memeorandum: Firsthand account of the Von Maur shooting (Joe's Crabby Shack)

12:35 PM ET, December 9, 2007

Top Items:

Hill Briefed on Waterboarding in 2002 — Intelligence Panels' Chiefs Did Not Then Protest CIA Technique — In September 2002, four members of Congress met in secret for a first look at a unique CIA program designed to wring vital information from reticent terrorism suspects in U.S. custody.

Lambert / Corrente:

We are Democrats. They are enablers. — Dem On Dem Violence - Department Of No! They Would Never To Do That! - Jane Harman - Jay Rockefeller - Nancy Pelosi - Torture - Waterboarding — [Welcome, Eschatonians! Welcome Attaturk readers. Welcome, Glenn Greenwald readers.]

Discussion: Jules Crittenden, First Draft, Eschaton, TPMCafe blogs and The Sideshow

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

Democratic complicity in Bush's torture regimen — The Washington Post reports today that the Bush administration, beginning in 2002, repeatedly briefed leading Congressional Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence Committees — including, at various times, Jay Rockefeller, Nancy Pelosi …

Discussion: Firedoglake, The American Street, The Unapologetic Mexican and Talking Points Memo

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:

Pelosi Briefed On Waterboarding In 2002, No Objections — The CIA briefed four Congressional leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, on the controversial practice of waterboarding over five years ago. Not only did no one object to the practice during the September 2002 briefing …

Discussion: Too Sense and Booman Tribune

Nicole Belle / Crooks and Liars:

Congress Briefed on Waterboarding in 2002 — When I first read this report, I admit that I got angry. Then I got smart. Look carefully at the names named in this report. Isn't it interesting that the WaPo reporters made sure to point out the Democrats in attendance when Congress was still operating under a Republican majority?

Discussion: The Sideshow

Ken Silverstein / Harper's:
Where is Jose Rodriguez? …

Discussion: Booman Tribune, The American Street, Buck Naked Politics, Corrente, NO QUARTER, Washington Post, A Tiny Revolution, Think Progress and TalkLeft

Chuck Todd / MSNBC:

DEM RACE TIGHTER THAN EVER; HUCKABEE SURGE CONTINUES — From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro — If the first round of MSNBC/McClatchy/Mason-Dixon presidential state — polls are any indication, we're in for a wild ride these next six weeks.

Discussion: Jonathan Martin's Blogs, Taegan Goddard's … and Pollster.com

Frank Rich / New York Times:
The Republicans Find Their Obama

Discussion: Prairie Weather, The Mahablog and If I Ran the Zoo

Rasmussen Reports:
Election 2008: Michigan Republican Primary

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Donklephant, PoliGazette and Political Machine

The Big Trunk / Power Line:

The NIE under Middle Eastern Eyes — I met Dan Diker on our first evening in Israel this past summer. He is an officer of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs headed by Dore Gold. Dan is a foreign and defense policy analyst for the center. His analysis of the upshot of the NIE …

Discussion: TownHall Blog and Gateway Pundit

Max Boot / Opinion Journal:

The Gulf States and Iran — America and Israel aren't the only ones worried about the mullahs getting a nuclear bomb. — The release of the new National Intelligence Estimate will provide more fodder for those who claim that "neoconservative ideologues" and the "Israel lobby" are overly alarmed about the rise of Iran.

Nathan Kay / Daily Mail:

Al Gore is criticised for lining his own pockets after £3,300-per-minute green speech — Al Gore has come under fire for making personal gain from his mission to save the planet - after charging £3,300 a minute to deliver a poorly received speech.

Discussion: Right Wing News and Don Surber

Errin Haines / Associated Press:

Civil Rights Icon Calls Obama Too Young — ATLANTA (AP) - Civil rights icon Andrew Young says Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is too young and lacks the support network to ascend to the White House. — In a media interview posted online, Young also quipped …

Discussion: Don Surber and The American Street

Joe's Crabby Shack:

Firsthand account of the Von Maur shooting — The Shack has the privilege of being able to talk with one of the witnesses from the third floor of the Von Maur store at Westroads Mall in Omaha. — On the condition of anonymity, he has agreed to tell his account of what happened.

Discussion: Wizbang, Clayton Cramer's BLOG and Patterico's Pontifications

Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:

Oprah Winfrey Hits Campaign Trail for Obama — When she begins a typical show, seldom does Oprah Winfrey question the power of her brand or wonder aloud about the influence that accompanies her golden seal of approval. — But when Ms. Winfrey strode onto a stage here Saturday …

Discussion: NY Daily News, BAGnewsNotes and PrezVid

The Politico:
The 'O' Show sweeps Iowa

Discussion: The Swamp, Reuters, PoliGazette, Gateway Pundit and CNN Political Ticker

Greg Miller / Los Angeles Times:

CIA has recruited Iranians to defect — The secret campaign was launched two years ago to undermine Tehran's nuclear program. It has persuaded a 'handful' of key officials to leave. — WASHINGTON — The CIA launched a secret program in 2005 designed to degrade Iran's nuclear weapons program …

Discussion: The New Republic and The Atlantic Online

Clifford Krauss / New York Times:

Oil-Rich Nations Use More Energy, Cutting Exports — The economies of many big oil-exporting countries are growing so fast that their need for energy within their borders is crimping how much they can sell abroad, adding new strains to the global oil market.

Discussion: The Glittering Eye and PoliGazette

Satyam / Think Progress:

O'Reilly: Fox News Turned Down Pro-Constitution Ad Because It Was 'Anti-American' — The Center for Constitutional Rights recently produced an ad called "Rescue the Constitution" that criticizes the Bush administration for "destroying the Constitution" through the use of tactics like renditions and torture.