Top Items:
Alex West / The Sun:
Deadliest weapon so far... the plague — Terrorists train ... but they face invisible killer — At least 40 al-Qaeda fanatics died horribly after being struck down with the disease that devastated Europe in the Middle Ages. — The killer bug, also known as the plague …
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.
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, CNN, The Confluence, Dean's World, The Reaction, Breitbart.tv, Stop The ACLU, TalkLeft, Washington Monthly, Scared Monkeys, Buck Naked Politics, BLACKFIVE and 24Ahead
RELATED:
Michael Isikoff / Newsweek:
No Pardon For Libby — Bush uses clemency powers sparingly to the end — I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby was convicted of lying and obstructing a leak investigation over the run-up to the Iraq war. — In a move that has keenly disappointed some of his strongest conservative allies …
Eric Lichtblau / New York Times:
Bush Commutes 2 Border Agents' Sentences — WASHINGTON — President Bush on Monday commuted the sentences of two former Border Patrol agents imprisoned for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler, but he was preparing to leave office without granting clemency to any better-known figures …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
VERY POOR CHOICE — As most of you likely know, the inauguration committee sold HBO the exclusive rights to broadcast yesterday's inaugural concert festivities. I don't think that was a good idea since certainly not every American subscribes or can subscribe to HBO.
RELATED:
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Obama camp takes blame for gay bishop slight
Obama camp takes blame for gay bishop slight
Discussion:
Stop The ACLU, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post, Boston Globe, The Politico, pandagon.net, Hot Air, Pam's House Blend and TIME.com
Michael Jensen / AfterElton.com blogs:
Developing: HBO says they aren't to blame for not including Gene …
Developing: HBO says they aren't to blame for not including Gene …
Discussion:
Joe. My. God., Feministing, TV Barn, AMERICAblog News, The Confluence, Towleroad, The Lead, Pam's House Blend, American Power, DownWithTyranny!, La Figa and USA Today
John Aravosis / AMERICAblog News:
Obama: We'd always intended for HBO to broadcast Robinson
Obama: We'd always intended for HBO to broadcast Robinson
Discussion:
AfterElton.com blogs, SFGate, Boston Globe, Dependable Renegade, DCist, Taylor Marsh, Pam's House Blend and The Raw Story
Huma Khan / Political Punch:
Jill Biden Tells Oprah Her Hubbie Offered Choice of VP or Secy of State — During the taping of the Oprah Winfrey show today, Dr. Jill Biden said that her husband, the vice president-elect, was given a choice of being either vice president or secretary of State.
Discussion:
MyDD, Marc Ambinder, Washington Wire, The New Republic, Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Washington Post, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, The Raw Story and TPMDC
RELATED:
Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:
Biden tries to shush wife after state-VP slip — Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition — WASHINGTON - Joe Biden's wife said Monday that he had his pick of being Barack Obama's running mate or the secretary of state nomination that eventually went to Hillary Rodham Clinton …
New York Magazine:
Christopher Hitchens Blames Torture on Common Americans, Demands ‘Tongue’ From Andrew Sullivan — A gaggle of prominent scribes including Tina Brown, Harold Evans, and Politico's Mike Allen got a scare Saturday night when they found themselves briefly trapped in an elevator struggling …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Taylor Marsh, Firedoglake, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Wonkette, The Other McCain and Unqualified Offerings
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.
Discussion:
Confederate Yankee, Michelle Malkin, Right Wing News, Jules Crittenden, On Deadline, Don Surber, Hot Air and Scared Monkeys
Christopher Hitchens / Slate:
Why I'm not sorry that George W. Bush beat Al Gore and John Kerry. — Yes, yes, I was on the downtown streets of Washington bright and early, mingling with the bright-eyed and the wide-eyed. Yes, by all means I was there on the Mall Sunday afternoon, feeling no more moist than the next person …
Khaled Abu Toameh / Jerusalem Post:
‘Hamas torturing Fatah members in Gaza’ — Hamas militiamen have rounded up hundreds of Fatah activists on suspicion of “collaboration” with Israel during Operation Cast Lead, Fatah members in the Gaza Strip told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. — They said the Hamas crackdown on Fatah intensified …
Christopher Beam / Slate:
Slate crashes Bush's farewell party. — You can often tell a party by its parties. This week, Democrats are feting the incoming chief with top-shelf DJs, valet parking, and more coat checks than coats. Republicans, on the other hand, seem to be partying on a tight budget, if at all.
Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Obama Web-site imitation bears virus — With all the public interest in President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration, it was only a matter of time before someone exploited the attention for harm. — According to the computer protection firm Panda Security, someone has made copies …
RELATED:
Barton Gellman / Washington Post:
Obama's Moment Arrives — Historians Say He Could Redefine the Presidency — Barack Obama takes office today with a realistic prospect of joining the ranks of history's most powerful presidents. — The more familiar observation, that he confronts daunting trials, enhances that prospect.
Eric Dash / New York Times:
Mexican Billionaire Invests in Times Company — The New York Times Company said Monday it had reached an agreement with the Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helú for a $250 million loan intended to help the newspaper company finance its businesses. — Under the terms of the deal …
Discussion:
Grasping Reality …
John / Power Line:
PRESIDENT BUSH: AN ASSESSMENT — President Bush leaves office mostly unloved, with some poll respondents saying that they consider him one of our worst presidents ever. This in itself is odd. Generally, our worst Presidents have been one-termers, for obvious reasons: James Buchanan …
Matthew Cooper / TPMDC:
The Racial Thaw — It's a cliche that people who came of age after the civil rights movement, can't imagine the world of Jim Crow and segregation that preceded them. To a lesser extent, at 45—I turn 46 on Wednesday—I find it slightly hard to explain what America's racial environment …
Andy Borowitz / The Huffington Post:
In Last Official Act, Bush Repeals English Language — In what he hoped would be the capstone to his eight years as President, George W. Bush today signed an executive order repealing the English language. — Scrawling his name on the official document, Mr. Bush said that in abolishing English …
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Will-be President Obama lauds would-be president McCain — It was a tough, nearly 2-year-long battle that cost Americans upward of $1 billion just between the last two men left standing. — And tonight at a special D.C. dinner, on the eve of becoming the nation's 44th president at Tuesday's inauguration …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
NOT SO MUCH — Theda Skocpol responds to Rep. Frank ... I have to say, my read is very, very similar to Theda's. I hope Frank was speaking in a more general sense rather than one of literal grand bargains or broad political economic quid pro quos. In fact, I agree so much I think I'm …
Discussion:
Corrente
Rasmussen Reports:
44% Say Global Warming Due To Planetary Trends, Not People — Al Gore's side may be coming to power in Washington, but they appear to be losing the battle on the idea that humans are to blame for global warming. — Forty-four percent (44%) of U.S. voters now say long-term planetary trends …
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 …
Discussion:
Townhall.com, The Confluence, Reason, Pat Dollard, Blue Crab Boulevard, Hot Air, The Daily Politics and Flopping Aces
John Collins Rudolf / New York Times:
Banks Foreclose on Builders With Perfect Records — TEMPE, Ariz. — Dave Brown, one of this city's best-known home builders, had kept his head above water through the housing downturn, not missing a single interest payment on his loans. So he was confounded a few months back when one of his banks …
Ann Althouse / Althouse:
Here's the post where you can say good-bye to George Bush. — The sun has set on the last night of the Bush presidency. Now, tired old George can retreat to Texas and not be kicked around anymore. He can wait for that history he's always talking about to do its curative work.
Discussion:
Hot Air
Jacque Wilson / CNN:
Chris Rock on making fun of Barack Obama — (CNN) — Chris Rock is best known for two things: being funny and being crass. — “This is what people come to see. I'm just doing my show,” the comedian said with a laugh. — He's also known for his political commentary …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Anti-torture lawyer Lederman joining administration — A Georgetown source forwards over an email from that school's administration, reporting that Professor Marty Lederman's class will be canceled — because he's joining the Obama administration. — Lederman, another former Clinton Office …