memeorandum: Bush calls Iraqi crackdown in Basra a ‘positive moment’ (Agence France Presse)

3:16 AM ET, March 30, 2008

Top Items:

Shiite Militias Cling to Swaths of Basra and Stage Raids — BAGHDAD — Shiite militias in Basra openly controlled wide swaths of the city on Saturday and staged increasingly bold raids on Iraqi government forces sent in five days ago to wrest control from the gunmen, witnesses said …

Discussion: Firedoglake, The Left Coaster, American Street, Think Progress, Balloon Juice, The Newshoggers, Washington Monthly and Informed Comment

Agence France Presse:

Bush calls Iraqi crackdown in Basra a ‘positive moment’ — WASHINGTON (AFP) — President George W. Bush called the fighting in Basra a “positive moment” for the development of Iraqi security forces and proof the Baghdad government could defend itself. — In an interview with foreign media Wednesday …

Discussion: Times of London, Daily Mail and toohotfortnr

New York Times:

Iraqi Offensive Revives Debate for Campaigns — The heavy fighting that broke out last week as Iraqi security forces tried to oust Shiite militias from Basra is reverberating on the presidential campaign trail and posing new challenges and opportunities to the candidates, particularly Senator John McCain.

Discussion: The Gun Toting Liberal™ and Truthdig

Tim Shipman / Telegraph:

Senior Democrats mull Al Gore's nomination — Plans for Al Gore to take the Democratic presidential nomination as the saviour of a bitterly divided party are being actively discussed by senior figures and aides to the former vice-president. — The bloody civil war between Hillary Clinton …

Discussion: Political Machine and Hotline On Call

James Carville / Washington Post:

Disloyalty That Merits An Insult — Last Friday the New York Times asked me to comment on New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president. For 15 years, Richardson served with no small measure of distinction as the representative of New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.

Discussion: Booman Tribune, DownWithTyranny!, MyDD, The New Nixon Blog, The Moderate Voice, Commentary, Taylor Marsh, Grasping Reality …, Balloon Juice, The Agitator, Oliver Willis, Comments from Left Field and PSoTD

John Heilemann / New York Magazine:
Who'll Stop the Pain?

Discussion: The Huffington Post, TalkLeft, NO QUARTER, Make Them Accountable, The Democratic Daily, Hot Air, Shakesville, The Page and Swampland

Phillip Martin / Burnt Orange Report:

BOR Exclusive: TX Presidential Primary Convention Results — TIP JAR - If you've enjoyed our coverage, please donate to TexBlog PAC and support our efforts across Texas! — The following is the reporting of the entire BOR staff. — How to Submit Convention Results to Burnt Orange Report

Discussion: 2008 Democratic …, AMERICAblog, TPM Election Central and Patterico's Pontifications

Will / Attytood:

Liberal bloggers declare war in Philly over media, McCain — The primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seems far from over (no matter what the numbers say), the war in Iraq just marked its grim 5th anniversary with renewed bloodshed, and a host of issues from domestic spying …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Cliff Schecter.com and Roger L. Simon

Gallup:

Gallup Daily: Obama Still on Top, 50% to 43% — McCain beats Clinton in fall ballot, but is in a statistical tie with Obama — RINCETON, NJ — For the second consecutive Gallup Poll Daily tracking report, Barack Obama holds a statistically significant lead over Hillary Clinton …

Discussion: MyDD and The Jed Report

Crunchy Con:

Neither McCain nor Obama — “So what are you thinking about November?” my friend asked me on the walk to Chipotle today. — “Well, Obama's going to be the Democratic nominee, and I can't see voting for him,” I said. “He's just too liberal on abortion and other issues that mean a lot to me.

Discussion: The American Scene, LewRockwell.com Blog and Vox Popoli

Dean Esmay / Dean's World:

Obama's Latest Ad — I have never entirely understood the urge to specially tax so-called “windfall profits.” And I'm not sure that I believe that the Senator has the best plan to achieve energy independence. Still, it's a pretty good commercial, and should appeal to a lot of voters, including a lot of centrists.

Diann Burns / WBBM-TV:

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Makes Surprise Appearance — Sen. Obama's Controversial Former Pastor Spoke In Public For First Time Since Scandal Broke — CHICAGO (CBS) ― The Rev. Jeremiah Wright made a surprise appearance in Chicago Friday night. — Wright, Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor appeared …

Discussion: Sweetness & Light and The Page

Michelle Malkin:
Rev. Michael Pfleger and Rev. Jeremiah Wright together again: “Hallelujah!”

Discussion: Hot Air

Carrie Budoff Brown / Ben Smith's Blogs:

“Stop these abortions.” — Out in western Pennsylvania, the issue of abortion can strike a nerve. Democrats there often describe themselves economic liberals and social conservatives who favor gun rights and oppose abortion rights. — So, it was not unusual to see a woman stand near …

Discussion: Stop The ACLU

Allen Salkin / New York Times:

Why Blog? Reason No. 92: Book Deal — THIS is how it happens. — A guy starts a clever blog in January and calls it Stuff White People Like. The site contains a list of cultural totems, including gifted children, marathons and writers' workshops, that a certain type of moneyed and liberal American might be expected to like.

Discussion: PoliGazette

ABCNEWS:

Philly Mayor: Obama Pastor Talk Beyond Pale — Mayor Michael Nutter Tells ABC News He Would Have Quit Church if His Pastor Made Such Remarks — Sen. Hillary Clinton's most prominent African-American supporter in Pennsylvania says that had he been a member of Sen. Barack Obama's church …

Discussion: Hot Air and Booman Tribune