Top Items:
Ben Protess— Propublica / The Politico:
Burris sought death for innocent man — Former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, is no stranger to controversy. — Public fury over the governor's alleged misconduct has masked the once lively debate …
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Chicago Tribune:
Roland Burris battles roadblocks to U.S. Senate; stall tactics likely by others — Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace Barack Obama vows to avoid scene in Washington — WASHINGTON — As U.S. Senate leadership developed an elaborate set of contingency plans Wednesday to keep Roland Burris …
Ian Welsh / Firedoglake:
Harry Reid's Doing the Right Thing — digg it — I've had my problems with Reid over the years, but he's not in the wrong on Blagojevich and Burris. This is not a racial issue. Long before Burris, a black man, was appointed by a corrupt governor, Reid said he wouldn't allow anyone, anyone, appointed by Blagojevich, to be seated.
Discussion:
Liberty Street
Slate:
How the Senate Can Stop Blagojevich — It easily has the power to block the governor's appointment of Roland Burris. — Does the Constitution allow the Senate to refuse to seat Roland Burris, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's surprise appointee? In a word, yes. Here's why.
Discussion:
TalkLeft, Althouse, Concurring Opinions, Balkinization, Daily Kos and The Volokh Conspiracy
Bmaz / Emptywheel:
The Ugly Legal Optics Of Harry Reid's Burris Battle — Earlier this morning, Jane wrote a fantastic post, “Burris and Blago: What Happens Now?”, that lays out most all of the concerns with the obstreperous position taken by Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership.
Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:Burris and Blago: What Happens Now?
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, Majikthise, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, RedState, The Moderate Voice, First Draft and The Caucus
Mike Allen / The Politico:Blocking Blago: Senate has Plan B for 90-day delay
Discussion:
Commentary, D-Day, Washington Post, Washington Monthly, Progress Illinois, The Capitol Fax Blog and TPM Election Central
Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
AN OCCUPIED NATION AND A THREATENED ONE. — This blog is on a light schedule today and tomorrow due to various New Years related program activities, but it's worth quickly responding to Jonathan Chait's post on Israel and Palestine. Chait makes a common claim, which is that all analysis …
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The Politico:
Obama's paparazzi presidency — ABC's Jake Tapper predicted this week that Barack Obama will be “the Britney Spears of 2009.” — Considering that Obama was deemed by some to be the Britney Spears of 2008, it wasn't much of a leap. — But a funny thing happened on the way to the cover of Us Weekly.
Oliver Kay / Times of London:
Gaza rockets put Israel's nuclear plant in battle zone — Growing concern over Hamas's new arsenal — There were growing fears in Israel last night that Hamas missiles could threaten its top-secret nuclear facility at Dimona. — Rocket attacks from Gaza have forced Israelis to flee …
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Yaakov Katz / Associated Press:Nizar Rayyan considered successor of Ahmed Yassin
Discussion:
Random Thoughts, Gateway Pundit, Telegraph, Seraphic Secret, Ynetnews, Israel Matzav, Associated Press and Little Green Footballs
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
A Caretaker for New York — Looks like David Patterson may just kick the can down the road: … That's probably a decent idea. But I have to say that in my view both the Illinois situation, the Delaware situation, and the New York situation all basically serve to illustrate the over-arching point …
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James Randerson / Guardian:
Nasa's James Hansen warns Barack Obama on climate change — Current approaches to deal with climate change are ineffectual, one of the world's top climate scientists said today in a personal new year appeal to Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on the urgent need to tackle global warming.
New York Times:
Donald E. Westlake, Mystery Writer, Is Dead at 75 — Donald E. Westlake, a prolific, award-winning mystery novelist who pounded out more than 100 books and five screenplays on manual typewriters during his half-century career, died Wednesday night. He was 75.
Patrick Healy / MSNBC:
Calif. Taxpayers Due Refunds May Get IOUs — If you expect you'll be getting a refund from California when you file your 2008 state income tax return, be prepared: you may instead receive a “registered warrant.” Translation: an IOU. — California is rapidly running out of money.
Ernesto Londoño / Washington Post:
At Midnight, U.S. Leaves Republican Palace, Green Zone to Iraqis — The walls of the majestic Republican Palace in Baghdad's Green Zone have been stripped bare. The vaults that secured American cash and classified documents are gone, and the cement blast walls that protected the front entrance were taken down this week.
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, theheretik.us, New York Times, Macsmind, Neptunus Lex, Right Wing News, PoliBlog, Danger Room, RedState and Booman Tribune
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Charlie Savage / New York Times:
On Fast Track for Clemency, via the Oval Office — WASHINGTON — In December 2007, the names of about 700 federal prisoners seeking commutations reached President Bush's desk. He rejected all but one. Among the disappointed petitioners was Reed R. Prior, an Iowa man serving a life sentence …
Swaraaj Chauhan / The Moderate Voice:
Australia: To Bare Or Not To Bare — Sydney's Bondy Beach is among a few designated beaches in Australia where top-less bathers are permitted to enjoy the sun, sand and the sea. In fact such beaches are a major draw for tourists too!!! But as Australians begin their long summer holidays this year …
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