Top Items:
Spencer Ackerman / The Washington Independent:
Biden Punks Crocker: ‘I Would Therefore Pick Al Qaeda on The Afghanistan-Pakistan Border’ — There was once a blog called Joe Biden Is Thugged Out. (I swear this is true.) Biden just proved why. He asked Ryan Crocker, who used to be ambassador to Pakistan, whether it would be better …
Discussion:
Comments from Left Field, Crooks and Liars, Newshoggers.com, Salon and democracyarsenal.org
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Ali / Think Progress:
McCain seems confused about al Qaeda again, suggests it's a 'sect of Shi'ites.' — During today's hearing with Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) questioned Petraeus on what he called “the major threat” of al Qaeda in Iraq.
Discussion:
Comments from Left Field, The Reaction, Democratic National Committee, Blue Girl, Red State, The Carpetbagger Report, democracyarsenal.org, The Mahablog, Pajamas Media, Marc Ambinder, Commentary, michellemalkin.com, Trailhead, Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, Taylor Marsh, The Swamp, Macsmind, CNN, AMERICAblog and Salon
Dday / Hullabaloo:
Joe Biden Just Obliterated Every Administration Argument About Iraq — That was a very significant moment at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings with Amb. Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus. Joe Biden asked Amb. Crocker where it would be better for American national security interests …
Matthew Yglesias:
Principle Threat — Evan Bayh's doing an excellent job of homing …
Principle Threat — Evan Bayh's doing an excellent job of homing …
Discussion:
Air America Radio blogs
M. Duss / Wonk Room:
Crocker: ‘Al Qaeda On The Afghanistan-Pakistan Border’ A Bigger Threat Than In Iraq
Crocker: ‘Al Qaeda On The Afghanistan-Pakistan Border’ A Bigger Threat Than In Iraq
Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard Blog:
Does Ted Kennedy Know Anything about Iraq?
Does Ted Kennedy Know Anything about Iraq?
Discussion:
Hot Air
Paul J. Nyden / Charleston Gazette:
Jay defends endorsement of Sen. Obama — Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., defended his decision to make an endorsement in the race for president during an interview with Gazette editors on Monday. — Rockefeller said some have criticized him for endorsing Sen. Barack Obama before the West Virginia primary in May.
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Fox News:
After Rockefeller Insult, McCain Camp Claims Obama Won't Shut Down Campaign Smears — John McCain is making the claim that Barack Obama seems unwilling to personally condemn the controversial remarks of supporters and prominent Democrats after Sen. Obama relied Tuesday on a campaign spokeswoman …
Discussion:
Political Punch, JustOneMinute, Hot Air, CALIFORNIA YANKEE, Redstate and Ed Driscoll.com
Costas Panagopoulos / The Politico:
Obama supporter Oprah takes a big dive — Much hay was made nearly a year ago when Oprah Winfrey announced that she would support — and campaign for — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Her effect in boosting support for Obama in early primary and caucus states like Iowa …
Townhall.com:
Joe Klein from Time Magazine on Barack Obama's positions. — HH: Joined now by Joe Klein of Time Magazine, knows all, sees all, comments on all from Time Magazine, sometimes at their blog, the Swamp[land], often in his column. Joe, welcome back, good to have you on the Hugh Hewitt Show.
Discussion:
Think Progress
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Hugh Hewitt / Townhall.com:
Obama, 2000: Not A Lot Of “Ideological Differences” With Bobby Rush — In yesterday's conversation with Time's Joe Klein (transcript here) I noted that when then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama ran against incumbent Congressman Bobby Rush in the 2000 Democratic primary …
Mary Ann Akers / The Sleuth:
Grover Norquist Endorses Condi Rice for Veep — No speaker goes to conservative activist Grover Norquist's Wednesday breakfast meeting without a purpose. And so it was with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice two weeks ago when she convinced a rapt audience — without even raising the possibility …
Discussion:
The Trail, Political Radar, Top of the Ticket, The Raw Story, Below The Beltway and Donklephant
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Wall Street Journal:
The Coming Tax Bomb — As the presidential campaign enters its final stages, there will be increased debate over budget priorities and how they will be paid for. Many commentators and political leaders, including Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, believe that tax increases are needed …
Discussion:
Capital Gains and Games blogs, The Jawa Report, Say Anything, WILLisms.com, Angry Bear, Babalu Blog and Club for Growth
The Tartan Online:
Michelle Obama speaks at presidential rally in Skibo Gym — Only a week after her husband drew throngs to Soldiers and Sailors, Michelle Obama wooed a small crowd at Skibo Gymnasium on Wednesday. — Skibo's risers were packed with community members and students from many of Pittsburgh's universities.
John Bresnahan / The Crypt's Blogs:
The ‘Obama Effect’ shows itself at Petraeus-Crocker hearing — Never underestimate the drawing power of a star. The crowd lined up for today's hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will include an appearance by the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination …
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Reuters:
Absolut vodka pulls ad showing California in Mexico — MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The distillers of Sweden's Absolut vodka have withdrawn an advertisement run in Mexico that angered many U.S. citizens by idealizing an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as Mexican.
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Lee Hamilton denies Michael Mukasey's claim about 9/11 — I just received the following statement from the Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Rep. Lee Hamilton, in response to my inquiries last week (and numerous follow-up inquiries from readers here) about Attorney General Michael Mukasey's claims …
New York Times:
Petraeus Urges 45-Day Halt in Weighing New Iraq Troop Cuts — WASHINGTON — Telling Congress that progress in Iraq was “fragile and reversible,” the top American commander recommended Tuesday that consideration of any new drawdowns of American troops be delayed until the fall …
Discussion:
Real Clear Politics, FP Passport, The Moderate Voice, FITSNews For Now, The Lede, QandO, Crooks and Liars, American Street, The Caucus and Truthdig
Popular Mechanics:
The 10 Pieces of U.S. Infrastructure We Must Fix Now — No one can predict what bridge, levee or water main will fail next. But some problems are widely known, and work is long overdue. As PM's new special report makes blatantly clear, we need to begin rebuilding the nation's infrastructure somewhere.