Top Items:
Gina Smith / The State:
Sanford met in Atlanta after returning from South America — Governor says he never hiked Appalachian Trail; says he cruised along the coast of Buenos Aires to unwind after stressful legislative session — ATLANTA — Gov. Mark Sanford arrived in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport this morning …
Discussion:
The Caucus, The Politico, Capitol Briefing, CNN, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Sleuth, The Fix, New York Post, The Atlantic Politics Channel, Associated Press, FP Passport, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Salon, FITSNews, Fausta's Blog, The New Republic, Raw Story, WYFF-TV, TPMMuckraker, Think Progress, Outside The Beltway, Latest Open Salon Blog, Runnin' Scared, Ben Smith's Blog, Facing South, On Deadline, Gawker, The Palmetto Scoop, At-Largely, The Swamp, No More Mister Nice Blog, Wonkette, Swampland, The Reaction, AMERICAblog News, The Moderate Voice, AmSpecBlog, Washington Monthly, Matthew Yglesias, Wizbang, Media Matters for America, The Plum Line, Indecision Forever, PoliBlog, Pam's House Blend and The Impolitic
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Mark Murray / msnbc.com:
FIRST THOUGHTS: SANFORD'S TANGO — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg — *** Sanford's tango: Well, it turns out that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail after all. Instead, he was in — get this — Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Zachary Roth / TPMMuckraker:
Source: “There Is Some Evidence [Sanford] Was Not Alone” — Things are still murky on the Mark Sanford story. But it's looking increasingly likely that Sanford's trip to Argentina was about more than a scenic drive down the coast. — “There is some evidence he was not alone,” a source in South Carolina politics told TPMmuckraker.
Discussion:
FITSNews, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, Pam's House Blend, Taegan Goddard's … and Gawker
Huma Khan / The Note:
Sanford Was in Argentina — Not Appalachian Trail — ABC News' Rick Klein reports: The case of the missing governor has a new twist. — The State newspaper in South Carolina is reporting that Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., has been located as of Wednesday morning — in the Atlanta airport.
Michelle Malkin:
Two disappearing acts, one tabloid circus — So, South Carolina GOP Gov. Mark Sanford disappeared and the story of where the hell he has been keeps changing. — Yes, it's weird. Disturbingly weird that he would vanish on Father's Day weekend and leave his wife and four sons in the dark.
Kate Phillips / The Caucus:
Upon Return, Sanford Admits Extramarital Affair — At a news conference in Columbia, S.C., Gov. Mark Sanford has now admitted that he had an extramarital affair with someone in Argentina, as he attempted to explain his mysterious disappearance from the state last week.
Washington Wire:
Live-Blogging S.C. Gov. Sanford's News Conference — Louise Radnofsky reports on politics. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has some explaining to do — and has set up a nationally televised press conference at 2 p.m. EDT to do just that. — Sanford dropped out of sight Thursday …
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Stay Tuned for More of ‘The Obama Show’ — In his first daytime news conference yesterday, President Obama preempted “All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and the Restless.” But the soap viewers shouldn't have been disappointed: The president had arranged some prepackaged entertainment for them.
Discussion:
White House Watch, Media Matters for America, Emptywheel, Ezra Klein, Newshoggers.com, The Hill, Chicago Sun Times, The Moderate Voice, Democracy in America, Wake up America, Get Energy Smart!, Hot Air, Samizdata.net, The Note, Climate Progress, Washington Monthly, Wizbang, RedState and QandO
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Matthew Cooper / The Atlantic Politics Channel:
The Crucifixion of Nico Pitney — Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but the Huffington Post reporter is getting tweaked this morning for the question he posed to President Obama at yesterday's White House Press Conference. It was an odd moment because normally, of course …
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Dem Senators: White House Open To Dropping Public Option
Dem Senators: White House Open To Dropping Public Option
Discussion:
The Caucus, Open Congress, Washington Post, Wonk Room, Think Progress, Roll Call, Brilliant at Breakfast and AMERICAblog News
Gateway Pundit:
CRACKDOWN IN BAHARESTAN SQUARE!... 3 People Shot— Police Will Not Allow Protesters to Assist Them ...Update: 1 Woman Dead ...Update: Several Dead — CRACKDOWN IN TEHRAN— A wounded woman is treated at Baharestan Square in Tehran. (Al-Arabiya) — VIDEO— POLICE BEATING PROTESTERS INCLUDING WOMEN:
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, Wake up America, Maggie's Farm, Cold Fury, The Daily Dish and Michelle Malkin
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Barbara Slavin / Washington Times:
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. contacted Iran's ayatollah before election — Administration overture to Khamenei ridiculed in sermon — Prior to this month's disputed presidential election in Iran, the Obama administration sent a letter to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei …
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CNN:
Officials: President Obama reconsidering July 4 invitations to Iran — WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Obama administration is seriously considering not extending invitations to Iranian diplomats for July 4 celebrations overseas, senior administration officials tell CNN.
Discussion:
Hot Air, Ben Smith's Blog, Weekly Standard, Right Wing News, Washington Times, New York Times, YID With LID and Fausta's Blog
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Pew Research Center:
Romney's Image Improves; Palin Well Regarded by Republican Base — Favorability of Leading Republicans — Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has seen his favorability ratings improve and now enjoys a positive balance of opinion among the general public: 40% rate him favorably, 28% unfavorably.
The Huffington Post:
McCain Won't Say Obama Is On Iran Reformers' Side — Either Sen. John McCain didn't hear Joe Klein tell him to “be quiet” or he doesn't care, because the former presidential candidate went right back at his ex-rival Tuesday afternoon for President Obama's decision not to insert himself into the Iranian crisis.
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presstv.ir:
Iran uncovers plots in presidential election — Iran's Intelligence Ministry has uncovered ‘terrorist’ plots targeting the country's security and stability during the presidential election. — “The ministry has dismantled the groups involved in such activities and has arrested almost …
The Politico:
A Republican comeback? — For the first time since their 2006 election drubbing, top Republicans see signs — however faint — of a political resurgence over the next year. — At first blush, this sounds absurd. After all, polls show the GOP more unpopular than ever …
Eric Lichtblau / New York Times:
Documents Back Saudi Link to Extremists — WASHINGTON — Documents gathered by lawyers for the families of Sept. 11 victims provide new evidence of extensive financial support for Al Qaeda and other extremist groups by members of the Saudi royal family, but the material may never find …