Top Items:
New York Times:
Scandal Is an Early Test for Obama Team — WASHINGTON — When Representative Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, began exploring whether she might fill Barack Obama's seat in the United States Senate, she called Rahm Emanuel. They served in the House together and, more important …
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John Fund / Wall Street Journal:
Obama Was Mute on Illinois Corruption — The president-elect could use his bully pulpit to drive a clean-up. — This week Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on charges that he conspired to sell Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, among other misdeeds.
Rasmussen Reports:
84% of Illinois Voters Say Blagojevich Should Resign — Eighty-four percent (84%) of Illinois voters say indicted Governor Rod Blagojevich should resign, according to a Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state Wednesday night. Just nine percent (9%) disagree.
Washington Post:
Rezko Is Talking With Prosecutors, Blagojevich Complaint Confirms — A footnote to the 76-page criminal complaint and affidavit charging Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) with soliciting bribes confirms what has long been rumored — that a former longtime friend and fundraiser …
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Blagojevich questions censored on Transition site — President-elect Barack Obama's Transition today launched “Open for Questions,” a Digg-style feature allowing citizens to submit questions, and to vote on one another's questions, bringing favored inquiries to the top of the list.
Discussion:
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Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal:
How the GOP Should Prepare for a Comeback — Organization and ideas are what matters. — What a difference a month makes. Since November's election, the GOP is three wins, no losses. — The first win came in Georgia, where Sen. Saxby Chambliss crushed his Democratic opponent by 15 points in a run-off election on Dec. 2.
Discussion:
The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Democracy in America, The Politico, Commentary and Wonkette
Robert Block / The Write Stuff:
NASA has become a transition problem for Obama — CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is “not qualified” to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.
Discussion:
The Washington Independent
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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
TRANSITION TROUBLE AT NASA.... Almost immediately after the elections last month, George W. Bush publicly vowed a smooth transition, and for the most part, it's been going well. There is, however, a rather glaring example to the contrary. (via Ben Smith) … NASA, as an agency, has struggled over the last eight years.
Kevin Freking / Associated Press:
Daschle also to oversee new health reform office — WASHINGTON — Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle will pull double duty in the Obama administration, where he will serve not only as the Health and Human Services secretary but also oversee a new White House Office of Health Reform.
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Sabato's Crystal Ball:
CORRUPTION MOST FOUL — Revisiting the Timeless Principles of Corruption in Politics — After reading the federal criminal complaint filed against the Illinois governor this past Tuesday we at The Crystal Ball could think only one thing: Willie Stark, meet Rod Blagojevich.
Discussion:
Clive Crook
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Marc Morano / U.S. Senate Committee …:
UN Blowback: More Than 650 International Scientists Dissent Over Man-Made Global Warming Claims — Study: Half of warming due to Sun! -Sea Levels Fail to Rise? - Warming Fears in ‘Dustbin of History’ — POZNAN, Poland - The UN global warming conference currently underway in Poland …
Discussion:
Moonbattery, The Foundry, The Strata-Sphere, Pirate's Cove, Don Surber, American Thinker and Gateway Pundit
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
A Spy CEO for Obama — What should President-elect Barack Obama do about the intelligence community? He has appointed the other top members of his national security team, but intrigue still surrounds his choices for director of national intelligence and director of the CIA.
Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
FIRST THOUGHTS: NO ORDINARY HONEYMOON — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann — *** No ordinary honeymoon: While the political world continues to focus on the Blagojevich scandal, which at this point has been only a headache for the incoming Obama administration …
Don Boudreaux / Wall Street Journal:
Bankruptcy Doesn't Equal Death — The auto industry could use the process to get competitive. — The spectacle of corporate magnates from Detroit pleading to be on Uncle Sam's dole is a sordid one. So why aren't more Americans appalled? One reason is widespread misunderstanding …
Discussion:
QandO
Paul Krugman:
The economic consequences of Herr Steinbrueck — There's an extraordinary — and extraordinarily depressing — interview in Newsweek with Peer Steinbrueck, the Germany finance minister. The world economy is in a terrifying nosedive, visible everywhere. Yet Mr. Steinbrueck is standing firm …
Fredric U. Dicker / New York Post:
CAROLINE ‘EQUALS J.LO’: DEM — REP. TAKES SWIPE AT CAMELOT CELEB POWER — ALBANY - A prominent New York Democratic congressman publicly questioned Caroline Kennedy's credentials to replace Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying she's no more qualified to hold office than Jennifer Lopez.
Spencer S. Hsu / Washington Post:
Cleaning Service Used by Chertoff Calls Immigration Laws Unfair — Every few weeks for nearly four years, the Secret Service screened the IDs of employees for a Maryland cleaning company before they entered the house of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the nation's top immigration official.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Think Progress, Department of Homeland …, Wonkette, The Heretik, 24Ahead, The Corner, ImmigrationProf Blog, On Deadline and PoliPundit.com
Julie Scelfo / New York Times:
Trickledown Downsizing — IN September, Cathy DeVore, a real estate agent in Larchmont, N.Y., whose business has been at a standstill lately, began taking gradual steps to lay off her longtime nanny and housekeeper. Aware that the woman supports a son, a mother, and a niece in Dominica …
Discussion:
The Washington Independent
Rex W. Huppke / Chicago Tribune:
Rod Blagojevich shows foulmouthed side — Etiquette experts say such language still unprofessional — If the wiretapped dialogue in the criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich reveals anything, it's that the governor can deftly hold his own in the pantheon of political profanity.
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