPundit.com

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Is Huckabee Democrats' Biggest Nightmare? — Mike Huckabee's rapid rise in the Republican presidential race is prompting concern among some Democratic strategists who believe that the former Arkansas governor could become a daunting general election foe should he secure the GOP nomination.

Discussion: CNN and The Caucus

Martin Kady II / The Politico:

Dems back off on Iraq demands — Each day lately, Democrats inch closer to giving President Bush more money for the war in Iraq without any serious mandates for withdrawing U.S. troops. — Democratic leaders are loath to acknowledge they've backed off, but lawmakers from both sides of the aisle …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Right Voices, QandO and Jules Crittenden

Gateway Pundit:

Cheney Gloats- Gates Announces More Troop Withdrawals- As Iraq Returns to Normalcy — As the security situation in Iraq continues to improve and more plans for troop withdrawals are announced, Bush Administration officials are sounding confident that a successful democratic Iraq is within reach.

Discussion: Unqualified Offerings, The Reaction, Think Progress and Brilliant at Breakfast

Gail Colllins / New York Times:

Born-Yesterday Candidates — The presidential campaign is sure getting hot. Mike Huckabee is inching ahead of Mitt Romney in Iowa, precipitating a fascinating national debate about whether Mormons or Baptists love Jesus more. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama …

Discussion: MSNBC

Daniel Henninger / Opinion Journal:
Still a Dangerous World

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard

Ian Urbina / New York Times:

Boy Scouts Lose Philadelphia Lease in Gay-Rights Fight — For three years the Philadelphia council of the Boy Scouts of America held its ground. It resisted the city's request to change its discriminatory policy toward gay people despite threats that if it did not do so …

Discussion: Althouse and Alas, a blog

David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:

A RARE MOMENT OF CANDOR — Dan Bartlett, on the White House's use of right wing blogs:

Discussion: Jules Crittenden, Beltway Blogroll, Captain's Quarters, Outside The Beltway, The Atlantic Online, TBogg, Chuck Adkins, RADAMISTO, The Sideshow, Riehl World View, Roger Ailes, Taylor Marsh and Shakespeare's Sister

Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:
BARTLETT ON THE WINGOSPHERE....This is hilarious.

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Blue Crab Boulevard and New York Observer

Alec MacGillis / Washington Post:

Paul's Quixotic, Chaotic Run May Make Its Push in N.H. — CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) has raised more than $10 million for his run for president in the past two months, leaving him well positioned to help swing the outcome of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire …

Discussion: Donklephant, Wall Street Journal and Stumper

Barbara A. Oakley / Chicago Tribune:

A world afflicted with blind spots — I awakened to the smell of something strong and strange. The alarm clock came blearily into view: 2:12 a.m. I'd been asleep only an hour. My research and writing sometimes keep me up late — it's difficult, after all, puzzling out the neuroscience behind why sinister people do what they do.

Discussion: Power Line