Top Items:
Mike Allen / The Politico:
McCain scolds GOP for whacking Obama — In a surprising rebuke to the warriors who fought for him through tough times, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Sunday sided with President-elect Barack Obama and scolded the Republican National Committee for fanning the Illinois corruption scandal.
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, A Blog For All, MyDD, Sweetness & Light, JammieWearingFool, Macsmind, Gateway Pundit and Reuters
RELATED:
Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Obama team's ‘unanswered questions’ — The “unanswered questions” — as the Republican National Committee and others are calling them — will continue to haunt President-elect Obama and staff in the sordid case of the Illinois governor accused of attempting to sell Obama's Senate seat.
Jennifer Parker / George's Bottom Line:
McCain: RNC's Obama-Blagojevich Focus Not Helpful — In an exclusive interview with This Week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the Obama transition team should publicly release all information relating to the corruption investigation into Illinois Rod Blagojevich.
Discussion:
The Fix, Washington Monthly, TPM Election Central, The Note, Ben Smith's Blogs, TIME.com and Chicago Breaking News
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Pressure builds on Obama to release his Blagojevich contacts
Pressure builds on Obama to release his Blagojevich contacts
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, NO QUARTER, Pajamas Media, Althouse, RedState, Hot Air, Dean's World, Doug Ross and New York Times
Steven Lee Myers / New York Times:
Bush Arrives in Iraq for a Final Visit — BAGHDAD — President Bush flew to Iraq on Sunday, a final trip to highlight the recently completed security agreement between Iraq and the United States. — Air Force One arrived in Baghdad at 4 p.m. after a 10-and-a-half-hour overnight flight from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.
RELATED:
Jules Crittenden:
Victory Lap — Bush makes a last visit to Iraq. Reuters: … Either that, or they bought the distortions, outright lies and pro-jihadi propaganda they were spoonfed over the past five years by Reuters and others. Can't just let him have his victory. Don't worry, he's leaving it in good hands.
Discussion:
Kansas City Star, Mudville Gazette, PoliBlog, Right Wing Nut House, Outside The Beltway, BBC, Dean's World and Gateway Pundit
Ben Armbruster / Think Progress:
Iraqi Journalist Throws His Shoes At Bush During Press Conference In Baghdad (Updated) — Iraqi Journalist Throws His Shoes At Bush During Press Conference In Baghdad (Updated)» — President Bush is in Baghdad today on a surprise farewell visit highlighting the security deal recently reached between the U.S. and Iraq.
Michael Isikoff / Newsweek:
The Fed Who Blew the Whistle — Is he a hero or a criminal? — Nigel Parry / CPI for Newsweek — From the magazine issue dated Dec 22, 2008 — Thomas M. Tamm was entrusted with some of the government's most important secrets. He had a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance, a level above Top Secret.
Discussion:
Michael Calderone's Blogs, Balloon Juice, theheretik.us, Power Line, Macsmind and Pacific Views
RELATED:
Hilzoy / Washington Monthly:
Whistleblowers — Newsweek has a fascinating story about the person who first leaked the warrantless surveillance story: … It's fascinating, and well worth reading in its entirety. For now, I want to focus on one comment by Frances Frago Townsend: … In general, I agree with Townsend.
Associated Press:
Palin's church damaged in suspicious fire — ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — Gov. Sarah Palin's home church has been badly damaged in an arson fire. — Damages to the Wasilla Bible Church were estimated at $1 million, authorities said today. No one was injured in the fire, which was intentionally set while people …
RELATED:
Deborah Blum / The Huffington Post:
Why My Dog (And I) No Longer Watch CNN — In my home office we are boycotting CNN. Of course, my home office is a room at the back of my house occupied by myself and the family dog, a boxer named Dodger, who contributes by snoring musically while I work. — Nevertheless, we take this boycott seriously.
Peter Baker / New York Times:
The Lasting Effects of Political Poison — WASHINGTON — It came to John D. Podesta during a jog through the scenic Rock Creek Park over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. His boss was going to be impeached and there was no way around it. It took Rahm Emanuel a little longer to reach that conclusion.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, No More Mister Nice Blog, Kevin Drum and Capital Gains and Games blogs
Satyam Khanna / Think Progress:
Rove Reportedly Will ‘Help Lead’ GOP's Fight Against Eric Holder For Attorney General — Senate Republicans, including Sens. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), are trying delay confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Eric Holder …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, AMERICAblog News, Emptywheel, DownWithTyranny!, United States Senator … and Los Angeles Times
New York Times:
A Champion of Wall Street Reaps Benefits — “We are not going to rest until we change the rules, change the laws and make sure New York remains No. 1 for decades on into the future.” — WASHINGTON — As the financial crisis jolted the nation in September, Senator Charles E. Schumer was consumed.
Discussion:
Commentary, Kevin Drum, NewsBusters.org, BloggingStocks, Booman Tribune, JammieWearingFool, The Big Picture, TPMCafe and The Agonist