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Andrew J. Bacevich / Boston Globe:
What Bush hath wrought — FEW AMERICANS, whatever their political persuasion, will mourn George W. Bush's departure from office. Democrats and Republicans alike are counting the days until the inauguration of a new president will wipe the slate clean. — Yet in crucial respects, the Bush era will not end Jan. 20, 2009.
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Matthew Yglesias:
Bacevich on the Big Questions — Andre Bacevich has a brilliant op-ed in the Boston Globe. I'll quote two paragraphs: … This is absolutely right. At the moment, we're constructing our political spectrum almost entirely along questions like “what do you think of the surge” which …
Discussion:
Newshoggers.com
Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs — ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Reaching out to religious voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for expanding President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and — in a move sure to cause controversy …
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Eric Kleefeld / TPM Election Central:
Obama Speech: We Can Expand Faith-Based Charities And Separate Church From State — Barack Obama's prepared speech on faith-based initiatives is in, and in it, the candidate strikes a delicate balance between expanding the role and clout of religious charities, while at the same time taking care …
Joby Warrick / Washington Post:
Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts — A former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb. — The onetime undercover agent …
Discussion:
The Glittering Eye, ATTACKERMAN, Political Machine, The Washington Independent, ThreatsWatch, The Nation and Emptywheel
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Jonathan Karl / ABCNEWS:
Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran — U.S. Offical Sees Two ‘Red Lines’ That Could Prompt Strike — Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security …
ABCNEWS:
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark Keeps Up Fire on McCain — Clark Questions McCain's Judgment, Not Patriotism — Retired Gen. Wesley Clark stuck to his guns today, insisting that Sen. John McCain's experience as a POW made him a true American hero but did not qualify him to be commander-in-chief.
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Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Americans Worry McCain Would Be Too Similar to Bush — About half are concerned Obama would go too far in changing Bush policies — PRINCETON, NJ — A recent USA Today/Gallup poll finds about two in three Americans concerned that John McCain would pursue policies as president that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued.
Discussion:
Daily Kos, American Spectator, TPM Election Central, Fox News, AMERICAblog News and Pollster.com
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Daily Mail:
Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat — A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims. — Tayside Police's new non-emergency phone number …
David Brooks / New York Times:
Obama's Money Class — Barack Obama sells the Democratic Party short. He talks about his fund-raising success as if his donors were part of a spontaneous movement of small-money enthusiasts who cohered around himself. In fact, Democrats have spent years building their donor network.
Kerry Eleveld / Advocate:
McCain Officially Endorses California Marriage Ban — The Log Cabin Republicans have confirmed that Sen. John McCain has switched from holding a neutral position on California's anti-gay marriage measure to supporting it. — John McCain's position on California's marriage amendment …
Discussion:
Fox News
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Kurt Andersen / New York Magazine:
Clay Felker, 1925-2008 — New York's founding editor died at home this morning with his wife by his side. His legacy was understanding — and explaining — the city as a pageant of ambition. — The main reason that most city magazines suck, and have always sucked, is that their founders …
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Jonah Goldberg / USA Today:
Obama's real patriotism problem — He sees an America in which the cup is half-empty. Is his America the same one most Americans think of as they wave flags and celebrate the Fourth of July? — Barack Obama has a patriotism problem that even Monday's flag-waving trip to Independence, Mo., can't squelch.
blogs.abcnews.com:
Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform — ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace Report: Barack Obama aligned himself with welfare reform on Monday, launching a television ad which touts the way the overhaul “slashed the rolls by 80 percent.” Obama leaves out, however, that he was against the …
Discussion:
Power Line, Hot Air, Swampland, Redstate, Political Radar, The Campaign Spot, Commentary, The Trail, Marc Ambinder and Political Punch
Thomas F. Schaller / New York Times:
The South Will Fall Again — THE interim between the primaries and the parties' nominating conventions is, according to ancient writ, a fertile period for presidential campaigns to talk about how they plan to expand the political map in the fall. This year is no different.
William Glaberson / New York Times:
Evidence Faulted in Detainee Case — In the first case to review the government's secret evidence for holding a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a federal appeals court found that accusations against a Muslim from western China held for more than six years were based on bare and unverifiable claims.
Juliana Barbassa / Associated Press:
Obama's sister helps reach out to Asian-Americans — SAN FRANCISCO - The throng of Asian-American donors drew closer, drinks in hand, to hear Barack Obama's sister describe the wide arc of his life: beyond politics and Chicago, into his childhood in Indonesia and Hawaii.