Top Items:
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
REALLY A MYSTERY — From an observer up on the Hill ... And from a career intel professional ... I used to do a lot of intelligence reporting. But I haven't really done any to speak of in a few years. So I'm coming at this cold. But I feel instinctively suspicious of the congressional reaction to this appointment.
Discussion:
Firedoglake
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Lauren Kornreich / CNN:
Feinstein slams Obama CIA head pick — (CNN) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Senate's incoming Intelligence committee chair, slammed President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Leon Panetta as director of the CIA Monday. — “I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director.
Discussion:
MSNBC, SpyTalk, Buck Naked Politics, GayPatriot, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, Don Surber, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and The Corner
The Caucus:
Panetta to Be Named C.I.A. Director — President-elect Barack Obama has selected Leon E. Panetta, the former congressman and White House chief of staff, to take over the Central Intelligence Agency, an organization that Mr. Obama criticized during the campaign for using interrogation methods …
Discussion:
The Corner, SpyTalk, Washington Monthly, The Moderate Voice, MoJoBlog, Calitics, The Washington Independent, Danger Room, The Daily Dish, Salon, Jules Crittenden, FP Passport, Michelle Malkin, Donklephant, Weekly Standard, MyDD, Hot Air, TPM Election Central, Swampland, BLACKFIVE, A Blog For All, TIME.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Opinionator, Pirate's Cove, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, AmSpecBlog, Firedoglake, Spin Cycle, D-Day, Think Progress, Macsmind, Wonkette and TalkLeft
Los Angeles Times:
Panetta a surprise pick to run the CIA — Leon Panetta, a former congressman and Clinton chief of staff, would give Obama a political ally at the helm of the troubled spy agency. — Reporting from Washington — In choosing Leon E. Panetta to be the next CIA director …
Jennifer Rubin / Commentary:
Not Even the Clintons Would Have Tried This
Not Even the Clintons Would Have Tried This
Discussion:
CQ Politics, Top of the Ticket, Sister Toldjah, MSNBC, Washington Monthly and The Corner
Spencer Ackerman / The Washington Independent:
Dianne Feinstein Not Too Pleased With Panetta Pick
Dianne Feinstein Not Too Pleased With Panetta Pick
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Crooks and Liars, Democracy in America, The Sideshow, Bark Bark Woof Woof and Democrats.com
Drudge Report:
NBC BANS COULTER FOR LIFE; CUT FROM ‘TODAY’ SHOW OVER BOOK'S CLAIMS, NO MORE CABLE — The nation's top selling conservative author has been banned from appearing on NBC, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT. — Banned for life! — “We are just not going to have her on any more, it's over,” a top network source explains.
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Josh Kraushaar / Scorecard's Blogs:
Reid: Coleman will “never ever serve” — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered the toughest language he has ever used in arguing that Norm Coleman's career in the Senate is finished. — “Norm Coleman will never ever serve [again] in the Senate,” Reid told Politico's Manu Raju. “He lost the election.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Senate recount: Franken's on top; Coleman to sue — The state Canvassing Board certified final results this afternoon in Minnesota's marathon U.S. Senate race, but that won't end the battle between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman, whose Senate term ended on Saturday.
Maayana Miskin / Arutz Sheva:
Zahar Claims Victory, Calls to Kill Jewish Children — (IsraelNN.com) Hamas spokesman Mahmoud Az-Zahar claimed victory for Hamas on Monday, saying Hamas had succeeded in “destroying Israel's sense of security” with its rocket attacks. Zahar made his proclamation in video footage sent from a secret hideout …
Discussion:
JOSHUAPUNDIT
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WCBS-TV:
SHOCK POLL: Kennedy Trailing Cuomo Huge — Public Policy Polling Shows Princess Of Camelot Losing Grip On New Yorkers, Falls Behind 20 Points Among Dems — Caroline Kennedy appears to be losing momentum in her bid for Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. — A new survey conducted …
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Ralph Z. Hallow / Washington Times:
Steele, Blackwell take limelight at RNC forum — Members to vote for new chairman — Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, an accomplished speaker, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, not well known for dazzling performances, each repeatedly drew sustained applause …
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog, The Washington Independent, The Campaign Spot, The Other McCain and The Politico
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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Biden on economy: 'We're at war' — Vice-president-elect Joe Biden likened the country's economic crisis to the attacks of 9/11 Monday in a private meeting on Capitol Hill. — “We're at war,” Biden told congressional leaders of both parties during their sit-down with Barack Obama in the Capitol …
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Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
REMEMBER LINCOLN? — Dave Weigel, now happily ensconced at the Washington Independent, is liveblogging the RNC chairman debate: … It's really weird that Republican candidates for high office almost never named Abraham Lincoln as their favorite Republican president. He was, after all, a Republican.
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David Weigel / The Washington Independent:
RNC Debate: Round II
RNC Debate: Round II
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog
Robert D. Kaplan / The Atlantic Online:
Iran's Postmodern Beast in Gaza — Israel has just embarked on a land invasion of the Gaza Strip after a week of aerial bombing. Gaza is bordered by Egypt, and was under Egyptian military control from 1949 through 1967. And yet in a startling rebuke to geography and recent history …
New York Times:
Ex-Detainee of U.S. Describes a 6-Year Ordeal — LAHORE, Pakistan — When Muhammad Saad Iqbal arrived home here in August after more than six years in American custody, including five at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, he had difficulty walking, his left ear was severely infected …
Jonathan Adams / Christian Science Monitor:
In an increasingly wired China, rehab for Internet addicts — A Beijing treatment center for Web-addicted youths includes counseling, group games like laser tag, and physical exercise. — BEIJING - — A 6 a.m. wake-up call. Afternoon drills in military bearing and formations.
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Laura Bush to write her life story — Laura Bush has signed with Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, to write her memoirs for publication in the spring of 2010. — The first lady plans to write about her experiences in the White House and Texas governor's mansion …
Discussion:
Top of the Ticket
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? — Since my earlier post was more arch and cryptic, I wanted to expand on what seems to be the problem with the Obama stimulus plan, as revealed in the current round of leaks. I would point to three key issues. And I'm going to base these three on the premise …