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Michael Jensen / AfterElton.com blogs:
Developing: HBO says they aren't to blame for not including Gene Robinson in concert special — Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson (AFP/Robyn Beck) — Sunday afternoon, HBO televised the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial — a concert planned by the Presidential Inauguration Committee …
Discussion:
Joe. My. God., Think Progress, DownWithTyranny!, The Confluence, Pam's House Blend, Towleroad, The Huffington Post, La Figa, Truthdig and ONTD: Politics
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Sarah Pulliam / Christianity Today:
Gay Bishop Kicks off Celebrity-filled Event — WASHINGTON — Gene Robinson, the divisive figure who was the first openly Episcopal gay bishop, led the invocation at today's inaugural kickoff. — Robinson prayed for God to “bless this nation with anger - anger at discrimination …
Discussion:
La Figa, The Huffington Post, Taylor Marsh, pandagon.net, Pam's House Blend, USA Today, The Lead, Rumproast, MSNBC and Salon
CNN:
Most blacks say MLK's vision fulfilled, poll finds — WASHINGTON (CNN) — More than two-thirds of African-Americans believe Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision for race relations has been fulfilled, a CNN poll found — a figure up sharply from a survey in early 2008.
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Jennifer Parker / ABCNEWS:
From ‘I Have a Dream’ to Obama Inauguration
From ‘I Have a Dream’ to Obama Inauguration
Discussion:
The Swamp, The Politico, New York Times, Washington Post, NY Daily News, The Caucus, USA Today and The World Newser
Leonard Pitts Jr / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Pitts: Lincoln might not have welcomed Obama's election
Pitts: Lincoln might not have welcomed Obama's election
Discussion:
Philly.com
Deb Riechmann / Associated Press:
Bush commutes sentences of former US border agents … WASHINGTON (AP) - In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.
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Fox News:
Bush Commutes Sentences for Two Former Border Patrol Agents — President Bush commutes the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, convicted of shooting a Mexican drug runner in 2005. — FOXNews.com — On his last full day in office, President Bush commuted the controversial sentences …
Michelle Malkin:
Lame duck surprise: Bush commutes sentences of Compean/Ramos — It's a shocker from the open-borders Bush administration. The families must be extraordinarily relieved. They've been through hell: … (via Fox News) — Compean and Ramos will be released March 20, via Allah.
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool
Debra Black / Toronto Star:
William Ayers turned back at Canadian border — An American education professor, one of the founders of a radical 1960s group known as the Weather Underground, which was responsible for a number of bombings in the United States in the early 1970s, was turned back at the Canadian border last night.
Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
10 Bush pardons to watch for — As the clock ticks down on his presidency, George W. Bush has shown few signs he plans to indulge in the frenzy of last-minute pardons that marked Bill Clinton's final hours in the Oval Office. — But Bush could quickly leap back into the spotlight in the next …
Gil Hoffman / Jerusalem Post:
Likud, Kadima escalate mutual attacks — The Likud and Kadima parties intensified their attacks against each other on Sunday after the cease-fire took effect in the Gaza Strip, formally ending Operation Cast Lead and restarting the election campaign. — The first polls taken …
Discussion:
Power Line, Commentary, Soccer Dad, Israel Matzav, PoliGazette and Lawyers, Guns and Money
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Ethan Bronner / New York Times:
Parsing Gains of Gaza War
Parsing Gains of Gaza War
Discussion:
Buck Naked Politics, Jerusalem Post, Israel Matzav, Yourish.com, BBC, Tikun Olam, The Muqata and abu muqawama
Fredric U. Dicker / New York Post:
CAROLINE THE ‘CERTAIN’ PICK FOR DAVE: RIVALS — DESPITE claims that he's still undecided, Gov. Paterson is “certain” to pick Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate, several unhappy contenders for the job have told friends and associates in recent days.
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CNN:
No Bush moving trucks needed Inauguration Day — WASHINGTON (CNN) - On Inauguration day, there's one scene at the White House that won't be playing out exactly as it has during past transitions: the traditional moving of the outgoing First Family's belongings.
Scott Mayerowitz / ABCNEWS:
What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration — Obama's Inauguration Has Been Financed Partially by Bailed-Out Wall Street Executives — ABC NEWS Business Unit — The country is in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, which isn't stopping rich donors …
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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
INAUGURAL COSTS.... This week, inaugural festivities …
INAUGURAL COSTS.... This week, inaugural festivities …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Media Matters for America, Brian Beutler, The Next Right, PoliGazette and Outside The Beltway
Matthew Cooper / TPMDC:
A New Day — I'm delighted to be helping out with TPMDC and TPM's coverage of the new administration. I've been a fan of Josh Marshall and the site for a long time and it's nice to be a part of it. I continue to write for Conde Nast Portfolio, where I'm a contributing editor, as well as its website, and other publications.
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias
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Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Wall Street Voodoo — Old-fashioned voodoo economics — the belief in tax-cut magic — has been banished from civilized discourse. The supply-side cult has shrunk to the point that it contains only cranks, charlatans, and Republicans. — But recent news reports suggest that many influential people …
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias, TPMDC, Talking Points Memo, Portfolio, Paul Krugman, Kevin Drum, theheretik.us, The Volokh Conspiracy and The Reaction
William Kristol / New York Times:
The Next War President — In synagogue on Saturday, before saying the customary prayer for our country, the rabbi asked us to reflect on the fact that a new president would be inaugurated on Tuesday, and urged us to focus a little more intently than usual on the prayer.
Brian Stelter / New York Times:
Fox News Primes Itself for a Shift — WASHINGTON — When the White House changes occupants this week, it may also change channels. — Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday marks the end of an era for the Fox News Channel, the cable news network of choice during the George W. Bush years.
Agence France Presse:
Gates to sit out Obama inauguration — Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition — WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will sit out Barack Obama's inauguration at an undisclosed location as the “designated successor” in the event of a catastrophe, the White House announced Monday.