memeorandum: McCain's New Hampshire Glimmer (June Kronholz/Wall Street Journal)

9:50 AM ET, December 7, 2007

Top Items:

C.I.A. Destroyed 2 Tapes Showing Interrogations — The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Qaeda operatives in the agency's custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about its secret detention program …

Discussion: The Swamp, Crooks and Liars, Salon, The Carpetbagger Report, War in Context, KnoxViews, Too Sense, Wolf Howling and Prairie Weather

Mark Mazzetti / New York Times:

C.I.A. Destroyed Tapes of Interrogations — The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency's custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A's secret detention program …

Andrew Sullivan / The Atlantic Online:

This Is A Banana Republic — What defines such a republic? How about an executive that ignores the rule of law, commits war-crimes and then destroys the actual evidence? Today's bombshell is that the CIA has done just that with respect to tapes made recording the torture of enemy combatants.

Discussion: The Newshoggers and Angry Bear

Washington Post:

CIA Destroyed Videos Showing Interrogations — The CIA made videotapes in 2002 of its officers administering harsh interrogation techniques to two al-Qaeda suspects but destroyed the tapes three years later, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said yesterday. — Captured on tape were interrogations …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and TIME: Swampland

Pamela Hess / wtopnews.com:
Hayden Says CIA Videotapes Destroyed

Discussion: The Blotter and Emptywheel

David Brooks / New York Times:

Faith vs. the Faithless — Jon Meacham is the editor of Newsweek and the author of "American Gospel," which describes the history of religious liberty in the United States. Richard John Neuhaus is the editor in chief of First Things and the author of "The Naked Public Square," …

Discussion: The Corner, The New Republic, MyDD and Middle Earth Journal

E. J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:

Boldness, Watered Down — It's not easy being a politician from a minority faith, especially when it comes to explaining your own traditions — sometimes even to yourself. — Al Smith, the first Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party, found his faith under vicious attack in the 1928 campaign.

Discussion: New York Times, Vox Popoli, Real Clear Politics and Cheat Seeking Missiles

Washington Post:
No Freedom Without Religion?

Discussion: The Corner

NY Daily News:

Judith Nathan got security earlier — Judith Nathan got taxpayer-funded chauffeur services from the NYPD earlier than previously disclosed - even before her affair with then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani was revealed, witnesses and sources tell the Daily News. — "It went on for months before the affair …

Discussion: The Caucus and Betsy's Page

Nicholas Wapshott / New York Sun: Sliding Poll Numbers Force Giuliani To Retool His Campaign

Washington Post:

Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought — As Conservatives Reject New NIE, Republican Senators to Urge Congressional Panel — Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran …

Discussion: Think Progress, Firedoglake, The Strata-Sphere, Israel Matzav and RADAMISTO

White House:

Fact Sheet: Helping American Families Keep Their Homes — President Bush Announces Private-Sector Plan To Help Struggling Homeowners, Calls On Congress To Join Administration In Acting — Today, President Bush outlined steps the Administration is taking to help American homeowners and called …

Discussion: Corrente, National Review Online, Wizbang and TaxProf Blog

Edmund L. Andrews / New York Times:
On Mortgage Relief, Who Gains the Most?

Discussion: CNNMoney.com, Marginal Revolution, The Atlantic Online and Washington Monthly

Richard Simon / Los Angeles Times:

House passes a sweeping energy bill — Fuel efficiency would increase and alternative sources would expand. The measure faces a tough road in the Senate. — WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday approved the biggest increase in vehicle fuel-economy standards since gasoline cost less …

Discussion: Open Left, The Democratic Daily, Wonkette, Left in the West and Daily Kos

CNN Political Ticker:
Senate's presidential contenders may face a tough choice

Discussion: New York Times, PoliPundit.com, The Crypt's Blogs and Blue Crab Boulevard

San Francisco Chronicle:

SF radio personality Bernie Ward indicted on child porn charges — (12-06) 15:29 PST San Francisco - — Bernie Ward, a popular liberal San Francisco radio talk show host and former Catholic priest, has been indicted on federal child pornography charges, authorities said today.

Discussion: IMAO.US, The Radio Equalizer, PoliGazette, Macsmind, Clayton Cramer's BLOG, JammieWearingFool and Wake up America

The Washington Post / The Trail:

For Some, Negative Turn is a Turn-Off — DES MOINES — Once, Garry Thomas counted himself a Hillary Clinton supporter — even signing up to be one of her 25 co-chairs in Iowa alongside with former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack. — But Thomas now says he felt obliged to switch sides in recent weeks.

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs and TIME: Swampland

David Lightman / McClatchy Washington Bureau:

Candidate Ron Paul's devotees a mixed bag — WASHINGTON — If Ron Paul's supporters got together for a family portrait, it would be one of those pictures in which no one seems to resemble anyone else. — "You have old-school Republicans, the conservatives who backed Barry Goldwater (in 1964).

Discussion: The Swamp and Prairie Weather

Bloomberg:

Hot Air Emitted by Climate Summit Equals 20,000 Cars — Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) — Government officials and activists flying to Bali, Indonesia, for the United Nations meeting on climate change will cause as much pollution as 20,000 cars in a year. — The delegates each will produce …

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard, NewsBusters.org and Sister Toldjah

Ann Scott Tyson / Washington Post:

Petraeus Says Cleric Helped Curb Violence — Defense Secretary Sees Extended 15-Month Iraq Tours Continuing Until Next Fall — Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, said Thursday he applauds Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for helping, through a cease-fire …

Discussion: The Strata-Sphere and AMERICAblog

Alec Klein / Washington Post:

The Army's $200 Billion Makeover — March to Modernize Proves Ambitious and Controversial — EL PASO — A $200 billion plan to remake the largest war machine in history unfolds in one small way on a quiet country road in the Chihuahuan Desert. — Jack Hensley, one of a legion of contractors …