Top Items:
Marc Ambinder:
Thompson Decides To Drop Out — Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson has told several Republicans that he has decided to drop out of the presidential race and will make public his intentions by close of business. — Thompson does not plan to endorse any rivals for now, even though one of his best friends is Sen. John McCain.
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The Campaign Spot:
Fred Out of Thursday's Debate; Doesn't Plan on Endorsing — I spoke to one of my Thompson sources. — He's still with his ailing mother. “He's just being a good son." — He has not spoken to any other campaign or any other candidates, nor does he intend to at this time.
Associated Press:
Fred Thompson Quits Presidential Race — NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson quit the Republican presidential race on Tuesday, after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states. — “Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States.
Fred Thompson / You Decide 08!:
THOMPSON DROPS OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE — Fred Thompson dropped his presidential bid Tuesday, after the former Tennessee senator and actor finished third in the South Carolina primary and was unable to score a victory in any of the early primaries or caucuses.
Satyam / Think Progress:
Thompson drops out. — Fox News reports that former Tennesee senator Fred Thompson is dropping out of the Republican race for President. Via Fox reporter Carl Cameron:
John Edwards / CNN:
Clinton, Edwards hold private post-debate meeting — MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (CNN) — What were they talking about? — Hillary Clinton and John Edwards met privately backstage following a very contentious Democratic presidential debate in this coastal city, sources with both campaigns confirm to CNN.
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Dan Balz / Washington Post:
The Other Clinton Is an Absent Presence — The clash between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday night was a debate long waiting to happen, and at the heart of it was the man who was not on stage: former president Bill Clinton. — Since Obama's victory in Iowa …
Discussion:
The State, New York Times, Commentary, Boston Globe, New York Post, The Caucus, MSNBC and Los Angeles Times
CNN:
Bill Schneider's take on last night's Democratic debate: — MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (CNN) — It's obvious who the Democrats think will win the Republican nomination: They're all talking about who will run strongest against John McCain. — This is new — and it's likely the result of his South Carolina win on Saturday.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System:
For immediate release — The Federal Open Market Committee has decided to lower its target for the federal funds rate 75 basis points to 3-1/2 percent. — The Committee took this action in view of a weakening of the economic outlook and increasing downside risks to growth.
Discussion:
The Big Picture, MarketWatch, The Bonddad Blog, Wall Street Journal, The Swamp, Telegraph, Angry Bear, On Deadline, The Glittering Eye, Economist's View, Mish's Global Economic …, TigerHawk, Economics Blog, Secular Blasphemy, Mathew Gross, Greatscat!, HorsesAss.Org, PrestoPundit, The Gavel and D-Day
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Washington Post:
Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate as Asian Markets Drop for Second Day — The European stock markets responded favorably to the Federal Reserve's surprise short-term interest rate cut today, while Wall Street remained more skeptical as it attempted to climb back up to even during midday trading.
Discussion:
New York Times, BBC, Matthew Yglesias, The Moderate Voice, Associated Press, Taylor Marsh, LENIN'S TOMB, Guardian, Emptywheel and Don Surber
Matthew Yglesias:
Someone Didn't Get The Word — Fareed Zakaria: … Ah, those sad, sad, Democrats. So unaware that the war's over. The dude who killed at least fourteen and wounded seventeen in Tikrit must, like the Democrats, have been wearing partisan blinders when he failed to acknowledge the surge's success in bringing the war to an end.
Discussion:
New York Times, The Huffington Post, Firedoglake, Booman Tribune and Bob Cesca's Goddamn …
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Ian Traynor / Guardian:
Pre-emptive nuclear strike ‘an option’ — The west must be ready to resort to a pre-emptive nuclear attack to try to halt the “imminent” spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, according to a radical manifesto for a new Nato by five of the west's most senior military officers and strategists.
New York Times:
In Matters Big and Small, Crossing Giuliani Had Price — Rudolph W. Giuliani likens himself to a boxer who never takes a punch without swinging back. As mayor, he made the vengeful roundhouse an instrument of government, clipping anyone who crossed him. — In August 1997, James Schillaci …
The Prowler / American Spectator:
Huckabee Broke — Less than a month after a huge upset victory, and promises that fundraising would be ramped up, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is asking his senior staff to keep working for him without pay, while lower level campaign staff are seeing their salaries cut dramatically or eliminated altogether.
Discussion:
protein wisdom, MiamiHerald.com, The Jawa Report, Ron Paul 2008, Tales from the Trail, DownWithTyranny!, Hot Air, Dean's World and Say Anything
Michelle Malkin:
Mystery in Brooklyn: Bomb factory at Columbia University professor's home — The NY Daily News reports today on a disturbing discovery at a Columbia University instructor's home: … Clatts cannot be located. Who is he? … The NYTimes reports on a bizarre twist in the case …
Fred Barnes / Wall Street Journal:
Now McCain Must Convince The Right — John McCain has a problem. After winning South Carolina's primary last Saturday, he should be the overwhelming favorite to capture the Republican presidential nomination. He's not, at least not yet, and the reason is that he's alienated so many conservatives over the past eight years.
Discussion:
New York Times, The Corner, Jonathan Martin's Blogs, Washington Post, The Radio Equalizer, Riehl World View, MSNBC and Macsmind
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