Top Items:
Spencer Ackerman / The Washington Independent:
Inside This Morning's White House Afghanistan Meeting: Anger With Eikenberry, ‘Beef’ With McChrystal — It was a tense meeting this morning at the White House, as Ambassador Karl Eikenberry addressed the National Security Council by teleconference from Kabul just hours after the media got hold …
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Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
We Have A President — The news that Obama has refused to sign off on any of the four major options presented to him in Afghanistan reminds me of why he was elected president. This critical decision - arguably the most critical of his young presidency - is one that will not be rushed the way such decisions often are.
Associated Press:
Official: Obama rejects war options — President seeks clarity on turnover to Afghan government, official says — WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify …
Discussion:
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New York Times:
U.S. Afghan Envoy Urges Caution on Troop Increase
U.S. Afghan Envoy Urges Caution on Troop Increase
Discussion:
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Laura Rozen / Laura Rozen's Blog:
The Eikenberry memo and the leak war: more pushback against a nudgey Pentagon?
The Eikenberry memo and the leak war: more pushback against a nudgey Pentagon?
Dave Michaels / Dallas Morning News:
Fort Hood shootings suspect may have wired money to Pakistan — dmichaels@dallasnews.com — WASHINGTON - Authorities have been examining whether Fort Hood massacre suspect Nidal Malik Hasan wired money to Pakistan in recent months, an action that one senior lawmaker said would raise serious questions …
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James C. McKinley Jr / New York Times:
At Fort Hood, Witness Credits Second Officer — KILLEEN, Tex. — Sgt. Kimberly D. Munley has been applauded as a hero across the nation for shooting down Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan during the bloody rampage at Fort Hood last week. The account of heroism, given by the authorities …
Marc Ambinder / The Atlantic Politics Channel:
Did Hoekstra Compromise A Sensitive Intelligence Program?
Did Hoekstra Compromise A Sensitive Intelligence Program?
Mark Weiner / Syracuse Post-Standard:
Recanvassing shows NY-23 race tightens even as Rep. Bill Owens is sworn into House seat … Washington — Conservative Doug Hoffman conceded the race in the 23rd Congressional District last week after receiving two pieces of grim news for his campaign: He was down 5,335 votes with 93 percent …
Discussion:
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Caroline Glick:
Missing George W. Bush — A couple of days ago I heard the news that George and Laura Bush paid a private visit to the wounded soldiers at Fort Hood. They specifically requested that the base commander not inform the media of their visit. They came. They comforted the wounded soldiers …
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HillBuzz:
Thank you former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush — We know absolutely no one in Bush family circles and have never met former President George W. Bush or his wife Laura. — If you have been reading us for any length of time, you know that we used to make fun of …
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
The sleazy advocacy of a leading “liberal hawk” — Peter Galbraith's vast, undisclosed financial interests in the policies he spent years advocating as an “expert.” — The New York Times today details the unbelievably sleazy story of Peter Galbraith, one of the Democratic Party's leading so-called …
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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
STUPAK STARTS MAKING THREATS.... Remember when it seemed as if the fight over public-private competition in health care threatened to derail the entire effort? That was so two weeks ago. Now, it's abortion. — Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) was able to get his odious amendment through the House …
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E.J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
E.J. Dionne Jr. on health reform's abortion stumbling block
E.J. Dionne Jr. on health reform's abortion stumbling block
Discussion:
Firedoglake, TPMDC, Think Progress, The Washington Independent, JustOneMinute, Wonk Room and Weekly Standard
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Pelosi: Jail time “very fair” for failing to buy your patriotic ObamaCare coverage — It's very fair to send people who disregard the federal mandate to buy health insurance to prison, Nancy Pelosi says, because otherwise they'll assault citizens ... with a bill for medical services ... or something.
Discussion:
Townhall.com
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New York Times:
Lou Dobbs Abruptly Quits CNN — Months ago the president of CNN/U.S., Jonathan Klein, offered a choice to Lou Dobbs, the channel's most outspoken anchor. Mr. Dobbs could vent his opinions on radio and anchor an objective newscast on television, or he could leave CNN.
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Jake Sherman / The Politico:
ACORN sues over funding cut — A non-profit organization filed a lawsuit against the federal government Thursday morning, seeking to overturn Congressional legislation that stopped the flow of federal funds to ACORN. — The suit, filed in federal court in New York, claims that legislation passed …
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Washington Post:
Catholic Church gives D.C. ultimatum — Same-sex marriage bill, as written, called a threat to social service contracts — The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change …
Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Aims to Cut Deficit With TARP — WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, under pressure to show it is serious about tackling the budget deficit, is seizing on an unusual target to showcase fiscal responsibility: the $700 billion financial rescue. — The administration wants to keep …
Danny Shea / The Huffington Post:
Obama To Give Interview To Fox News — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — President Obama will give an interview to Fox News' Major Garrett, Drudge reports. — The interview will take place in China next week and comes just one day after it was reported that Obama Communications Director Anita Dunn …
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Michael Saul / NY Daily News:
Levi Johnston at Fleshbot awards: Sarah Palin ‘smart’ for not trashing me on Oprah — “She knows what I got on her. It's a smart move on her part,” Johnson said of Palin's interview with Oprah. — Levi Johnston, the hunky baby daddy of Sarah Palin's grandson, called …
Discussion:
Hot Air
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Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Palin says she knew her 2008 Couric interview had gone badly
Palin says she knew her 2008 Couric interview had gone badly
Discussion:
The Politico
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System:
For immediate release — The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced final rules that prohibit financial institutions from charging consumers fees for paying overdrafts on automated teller machine (ATM) and one-time debit card transactions, unless a consumer consents, or opts in …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, New York Times, Felix Salmon, The Washington Independent and Projo 7 to 7 News Blog
Tony Romm / The Hill:
Reid might hike Medicare tax to pay for healthcare reform — Senate Democrats are now mulling a conditional increase in the payroll tax as a way to pay for their forthcoming healthcare reform bill. — That proposed hike — which would be added to the Medicare taxes employers and employees already pay …
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James Gordon Meek / NY Daily News:
My solemn meeting on Veterans Day with President Obama at my friend's resting place in Arlington — ARLINGTON, Va. - He didn't introduce himself. He didn't have to. — President Obama simply stuck out his hand and asked for my name as he stepped toward me amid a bone-chilling drizzle in the Gardens of Stone.
New York Times:
Trading Women's Rights for Political Power — A GRIM reality sits behind the joyful press statements from Washington Democrats. To secure passage of health care legislation in the House, the party chose a course that risks the well-being of millions of women for generations to come.
Paul Krugman:
The agony of Fox Business — James Wolcott is made of sterner stuff than I am: he actually has the fortitude to watch Fox Business, where the talking heads manage to find nothing but clouds in the silver lining of a huge stock rally. To make their point they bring on such market experts as ... John Bolton.