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.
Discussion:
Jules Crittenden
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Ross Douthat / New York Times:
A War President? — All spring and summer, it looked …
A War President? — All spring and summer, it looked …
Discussion:
TBogg
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.
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Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Obama: Copenhagen-bound for IOC — by Mark Silva and updated again at 10:30 am EDT — Let the games begin: — 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 …
Michelle Malkin:
Olympics Crony Watch: You can't say that! — In our latest edition of Olympics Crony Watch...the silencing of dissent. Hey, it's the Chicago way. — Drudge reports that WFLD-TV has been ordered not to broadcast an anti-Olympics segment again. — Meanwhile, as I noted last week …
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 …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Reason, Stop The ACLU, POWIP, Pajamas Media, Hot Air and Michelle Malkin
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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 …
New York Times:
Reid the Quarterback May Call on Obama to Referee — WASHINGTON — As the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, takes on the delicate task of melding two competing versions of major health care legislation, aides say he will lean heavily on President Obama to arbitrate …
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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.
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James R. Hagerty / Wall Street Journal:
Bank Pulls Back From Acorn Work — Already facing the loss of federal government funding, the community-organizing group Acorn also has run afoul of one of its big corporate partners, Bank of America Corp. — In response to questions from The Wall Street Journal, a spokesman for the banking company …
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John R. Emshwiller / Wall Street Journal:
Phone Calls Add to Din Over Loans — Congressional Investigators Ask for More on Countrywide VIP Mortgage Program — The discovery that Countrywide Financial Corp. recorded phone conversations with borrowers in a controversial mortgage program that included public officials …
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 …
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.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, Sadly, No!, The Other McCain, Daily Kos, The Moderate Voice, At-Largely and pandagon.net
Wall Street Journal:
Max's Mad Mandate — The Baucus health bill will break 50 state budgets via Medicaid. — Printer — Friendly — The more we inspect Max Baucus's health-care bill, the worse it looks. Today's howler: One reason it allegedly “pays for itself” over 10 years is because it would break …
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Cassandras of Climate — Every once in a while I feel despair over the fate of the planet. If you've been following climate science, you know what I mean: the sense that we're hurtling toward catastrophe but nobody wants to hear about it or do anything to avert it. — And here's the thing: I'm not engaging in hyperbole.
Amanda Carpenter / The washington times Blogs:
U.S. Commander of Afghanistan only talked to Obama once — The military general credited for capturing Saddam Hussein and killing the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq says he has only spoken to President Obama once since taking command of Afghanistan. — “I've talked to the president …
James Taranto / Wall Street Journal:
Secret Agent Editors — The Obama scandals bring a new era of opacity at the New York Times. — Printer — Friendly — (Editor's note: This is an abbreviated edition of Best of the Web Today. We're on assignment, returning Thursday.) — Clark Hoyt, “public editor” …