Top Items:
New York Times:
G.O.P. Debate: A Broader Party or a Purer One? — WASHINGTON — A fundamental debate broke out among Republicans on Wednesday over how to rebuild the party in the wake of Senator Arlen Specter's departure: Should it purge moderate voices like Mr. Specter and embrace its conservative roots …
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Brad Jackson / The New Ledger:
Is the NRSC Going to Abandon Toomey? — NRSC Vice-Chairman Orrin Hatch said today that he doesn't believe former Congressman Pat Toomey has a chance to beat newly turned Democrat Arlen Specter in next year's Senate race in Pennsylvania. Hatch even suggested that the NRSC may seek to recruit a candidate to run against Toomey.
Discussion:
TPMDC, No More Mister Nice Blog, Politics Daily, The Moderate Voice, Erick's blog and The Campaign Spot
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Reid's Specter deal stirs senior Dems' anger — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) deal to allow Sen. Arlen Specter to retain his seniority after he switches to the Democratic Conference has not been received well by senior senators in the party. — Several Democrats are furious …
Discussion:
The Politico, Commentary, Washington Post, Top of the Ticket, TalkLeft, The New Ledger, Hot Air and Flopping Aces
John / Power Line:
John Cornyn: What the Specter Switch Means — Senator John Cornyn of Texas wrote these observations on the significance of Arlen Specter's defection for Power Line: … Senator Cornyn is Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Top Dems rebel on Specter — Senior Senate Democrats are objecting to the deal Majority Leader Harry Reid made with Sen. Arlen Specter, saying they will vote against letting the former Republican shoot to the top of powerful committees after he switches parties.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo
Dan Balz / Washington Post:Will GOP Sleep Through Wake-Up Call?
Discussion:
AMERICAblog News, Capitol Briefing, Climate Progress, Wall Street Journal, Taegan Goddard's …, CBS News and The Fix
New York Times:
Chrysler Bankruptcy Looms as Deal on Debt Falters — DETROIT — Last-minute efforts by the Treasury Department to win over recalcitrant Chrysler debtholders failed Wednesday night, setting up a near-certain bankruptcy filing by the American automaker, according to people briefed on the talks.
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Wall Street Journal:
Chrysler Chapter 11 Is Imminent — Creditor Talks Collapse as Hedge Funds Balk at Deal; Fiat Waiting in the Wings — WASHINGTON — Talks between the Treasury Department and lenders aimed at keeping Chrysler LLC out of bankruptcy broke down Wednesday, making it all but certain the car maker …
Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard:
Dead Certain — Tonight President Obama said he was “absolutely convinced” that he had made the right decision in putting an end to the use of the harsh interrogation techniques employed by the Bush administration. After eight years of President Bush, it certainly is refreshing to have a leader …
Discussion:
Macsmind
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New York Times:
President Obama's 100th-Day Press Briefing — Following is a transcript of President Obama's press briefing as he marks his 100th day in office, as transcribed by Federal News Service. — PRESIDENT OBAMA: Before we begin to tonight, I just want to provide everyone with a few brief updates …
Calvin Woodward / Associated Press:
FACT CHECK: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape — WASHINGTON - “That wasn't me,” President Barack Obama said on his 100th day in office, disclaiming responsibility for the huge budget deficit waiting for him on Day One. It actually was him — and the other Democrats controlling Congress …
CNN:
GOP set to launch rebranding effort — WASHINGTON (CNN) - Coming soon to a battleground state near you: a new effort to revive the image of the Republican Party and to counter President Obama's characterization of Republicans as “the party of ‘no.’” — CNN has learned that the new initiative …
Discussion:
DISSENTING JUSTICE, TBogg, Ben Smith's Blog, Roger Ailes, 24Ahead, Vanity Fair and Newshoggers.com
Media Matters Action Network:
Rep. Virginia Foxx Called Matthew Shepard Hate Crime “A Hoax” … Matthew Shepard's Death Was A Hate Crime, Not Simply A Robbery — Rep. Foxx: “The bill was named after a very unfortunate incident that happened, where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of robbery.
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STRATFOR:
A Chilling Effect on U.S. Counterterrorism — Over the past couple of weeks, we have been carefully watching the fallout from the Obama administration's decision to release four classified memos from former President George W. Bush's administration that authorized “enhanced interrogation techniques.”
Tom Shales / Washington Post:
Obama Deftly Handles Another Prime-Time News Conference — The questions put to Barack Obama at his news conference last night covered nearly every topic but the Craigslist Killer, and if that had come up, Obama probably would have answered it in stride. You ask, he'll answer — earnestly …
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Alex Leo / The Huffington Post:
CNN Story On Obama's “Swagga” The Most Embarrassing Ever? (VIDEO) — We all expect a bit of fluff from cable news considering they have 24 hours a day to fill and there are only so many events to be “rocked” by, but when we hit a point at which CNN is spending Obama's 100th day in office “assessing his swagga” something is amiss.
Robert F. Worth / New York Times:
Credentials Challenged, Radical Quotes West Point — BEIRUT, Lebanon — He has been mentor to some of the most brutal terrorists on earth. But Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, a prominent cleric and theorist of jihad living in Jordan, has grown tired of hearing younger extremists accuse him of going soft.
who.int:
Swine influenza — The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 18:00 GMT, 29 April 2009, nine countries have officially reported 148 cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. The United States Government has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, with one death.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Scientific American, Blue Crab Boulevard, Liberal Values and Sydney Morning Herald
Peter Hecht / Sacramento Bee:
Field Poll: California voters oppose five of six May 19 ballot measures — Voters strongly oppose five special election measures being sold as a budget-reform elixir for California's burgeoning $40 billion deficit. — But voters in a new Field Poll overwhelmingly support a measure …
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Hugh Hewitt / Townhall.com:Very Good News For The GOP, And Why President Obama Had Better Worry …
Discussion:
Winds of Change.NET
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