Top Items:
Max Boot / Los Angeles Times:
Obama can't downsize to success in Afghanistan — The president appears to be dragging his feet on more troops for the struggle, but that's what an effective counterinsurgency strategy requires. — During last year's campaign, Barack Obama stressed that while he wanted to withdraw from Iraq, he was no pacifist.
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Aaron Blake / The Hill:
Despite pressure, McChrystal to hold firm on request for troops — Gen. Stanley McChrystal said he will not back down from his request for additional troops in Afghanistan, even though Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration have been hesitant to embrace it.
Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Obama: Copenhagen-bound for IOC — by Mark Silva and updated again at 9 am EDT — President Barack Obama, who initially planned to let First Lady Michelle Obama represent the United States in Copenhagen this week, when the International Olympic Committee chooses a site for the 2016 summer games, plans to travel there too.
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Drudge Report:
FOX-TV CHICAGO ORDERED NOT TO RUN ANTI-OLYMPICS STORY — A local TV station that reported on Chicagoans NOT wanting the Olympics has been told NOT to run the report again, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT! — The Chicago Olympic Committee told FOX Chicago that its broadcast “would harm Chicago's chances” to be awarded the games.
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Obama to make Olympics pitch — President Barack Obama will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, later this week to make a final push to get the International Olympic Committee to choose his hometown of Chicago for the 2016 Summer Games, the White House tells POLITICO.
Robert D. McFadden / New York Times:
William Safire, Nixon Speechwriter and Times Columnist, Is Dead at 79 — William Safire, a speechwriter for President Richard M. Nixon and a Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist for The New York Times who also wrote novels, books on politics and a Malaprop's treasury of articles on language …
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Think Progress, Shot in the Dark, The Reaction, Macleans.ca, Scared Monkeys, driftglass, TBogg, On Deadline, Political Byline, Mediaite, TPMCafe, JammieWearingFool, Truthdig, Redhot and Gothamist
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Joe Holley / Washington Post:William Safire, 79; Celebrated Columnist for N.Y. Times
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The Nation
Patterico's Pontifications:
WaPo Columnist Has Undisclosed Conflict of Interest on Roman Polanski Matter — In an earlier post I noted substantial inaccuracies and omissions in a post by Washington Post pundit Anne Applebaum in support of Roman Polanski. (For example, she said Polanski fled during his trial; in fact …
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Anne Applebaum / PostPartisan:
The Outrageous Arrest of Roman Polanski — Of all nations, why was it Switzerland — the country that traditionally guarded the secret bank accounts of international criminals and corrupt dictators — that finally decided to arrest Roman Polanski? There must be some deeper story here …
Discussion:
Crooked Timber, Outside The Beltway, Washington Post, Alas, a blog, Moonbattery, Don Surber, Hot Air and Pajamas Media
Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
New Cheney Taking Stage for the G.O.P. — NASHVILLE — Liz Cheney looks nothing like her father, but it is clear who he is. She was introduced as “our favorite vice president's daughter” at a recent gathering of conservative women here. She kept invoking him in her speech …
Claus Christian Malzahn / Spiegel Online:
Welcome to the New Germany — After Sunday's election, Germany's political landscape has been shaken up, perhaps for ever. Angela Merkel's conservatives will be able to form a coalition government with the business-friendly FDP, but the balance of power between the two parties has fundamentally shifted.
Discussion:
MyDD
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Dan / Riehl World View:
Was Census Worker Bill Sparkman A Child Predator? — Update: Before any more people start going bonkers that I'm accusing Sparkman of anything, take a breath. I've done a fair amount of crime blogging mixed in with politics over time. One doesn't rule anything in or out without some firm answers.
Eliot A. Cohen / Wall Street Journal:
There Are Only Two Choices Left on Iran — An Israeli or U.S. military strike now, or a nuclear Tehran soon. — Printer — Friendly — Unless you are a connoisseur of small pictures of bearded, brooding fanatical clerics there is not much reason to collect Iranian currency.
NY Daily News:
John Edwards' ex-mistress, Rielle Hunter, targeted by Elizabeth Edwards in blog comments - source — Former presidential candidate John Edwards is said to be ready to admit that he fathered a love child. But Hades may have a skating rink before his wife, Elizabeth, signs off on such a confession.
Washington Times:
Trial lawyers lobby sinks $6.2M in debt — Debts rise, members fall — The trial lawyers lobby has been awash in debt and bleeding members - just as it embarks on a national campaign to block any clampdown on medical malpractice lawsuits as part of President Obama's health care overhaul.
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