Top Items:
Mel Watkins / New York Times:
George Carlin, 71, Irreverent Standup Comedian, Is Dead — George Carlin, the Grammy-Award winning standup comedian and actor who was hailed for his irreverent social commentary, poignant observations of the absurdities of everyday life and language, and groundbreaking routines like …
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Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
The New Republic syndrome — (updated below) — The number one problem facing the Democratic Party is that, as events of the last week demonstrate, it continues to be plagued by The New Republic Syndrome, one of the most fatal political afflictions that exist.
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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
First Obama attack book in the works — The same publisher that distributed the 2004 best-seller that took aim at John Kerry's Vietnam service is planning a summer release of what's scheduled to be the first critical book on Barack Obama. — Conservative journalist David Freddoso's …
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The Huffington Post, The Caucus, Ben Smith's Blogs, Comments from Left Field, Donklephant, TIME.com and Prairie Weather
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Byron York / The Corner:
“Swiftboating” — It's common to see mentions in the press these days about some “swiftboating” of Barack Obama that is allegedly in the works, or might someday allegedly be in the works, or might someday be thought to be allegedly in the works. While I'm sure there will be some hit jobs on Obama …
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The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
David Paul Kuhn / The Politico:
Three women who might join the GOP ticket — While the vice presidential slot may be John McCain's best means of wooing those Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters who remain loath to embrace Barack Obama, the Republican party is a thin source of politically viable women, leaving McCain with few top-tier options.
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Joe Klein / Swampland:
Too Good to Check — I have no way of knowing if this is true, though the source is excellent...but the word in Republican circles is that John McCain is quite frustrated by the vice presidential selection process because he can't go with any of his top three choices. They are:
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Roger Kimball / Encounter Books:
Encounter Bids The New York York Times Farewell — Beginning today, June 23, 2008, Encounter Books will no longer send its books to The New York Times for review. Of course, the editors at the Times are welcome to trot down to their local book emporium or visit Amazon.com to purchase our books …
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Pajamas Media, The Corner, Power Line, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Commentary, alicublog and Roger L. Simon
Rebecca Traister / Salon:
Why Clinton voters say they won't support Obama — The attack of the PUMAs, or a dozen reasons why Clinton voters are still too angry to come home. — Hillary Clinton supporters wait for their candidate to arrive at the National Building Museum in Washington on June 7.
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The Huffington Post, TalkLeft, The Moderate Voice, Balloon Juice, The Strata-Sphere and The Confluence
William Kristol / New York Times:
Someone Else's Alex — The people at MoveOn.org have a new Iraq ad that is, if they do say so themselves, their most effective ever. Then again, for the group that brought us the “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” ad last September, that might not be saying much.
Brian Stelter / New York Times:
Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner — Getting a story on the evening news isn't easy for any correspondent. And for reporters in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is especially hard, according to Lara Logan, the chief foreign correspondent for CBS News. So she has devised a solution when she is talking to the network.
Larry Rohter / New York Times:
Obama Camp Closely Linked With Ethanol — When VeraSun Energy inaugurated a new ethanol processing plant last summer in Charles City, Iowa, some of that industry's most prominent boosters showed up. Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association and the Renewable Fuels Association …
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The Corner, JustOneMinute, The Confluence, TalkLeft, BuzzFlash.org, TPM Election Central, Donklephant, Sister Toldjah and Spin Cycle
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Liz Hazelton / Daily Mail:
‘I despise Islamism’ says award winning author Ian McEwan in astonishing outburst — He is known for his polished prose, critically acclaimed novels -and for keeping a decidedly low profile. — But today the Booker-winning novelist Ian McEwan found himself at the centre of an uncharacteristic row.
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Don Surber
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Ed Pilkington / Guardian:
Put oil firm chiefs on trial - scientist — James Hansen, one of the world's leading climate scientists, will today call for the chief executives of large fossil fuel companies to be put on trial for high crimes against humanity and nature, accusing them of actively spreading doubt …
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io9, Dot Earth, Facing South, NewsBusters.org, Don Surber, Macsmind, JammieWearingFool, TigerHawk and Babalu Blog
Daniela Petroff / Associated Press:
Barack Obama inspires Milan men's runway styles — MILAN, Italy - The latest “first” for Barack Obama comes off the Milan runway. — Calling the U.S. presidential hopeful “the man of the moment,” Donatella Versace dedicated her Spring-Summer 2009 collection presented Saturday evening to Obama …
Scott W. Johnson / New York Post:
ANTI-TERROR OOPS — BARACK BUMBLES LEGAL QS — SPEAKING without a text in front of him, Barack Obama betrays a troubling lack of knowledge on important issues - such as the law and terrorism. — In his ABC interview last Monday, for example, Obama attacked the Bush approach on fighting terror.
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Home Not-So-Sweet Home — “Owning a home lies at the heart of the American dream.” So declared President Bush in 2002, introducing his “Homeownership Challenge” — a set of policy initiatives that were supposed to sharply increase homeownership, especially for minority groups. — Oops.