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A Setback Of His Own — There are no friends in politics, just interests. Some in the White House relearned that dictum this week, as their party dissolved into factions, and largely knelt down in front ofRepublican political priorities. — As usual, administration officials won't concede …
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ATTACKERMAN
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White House: Closing Gitmo a ‘Hasty Decision’ — White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said closing the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, was a “hasty decision,” in his daily press briefing with reporters. — President Obama's decision to close the controversial detention center …

Officials clash on Gitmo detainees
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Weekly Standard, The Washington Independent, ATTACKERMAN and Ben Smith's Blog

Krauthammer — The usual neoconservative malingerers have been hammering me about a quote I gave to Politico, regarding Charles Krauthammer's limitations as a columnist. — Obviously, I didn't mean to imply second-class status for disabled people. On the contrary, the distance and perspective …
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A Small Man — This blog has had many differences with Joe Klein of Time magazine, whom I once considered a very friendly acquaintance before he accused me and those who argued for an aggressive policy in Iraq and with Iran of being war criminals and began spouting anti-Semitic conspiracy nonsense that …
Discussion:
American Power, theblogprof, Outside The Beltway, The Corner, Jules Crittenden, Hot Air, ATTACKERMAN and Fausta's Blog

CNN And MSNBC To Carry Cheney's Big National Security Speech Live — Looks like Dick Cheney's big national security speech at the American Enterprise Institute tomorrow is going to get wall-to-wall cable coverage — giving a major assist to those who hope that his speech will be seen as …
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Obama, Cheney plan dueling speeches — President Barack Obama will attempt to regain control of a boiling debate over anti-terrorism policy with a major speech on Thursday—an address that comes on the same day that former Vice President Cheney will be weighing in with his own speech on the same theme.

CNN Poll: Obama moving US in right direction — WASHINGTON (CNN) - As the Republican Party gets ready to condemn what they call the Democrats ‘march to socialism’, a new national poll indicates that most Americans believe President Barack Obama's policies would move the country in the right direction.
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GOP drops effort to rename Democrats ‘Socialist’
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Politics Daily

Powell to Rush, Cheney: Room for me among ‘emerging’ Republican Party — Colin Powell issued a sharp rebuke Tuesday night to Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney for trying to exclude him from the backbiting Republican Party. — Before some 1,500 business leaders in Boston …

California voters exercise their power — and that's the problem — Residents relish their role in the lawmaking process, but they share the blame for the state's severe dysfunction. — Californians are well known for periodic voter revolts, but on Tuesday they did more than just lash …
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California voters kill budget measures
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MoJo Blog Posts, Liberty Street, Matthew Yglesias, L.A. Now, theblogprof, The Foundry, Right Pundits, USA Today, Hot Air, Power Line, The Page, Wonkette and The Campaign Spot

Specter defends Pelosi, questions CIA's honesty — Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) took the opportunity Wednesday to defend House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has come under fire in recent weeks over a controversy surrounding when she was told of the use of enhanced interrogation techniques being used by the CIA.
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Obama: Plame Lawsuit Should Not Be Reconsidered By Supreme Court — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington: — CREW learned today that the Obama administration is opposing our request that the Supreme Court reconsider the dismissal of the lawsuit, Wilson v. Libby, et al.

1 in 7 Freed Detainees Rejoins Fight, Report Finds — WASHINGTON — An unreleased Pentagon report provides new details concluding that about one in seven of the 534 prisoners already transferred abroad from the detention center in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, has returned to terrorism or militant activity …
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, Power Line, Michelle Malkin, Stop The ACLU, Hot Air and Sweetness & Light
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Judge Wood Goes to Washington — Just two days after Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm's sudden appearance in Washington set off a flurry of speculation about Supreme Court interviews, here's something that actually could be significant: — Federal Appeals Court Judge Diane Wood …
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Peace isn't Arab goal — WHO FAVORS a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict? — President Obama does, of course, as he made clear in welcoming Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Monday. So does former president George W. Bush …
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Bristol Palin Exposes Her Sometimes Isolated Life — Bristol Palin's pretty, lightly freckled face was nowhere to be seen on the overhead screen as images from her high-school senior slideshow - photos from the prom and a Class of 2009 portrait set against the Alaska snow - played during May 14's Wasilla High commencement ceremony.


Arlen Specter Backs Pelosi — I appreciate that there are some basic political truths that are awkward for most politicians to actually utter. But one reason that it's good to have some politicians around who are worried about their left flank, is that you can get this sort of thing from Arlen Specter (D-PA):
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New Hampshire lawmakers reject gay-marriage bill — MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Reuters) - New Hampshire lawmakers unexpectedly rejected a bill on Wednesday that would have made the state the sixth in the United States to authorize gay marriage. — The state's Democrat-controlled House …

Did White House OK Earliest Detainee Abuse? — Listen Now — · It is clear that increasingly abusive interrogation techniques were used on Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value detainee, in the months between his capture and the first Justice Department memo authorizing harsh interrogations.


Exclusive: SF Mayor Gavin Newsom Asked Court to Delay Prop 8 Ruling — Confidential sources close to San Francisco City Hall told Towleroad's Corey Johnson that the California Supreme Court was prepared to release its opinion on Proposition 8 tomorrow, but decided to delay the ruling after a call from Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Discussion:
Campaign Silo

Thousands beaten, raped in Irish reform schools — DUBLIN (AP) — A fiercely debated, nine-year investigation into Ireland's Roman Catholic-run institutions says priests and nuns terrorized thousands of boys and girls in workhouse-style schools for decades — and government inspectors failed …

Nationalize Martin Luther King Jr. — We are in the process of nationalizing and/or federalizing vast stretches of our economy, including the auto industry, banks, and health care. Individual property rights have taken a back seat to political priorities.


The Climate Lobby's Nonstop Growth — NOT JUST THE USUAL SUSPECTS: POWER COMPANIES AND BIG OIL, BUT MICROSOFT, GOOGLE, AND EBAY AS WELL — Makers of sneakers, blue jeans, and computer network servers joined forces late last fall and vowed a bigger push in Congress on climate change.
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The Daily Dish, Wall Street Journal, The Caucus, The Politico, Grist, MoJo Blog Posts, Climate Progress, The Foundry and The BLT

Car Crazy — Bankrupt companies making 39 mpg autos. Are we nuts? — Printer — Friendly — At the end of his Rose Garden explanation yesterday of the new U.S. fuel-efficiency standards, President Obama remarked on the good that can be accomplished when we are “working together.”

Giuliani Duke Golf Lawsuit Shanks — Judge recommends dismissal of Rudy kid's action against university — In an opinion peppered with golf references and a quote from “Caddyshack” star Bill Murray, a federal magistrate has recommended the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Rudolph Giuliani's son …
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New York Post


Tight Times Loosen Creativity — “I love it,” said Karl Allen, the former technical director of a performance space in Manhattan. “The only thing that makes me sad is that I can't make a living right now.” More Photos > — Even in the best of times Sony Holland had to hustle.