Top Items:
New York Times:
Obama's Effort on Ethics Bill Had Role in Governor's Fall — In a sequence of events that neatly captures the contradictions of Barack Obama's rise through Illinois politics, a phone call he made three months ago to urge passage of a state ethics bill indirectly contributed to the downfall …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Politico, Firedoglake, Prairie Weather, Commentary, Brilliant at Breakfast, The Caucus and AMERICAblog News
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Huma Khan / Political Punch:
Questions Arise About the Obama/Blagojevich Relationship — “Obviously like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US attorney's office today,” said President-elect Obama this afternoon in Chicago, speaking of the criminal complaint …
Discussion:
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Chicago Tribune:
Barack Obama plans to reach out to Muslim world — In exclusive interview, he says he plans to be sworn in like every other president, using his full name: Barack Hussein Obama — Barack Obama says his heart will remain in Chicago, even as he moves to Washington. (Alex Garcia / Tribune / December 9, 2008)
Greg Hinz / Chicago Business:
Illinois' top lawmakers to strip Blago of senate pick power — (Crain's) — The state's top two legislative leaders Tuesday said they will move fast to seize control of the process of selecting a replacement for Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, taking that power away from Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Discussion:
The Opinionator, FiveThirtyEight.com, Political Machine, Marc Ambinder, Associated Press, The Moderate Voice and Daily Kos
Susan Saulny / New York Times:
A Portrait of a Politician: Vengeful and Profane — CHICAGO — Little in Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's background prepared the people of Illinois for the man who was revealed in the criminal complaint that dropped like a bombshell here on Tuesday. Delusional, narcissistic, vengeful and profane …
David G. Savage / Los Angeles Times:
In the old days, buying a Senate seat was not unusual — The allegations against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are echoes of history. — Reporting from Washington — Reforms to end the buying of Senate seats by giving governors the power to fill vacant posts set the stage for the scandal involving Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.
Discussion:
The Swamp
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Criminal Complaint Alleges That Gov. Blagojevich Threatened to Block Tribune Co.'s Business Deals if Staffers Were Not Fired — On Sept. 29, a Chicago Tribune editorial ripped Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for his “notorious pay-to-play politics” and said the legislature should investigate whether to impeach him.
Ron Kampeas / JTA:Blagojevich arrest could send Jewish rep to Senate
Discussion:
Marc Ambinder, The Volokh Conspiracy, Washington Post, Sunlight Foundation, Yourish.com, Gawker, ArchPundit, The Debate Link and TalkLeft
Joe Weisenthal / Silicon Alley Insider:Alleged: Blago Hoped To Shake Down Warren Buffett!
Discussion:
DealBook
Andy Barr / The Politico:
Joe the Plumber: McCain ‘appalled me’ — Joe Wurzelbacher lashed out at former GOP presidential nominee John McCain Tuesday, the man who made Wurzelbacher famous as “Joe the Plumber.” — Wurzelbacher told conservative radio host Glenn Beck that he felt “dirty” after “being on the campaign trail …
Discussion:
THE TOOT, Donklephant, VOTE, Little Green Footballs, The Heretik, Booman Tribune and Liberal Values
Scott Shane / New York Times:
Fond Ties Have Grown Between Chicago and Its Corruption Fighter — WASHINGTON — In New York, he earned his prosecutorial spurs going after terrorists and mobsters. In Washington, he brought down the powerful top aide to the vice president. — And as the United States attorney in Chicago …
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Dee Dee Myers / Vanity Fair:
Favreau's Sexist Photo Is No Laughing Matter — Oh, what to do. An incredibly talented young aide, to an impossibly idealistic new president, gets caught doing something indefensibly stupid and undeniably sexist. Everyone is uncomfortable. But should anyone be held accountable? Apparently not.
John Bresnahan / The Politico:
Ethics committee expands Rangel probe — The House ethics committee has voted to expand its investigation of Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) to include allegations that he helped a $1 million donor to the Charles B. Rangel Center at the City College of New York retain a lucrative tax loophole.
CNN:
Man who lost family when jet hit house: I don't blame pilot — SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) — A Korean immigrant who lost his wife, two children and mother-in-law when a Marine Corps jet slammed into the family's house said Tuesday he did not blame the pilot, who ejected and survived.
James Richardson / The Skepticians:
BREAKING: Duncan Enters the Fray — The recent Republican victories in GA and MS gave pause to Mike Duncan, current Republican National Committee Chairman, who, until today, was unsure if he would seek a second term. According to individuals with close ties to Duncan …
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
$73 an Hour: Adding It Up — Seventy-three dollars an hour. — That figure — repeated on television and in newspapers as the average pay of a Big Three autoworker — has become a big symbol in the fight over what should happen to Detroit. To critics, it is a neat encapsulation …
New York Times:
Investors Buy U.S. Debt at Zero Yield — When was the last time you invested in something that you knew wouldn't make money? — In the market equivalent of shoveling cash under the mattress, hordes of buyers were so eager on Tuesday to park money in the world's safest investment …
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Big Picture, The Heretik, DownWithTyranny!, Matthew Yglesias and AMERICAblog News
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Richard Norton-Taylor / Guardian:
Out by June: UK plans Iraq withdrawal — Britain's six-year occupation of south Iraq will begin drawing to a close in March, and the last troops will leave Basra by June, a senior defence source disclosed yesterday. — But instead of handing over to Iraqi authorities …
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