Top Items:
Michael Moore / Mike's Letter:
An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore — Do you really want to be the new “war president”? If you go to West Point tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8pm) and announce that you are increasing, rather than withdrawing, the troops in Afghanistan, you are the new war president. Pure and simple.
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New York Times:
Obama's Speech on Afghanistan to Envision Exit — WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to lay out a timeframe for ultimately winding down the American involvement in the war in Afghanistan when he announces his decision this week to send more forces, senior administration officials said Sunday.
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, Boston Globe, The League of Ordinary …, Los Angeles Times, Jules Crittenden, New York Times, Politics Daily, snooperreport.com, The Moderate Voice, msnbc.com, TPMCafe, Hot Air, ATTACKERMAN, CBS News, Wonk Room, Left Foot Forward, Prairie Weather, Firedoglake, The Atlantic Politics Channel, Guardian and The Note
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Obama Issues Order for More Troops in Afghanistan — WASHINGTON — President Obama has issued his order to send more troops to Afghanistan, communicating his decision to military leaders late Sunday afternoon during a meeting in the Oval Office, and will spend Monday speaking with foreign leaders …
Discussion:
The Corner on National …
Sam Youngman / The Hill:
President Obama gives go-ahead to implement Afghanistan strategy
President Obama gives go-ahead to implement Afghanistan strategy
Discussion:
The Note
Washington Post:
Today's GOP is both united and divided — Opposition to Obama is strong, but Republicans are split on GOP's direction and leaders — The Republican rank and file is largely in sync with GOP lawmakers in their staunch opposition to efforts by President Obama and Democrats …
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Washington Post:
Palin particularly popular among fans of Limbaugh and Beck — Sarah Palin may or may not run for president in 2012, but she is already the overwhelming favorite in the Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck primaries. — In a new Washington Post poll, Palin beats other GOP leaders on two questions …
Seattle Times:
Maurice Clemmons, man wanted for questioning, has troubling criminal history — Maurice Clemmons, the 37-year-old Tacoma man being sought for questioning in the killing this morning of four Lakewood police officers, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.
Discussion:
CNN, Fox News, Lawyers, Guns and Money, The Hill, Mike Huckabee, Talking Points Memo, Reuters, Matthew Yglesias, nwcn.com, No More Mister Nice Blog, Pajamas Media, Ben Smith's Blog, Guardian, The New Republic, Don Surber, The News Tribune, PERRspectives, CBS News, Latest Open Salon Blog, Mediaite, The Other McCain, Brilliant at Breakfast, Another Black Conservative, KOMO, DaTechguy's Blog, Washington Post, Confederate Yankee, Gateway Pundit, Conventional Folly, The Faster Times, Newshoggers.com, Real Clear Politics and MyDD
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Huck PAC:
STATEMENT REGARDING WASHINGTON STATE SLAYINGS — The senseless and savage execution of police officers in Washington State has saddened the nation, and early reports indicate that a person of interest is a repeat offender who once lived in Arkansas and was wanted on outstanding warrants here and in Washington State.
Discussion:
Opinionator, ABCNEWS, Seattle Times, Crooks and Liars, Little Green Footballs, Wizbang, The Corner on National …, snooperreport.com, Riehl World View, Another Black Conservative, Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, The Note, AmSpecBlog, Confederate Yankee, The Washington Independent, TPMMuckraker and The Other McCain
Michelle Malkin:
Violent felon granted clemency by Huckabee now sought in Lakewood …
Violent felon granted clemency by Huckabee now sought in Lakewood …
Discussion:
TalkLeft, Seattle Times, The Caucus, Leader, msnbc.com, KIRO-TV, CNN, The Hill, NO QUARTER, Hot Air, KOMO, Scared Monkeys, AmSpecBlog, Washington Post, Sister Toldjah, The Other McCain, Don Surber, The Greenroom and The Jawa Report
John F. Harris / The Politico:
7 stories Obama doesn't want told — Presidential politics is about storytelling. Presented with a vivid storyline, voters naturally tend to fit every new event or piece of information into a picture that is already neatly framed in their minds. — No one understands this better …
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John F. Harris / The Politico:
7 stories Barack Obama doesn't want told — He's a pushover — If you are going to be known as a fighter, you might as well reap the benefits. But some of the same insider circles that are starting to view Obama as a bully are also starting to whisper that he's a patsy.
