Top Items:
Eric Kleefeld / TPM Election Central:
Franken Gets Big Win At Canvass Board — Al Franken's chances of winning the Minnesota recount may have just gone up astronomically. — The state canvassing board just voted unanimously that absentee ballots that were initially rejected because of clerical errors — and the current estimate …
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Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Absentee vote issue headed for state Supreme Court — Minneapolis election director Cindy Reichert addressed members of the state Canvassing Board at the State Capitol on Friday morning. Members (l to r) are: Kathleen R. Gearin, Chief Judge, Second Judicial District; Eric J. Magnuson …
Eric Kleefeld / TPM Election Central:
In Boost To Franken, Minnesota Restores Missing Ballots To The Count
In Boost To Franken, Minnesota Restores Missing Ballots To The Count
Matthew Jaffe / ABCNEWS:
Emanuel: I'm Getting Death Threats Over Blagojevich Scandal — Obama's Chief of Staff Refuses to Go to Work Because of Media Stakeout — The President-elect's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said today he won't go to the Chicago Presidential transition offices in order to avoid reporters seeking …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Michelle Malkin, Talking Points Memo, The Note, TIME.com, RedState, Commentary, Firedoglake, Chicagoist, GINA COBB, Big Brass Blog and protein wisdom
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Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Contact: Emanuel spoke with Blago “on multiple occasions” about Senate seat — The attempt by President-elect Barack Obama to distance himself from the scandal erupting in Illinois took a big hit last night with this exclusive report from Chicago's Fox affiliate.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, Riehl World View, RedState, The Moderate Voice, Sister Toldjah and The Capitol Fax Blog
Joseph Stiglitz / Financial Times:
Chapter 11 is the right road for US carmakers — The debate about whether or not to bail out the Big Three carmakers has been mischaracterised. It has been described as a package to help the undeserving dinosaurs of Detroit. In fact, a plan to bail out the carmakers would benefit shareholders …
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Micheline Maynard / New York Times:
U.A.W. at Center of Dispute Over Bailout — DETROIT — Opponents of a Congressional bailout for Detroit auto companies and the United Automobile Workers union traded charges Friday over who was responsible for the defeat of legislation that would have provided temporary financing until the automakers restructured.
Carrie Budoff Brown / The Politico:
Rendell slams Obama over Blago — Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell today criticized Barack Obama for not being more upfront about the Illinois corruption scandal. — Now, he said, the story will continue to dominate the media's attention. — “They have never been in an executive position before …
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Eli Saslow / Washington Post:
Obama Worked to Distance Self From Blagojevich Early On — Like every other politician in Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich waited for Barack Obama's call this summer. He told colleagues that he expected a speaking role at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a nice bit of payback …
Eugene Robinson / Washington Post:
A Playbook to Change — In handling questions about the arrest …
A Playbook to Change — In handling questions about the arrest …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Hullabaloo, DailyHowler.com, Real Clear Politics and Wall Street Journal
myfoxdc.com:
McCain Campaign Sells Info-Loaded Blackberry to FOX 5 Reporter — Exclusive FOX 5 Investigation — ARLINGTON, Va. - Private information at bargain prices. It was a high-tech flub at the McCain-Palin campaign headquarters in Arlington when Fox 5's Investigative Reporter Tisha Thompson bought …
Discussion:
Gawker
Ta-Nehisi Coates:
Pragmatism and evil — Chris Hayes offers up a must-read analysis of the Obama apparatchiks, the media stenographers, and acolytes of perceived wisdom who claim pragmatism has won out over ideology: … It's funny how that works. I can remember in 2003 when the anti-war nutty left …
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Alas, a blog
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Chicago Breaking News:
Blagojevich chief of staff Harris resigns — John Harris resigned this morning as Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff, his lawyer said. — Harris dropped off his letter of resignation today in person and will not be going back to the office, according to his lawyer, Terry Ekl.
Discussion:
MSNBC, USA Today, Hot Air, Associated Press, TIME.com, A Blog For All, MyDD, Firedoglake and MarketWatch
Chicago Tribune:
Blagojevich fundraiser held by Jackson allies Saturday — As Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to pick Illinois' next U.S. senator, businessmen with ties to both the governor and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage …
Todd S. Purdum / New York Times:
Robin Toner, Times Reporter, Is Dead — Robin Toner, who was the first woman to be the national political correspondent of The New York Times and who had a significant hand in the coverage of five presidential elections, innumerable Congressional and gubernatorial campaigns …
Jacqueline L. Salmon / Washington Post:
Evangelical Leader Quits Over Gay Union Remark — A prominent evangelical lobbyist resigned yesterday over his remarks in a National Public Radio interview, in which he said he supports permitting same-sex civil unions. — The Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
THOUGHTS ON THE BAILOUT FLAMEOUT — A few thoughts on this morning's news. — Not surprisingly, with this morning's news, we're getting more than a few emails arguing that the Democrats, in their new position of strength, should weaken or entirely do away with the filibuster — i.e. …
Chicago Breaking News:
Madigan to court: Remove Blagojevich — Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan speaks at a news conference at the Thompson Center today. (Tribune / Zbigniew Bzdak) — Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan called on the Illinois Supreme Court today to temporarily remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office …
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Chicago Sun Times, Associated Press, Washington Monthly, TIME.com, FiveThirtyEight.com and Salon
Kos / Daily Kos:
PA-Sen: Specter shows weakness in primary and general — Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 12/8-10. Likely voters. MoE 4% for general election matchups, 5% for primary matchups (No trend lines) … Toomey is itching to go after Specter again after falling just short in 2004 …
Discussion:
Scorecard's Blogs, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, MyDD, Swing State Project and TPM Election Central
Wall Street Journal:
Top Broker Accused of $50 Billion Fraud — Sons Turned In Madoff After He Allegedly Told Them His Investment-Advisory Business for the Wealthy Was ‘Giant Ponzi Scheme’ — Bernard L. Madoff, a former chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market and a force in Wall Street trading for nearly 50 years …
Discussion:
Doug Ross, Moonbattery, On Deadline, TPMMuckraker, Clayton Cramer's BLOG and New York Times
Amanda Terkel / Think Progress:
Gingrich Offers To Be Rep.-Elect Cao's Liaison To The African-American Community — Earlier this week, the Times-Picayune profiled the district's new congressman Joseph Cao (R-LA), who beat out the indicted Democratic incumbent William Jefferson. As the first Vietnamese-American in Congress …
Amanda Terkel / Think Progress:
Powell lashes out at Palin: I'm from the South Bronx, 'and there's nothing wrong with my value system.' — In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria that will air this weekend, former Secretary of State Colin Powell sharply criticized the Republican party and its “value system,” taking particular aim at Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK):
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Comments from Left Field
myfoxtwincities.com:
Exclusive: Norm Coleman's Renovation Project Coincides with Financial Lawsuit — ST. PAUL (FOX 9) — The timing and cost of Sen. Norm Coleman's home renovation has again raised questions about allegations that an Edina, Minn. businessman funneled money to Norm Coleman's wife Laurie.
Ann Scott Tyson / Washington Post:
10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle — After jumping out of helicopters at daybreak onto jagged, ice-covered rocks and into water at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the 12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target — an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.
Helene Cooper / The Caucus:
Sorry, We're Booked, White House Tells Obamas — Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama met Barack Obama's campaign plane in Colorado on Nov. 1. (Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times) — Updated | 3:12 p.m. CHICAGO—The White House has turned down a request from the family …