Top Items:
Doyle McManus / Los Angeles Times:
Obama holds 12-point lead over McCain, poll finds — A Times/Bloomberg Poll says that in a two-man contest, 49% of respondents favor Barack Obama, while 37% support John McCain. With Ralph Nader and Bob Barr added to the mix, Obama holds 15-point edge. — » Discuss Article WASHINGTON …
Discussion:
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WSJ.com:
With Clinton Out, More Boys on the Bus — Elizabeth Holmes reports on the McCain campaign. — In the decades since Timothy Crouse penned the famous campaign trail diary “Boys on the Bus,” the moniker has been amended to a more gender-friendly one. But on Monday in Phoenix the label was more than appropriate.
Discussion:
The Corner
Heidi Przybyla / Bloomberg:
Obama Leads McCain by 15 Points as Voters Reject Republicans
Obama Leads McCain by 15 Points as Voters Reject Republicans
Discussion:
Pajamas Media
Pamela Heisey / MAPLight.org:
SPOTLIGHT: Telco PACs Gave $8K to Dems Who Changed Their Vote on FISA — For Immediate Release: — HOUSE DEMS WHO CHANGED THEIR VOTE TO SUPPORT FISA BILL, GIVING IMMUNITY TO TELCOS, RECEIVED, ON AVERAGE, $8,359 IN PAC CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VERIZON, AT&T, AND SPRINT
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The Huffington Post:
Dodd And Feingold Will Filibuster Telecom Immunity — Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) released the following statement today in response to the announcement that the Senate this week will consider the compromise legislation that would reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):
Matt / Think Progress:
Reid to co-sponsor effort to strip retroactive immunity from FISA bill. (Updated) — Earlier today, Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) promised to do everything they can to strip retroactive immunity from “compromise” wiretapping legislation, including a filibuster.
Chris Frates / The Crypt's Blogs:
Dems who flipped on FISA immunity see more telecom cash — House Democrats who flipped their votes to support retroactive immunity for telecom companies in last week's FISA bill took thousands of dollars more from phone companies than Democrats who consistently voted against legislation …
Marc Ambinder:
I've Never Seen An Ad Like This — Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) brags in a new television advertisement that he was worked closely and fruitfully with — and the music really does swell — Barack Obama. — Not Smith's good friend John McCain. — But Barack Obama.
Discussion:
Hot Air
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Color Oregon blue? — A fairly stunning new ad from Oregon's Republican senator Gordon Smith leaves little doubt as to which way the wind is blowing there. — In the ad, Smith, running hard away from Bush, associates himself at length and explicitly with Obama.
Maria Gavrilovic / CBS News:
Obama To Hammer McCain On Offshore Drilling “Gimmick” — From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic: — (LAS VEGAS) Offshore drilling continues to be a major sticking point between Barack Obama and John McCain, and the two candidates are still jabbing at each other's position for the second week.
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Joe Klein / Swampland:
Surge Protection — I think David Brooks has it essentially right here about Bush's stubborness—as opposed to his knowledge of strategy or tactics or the situation on the ground in Iraq—as the reason why he made the correct choice on Iraq in late 2006. But, as Brooks says, history is complicated …
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David Brooks / New York Times:
The Bush Paradox — Let's go back and consider how the world looked …
The Bush Paradox — Let's go back and consider how the world looked …
Discussion:
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Eric Lichtblau / New York Times:
Report Sees Illegal Hiring Practices at Justice Dept. — WASHINGTON — Justice Department officials over the last six years illegally used “political or ideological” factors to hire new lawyers into an elite recruitment program, tapping law school graduates with conservative credentials …
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Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:
CHART OF THE DAY....This one comes from a report of the Justice …
CHART OF THE DAY....This one comes from a report of the Justice …
Discussion:
The Swamp
Alex Kingsbury / US News:
Seizing Laptops and Cameras Without Cause — A controversial customs practice creates a legal backlash — Returning from a brief vacation to Germany in February, Bill Hogan was selected for additional screening by customs officials at Dulles International Airport outside Washington …
Jerry Seinfeld / New York Times:
Dying Is Hard. Comedy Is Harder. — THE honest truth is, for a comedian, even death is just a premise to make jokes about. I know this because I was on the phone with George Carlin nine days ago and we were making some death jokes. We were talking about Tim Russert and Bo Diddley and George said: “I feel safe for a while.
Digby / Hullabaloo:
They Like Him, They Really Like Him — Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Constitutional Sell-out of the year award (brought to you by The Politico and the good people from Depends): … . — What a guy. Clearly, those who demand that the party should hew closer to the positions …
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Courtney Hazlett / MSNBC:
Us readers vote for Obama — Plus: Angelina skips out on ‘Wanted’ publicity; Tiger Woods takes a gamble — Putting Michele Obama on the cover of Us Weekly appears to be a gamble that's paid off. Early sales numbers for the celeb glossy are trickling in, and according to sources that are familiar …