Geoffrey Dunn / The Huffington Post:
Palin's Latest Rogue Gaffe — There have been so many lies and distortions pointed out in Sarah Palin's Going Rogue since it was released last week that her memoir has already become something of a gag line. — But perhaps the most embarrassing gaffe so far is her mis-attributed quote to UCLA basketball legend John Wooden.
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Jeffrey Young / The Hill:
CBO report predicts hike in insurance costs — Individual insurance premiums would increase by an average of 10 percent or more, according to an analysis of the Senate healthcare bill. — The long-awaited report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation …
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David Stout / New York Times:
Supreme Court Overturns Decision on Detainee Photos — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday set aside a lower court's order that called for the release of photographs of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan being abused by American military personnel. The high court told the lower court to re-examine the issue.
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Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Americans Still Leaning Against Healthcare Legislation — Majority disapprove of Obama's handling of the issue — PRINCETON, NJ — Americans currently tilt against Congress' passing healthcare legislation, with 49% saying they would advise their member to vote against a bill …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Politics Daily, The Swamp, NewsBusters.org, Scared Monkeys, The Hill, snooperreport.com, Boston Globe, Political Punch, Commentary and JustOneMinute
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
Rick Warren, Silent Enabler Of Hatred — One of Rick Warren's (and president George W. Bush's) longtime allies in Uganda, Martin Ssempe, is the author of a classic piece of minority-baiting legislation. Its details belong in the history of genocidal hatred:
Discussion:
Mediaite
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Tom Moran:
A surprisingly dark day for gay rights in New Jersey … Support for gay marriage in Trenton is draining away like water from a tub as nervous legislators scurry towards safer political ground. — “I can't say I'm confident now,” says Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), a lead sponsor.
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
The Jobs Imperative — If you're looking for a job right now, your prospects are terrible. There are six times as many Americans seeking work as there are job openings, and the average duration of unemployment — the time the average job-seeker has spent looking for work — is more than six months, the highest level since the 1930s.
Discussion:
The Corner on National …, Wonk Room, Hit & Run, Outside The Beltway and Washington Monthly
Clive Crook:
More on Climategate — In my previous post on Climategate I blithely said that nothing in the climate science email dump surprised me much. Having waded more deeply over the weekend I take that back. — The closed-mindedness of these supposed men of science, their willingness …
Discussion:
Telegraph, Gawker, Michelle Malkin, Guardian, TBR.cc, The Jawa Report and World Economics
Tony Romm / The Hill:
Ensign: Resignation would distract resources from defeating Reid — Embattled Republican Sen. John Ensign (Nev.) on Monday shot down calls for his resignation as ethics concerns continue to grow. — Ensign claimed his absence would only hamper the GOP's ability to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in 2010.
Discussion:
The Note
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Jonathan Cohn / The New Republic:
We Know How this Debate Ends. Or Do We?
We Know How this Debate Ends. Or Do We?
Discussion:
Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, Prescriptions, The Politico, Taylor Marsh, Open Congress and Swampland
Chelsea Clinton Engaged / Political Punch:
Chelsea Clinton Engaged — ABC News has learned that Chelsea Clinton is engaged to her longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky, a spokesman for former President Clinton confirmed to ABC News. — Clinton, 29, is the only child of the former president and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Fred Kaplan / Slate:
My mixed feelings about the war in Afghanistan. — Columnists are supposed to have firm views and express them with steadfast certainty. Since I write a column called “War Stories,” the least a reader might expect from me is a clear opinion on whether the United States should escalate or pull out of the war in Afghanistan.