Top Items:
Brian Ross / ABCNEWS:
Sources Say Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is ‘Senate Candidate #5’ — Feds Plan to Interview Chicago Congressman as Part of Blagojevich Probe — Chicago Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) is the anonymous “Senate Candidate #5” whose emissaries Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich reportedly claimed offered …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, The Fix, Washington Post, Hot Air, On Deadline, JustOneMinute, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Power Line, Pantagraph, New York Times, Political Machine, Emptywheel, Tennessee Guerilla Women, Progress Illinois, Flopping Aces, The Raw Story, NO QUARTER, Don Surber, The Capitol Fax Blog, The Campaign Spot, RedState, MyDD, Gateway Pundit, Taylor Marsh and A Blog For All
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Chicago Sun Times:
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is ‘Senate Candidate 5’ in Blagojevich criminal complaint — Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is “Senate Candidate 5,” who — through an emissary — allegedly offered to raise money for Gov. Blagojevich in return for being appointed as Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chicago Breaking News:
Rep. Jackson: No pay-to-play deal — U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said today he did not try to cut a pay-to-play deal with Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich to get the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. — “I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer …
Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:First Read: NBC — ‘Candidate 5’ is Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Discussion:
Think Progress
Jim Oliphant / The Swamp:
Breaking: Senate Dems ask Blago to quit — The office of Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, is circulating a letter Wednesday to the Senate Democratic Caucus for signatures that recommends Gov. Rod Blagojevich resign and under no circumstances make an appointment to fill Illinois' vacant Senate seat.
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Chicago Sun Times:
Madigan may take him to high court — SPRINGFIELD — If Gov. Blagojevich refuses to relinquish power and avoids impeachment, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is prepared to force his hand, aides said Tuesday. — The state's chief law enforcement officer is prepared to invoke …
Discussion:
TIME.com, Washington Wire, State Journal Register, Chicago Business, CNN, Washington Monthly and Political Machine
Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
CHU TO BE ENERGY SECRETARY — From NBC's Savannah Guthrie — Obama will name Steven Chu his choice for Energy secretary, Lisa Jackson for EPA administrator and Carol Browner as energy “czar” reporting to the president. — It is unclear whether the Browner position is cabinet level.
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Wall Street Journal:
Obama to Name Chu Energy Secretary — President-Elect Also to Name Former EPA Chief Carol Browner as ‘Energy Czar’ — President-elect Barack Obama has chosen the heart of an energy-policy team that he hopes will implement a far-reaching plan to wean the nation off Middle Eastern oil …
Brian Beutler / Guardian:To tackle climate change, Obama must revitalise the US department of energy
The Trail / Washington Post:
Obama: Blagojevich Should Resign — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2005. (James A. Finley/Associated Press) — By Anne E. Kornblut — President-elect Barack Obama believes that Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign, his advisers said on Wednesday.
Discussion:
The Caucus, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, Pajamas Media, TIME.com, Washington Monthly, Commentary, Lynn Sweet and The Fix
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The Politico:
In scandal, risks for Obama — At first blush, Barack Obama comes out of the Rod Blagojevich scandal smelling like a rose. The prosecutor at a news conference seemed to give the president-elect a seal of approval, and the Illinois governor himself was caught on tape complaining that Obama was not interested in crooked schemes.
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Jindal says no — Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, seen by many Republicans as the most promising standard-bearer for a remade party, said at a Richmond, Va press conference that he isn't running for president in 2012. — At a news conference Wednesday with Bob McDonnell …
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J. Taylor Rushing / The Hill:
Specter seeks to slow down Holder confirmation — Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, wants to slow down the process of confirming Eric Holder attorney general, citing lingering concerns about the nominee's role in the 2001 pardon of Marc Rich.
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Martin Kady II / The Crypt's Blogs:
Specter calls for delay in Holder hearings — Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, has just thrown a wrench into the Eric Holder hearings planned for early January, saying Holder's involvement in the Marc Rich pardon is a “red flag” and a “very serious matter.”
Discussion:
Commentary
New York Times:
White House Struggles to Find G.O.P. Support for Auto Bailout — WASHINGTON — Even as House Democrats pressed for a vote Wednesday afternoon on a government rescue of the automobile industry, the Bush administration failed to generate enough support for the measure among Senate Republicans …
Discussion:
Gristmill
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Pam Spaulding / Pam's House Blend:
Jon Stewart slays the homophobic Huckabeast without breaking a sweat — UPDATE: Louise did a complete transcript of the segment in this diary - many thanks! — And entertains while doing so. Jon Stewart asked serious questions any hard-hitting progressive journalist or political commentator …
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Dave Orrick / TwinCities.com:
FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman ally, source says — Source: Inquiry involves alleged attempt to steer money toward senator — Federal investigators are looking into allegations that a longtime friend and benefactor tried to steer money to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, the Pioneer Press has learned.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Huffington Post, Minnesota Independent, BuzzFlash.org, DownWithTyranny!, Gawker, MinnPost and Washington Monthly
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Jason Hoppin / TwinCities.com:U.S. Senate race: Error might mean 171 absentee ballots went uncounted …
Discussion:
TPM Election Central
Associated Press:
Deputy governor Greenlee resigns — CHICAGO - A spokeswoman for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says one of his top aides has resigned. — Spokeswoman Kelley Quinn on Wednesday said Deputy Gov. Bob Greenlee resigned. The reason for his resignation wasn't immediately clear.
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Foreign Policy:
The 10 Worst Predictions for 2008 — Prognostication is by far the riskiest form of punditry. The 10 commentators and leaders on this list learned that the hard way when their confident predictions about politics, war, the economy, and even the end of humanity itself completely missed the mark.
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Text of Obama's first newspaper interview as president-elect — In his first post-election newspaper interview, President-elect Barack Obama doesn't spill all the beans about his intentions upon taking office on Jan. 20. — But he does reveal some interesting details.
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Mary Ann Akers / The Sleuth:
Fire Sale on All McCain-Palin Campaign Equipment — Run, don't walk, to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va., for an amazing Blowout Sale! Computers, blackberries, televisions, desks, you name it - everything must go. Hurry while the offer lasts!
Discussion:
DCist
US Department of Justice:
Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Indicted for Attempted Extortion and Bribery — WASHINGTON - A former Supreme Court Justice of the Third Judicial Circuit of the State of New York was charged today with attempted extortion and federal program bribery, Acting Assistant Attorney …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
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