Top Items:
The Politico:
Obama: Gulf spill ‘echoes 9/11’ — Sounding reflective as he heads into a bruising electoral season, President Barack Obama told POLITICO columnist Roger Simon that the Gulf disaster “echoes 9/11” because it will change the nation's psyche for years to come.
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New York Times:
The President's Moment — If ever there was a test of President Obama's vision of government — one that cannot solve all problems, but does what people cannot do for themselves — it is this nerve-racking early summer of 2010, with oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico and far too many Americans out of work for far too long.
Jim Hoft / Gateway Pundit:
Obama Tells Politico the Oil Spill is Like 9-11... Then Goes Golfing for 4 Hours — Barack Obama told The Politico this morning that the Gulf oil spill was like 9-11. — Then he went golfing for 4 hours. — Fore! — The Hill reported: … Leadership.
Stephen Castle / New York Times:
Flemish Separatists Win in Belgium — BRUSSELS — The move to break up Belgium gathered momentum Sunday as separatists won an emphatic election victory in Flanders, the prosperous Dutch-speaking half of the fiercely divided nation. — A stunning electoral success for Bart de Wever's Flemish …
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Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
Isn't It Ironic? — It's funny how things work out sometimes. — The two men running the White House have very different relationships with the press; one is warm and one is frosty. — One's relationship is more JFK, and one's has self-pitying echoes of Nixon.
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Lori Montgomery / Washington Post:
Obama pleads for $50 billion in state, local aid — President Obama urged reluctant lawmakers Saturday to quickly approve nearly $50 billion in emergency aid to state and local governments, saying the money is needed to avoid “massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters” and to support the still-fragile economic recovery.
James Risen / New York Times:
U.S. Discovers Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan — WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself …
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Jim Hoft / Gateway Pundit:
Students Instructed to Chant “I Am an Obama Scholar” (Video) — What is with these leftists? — Students are directed to chant “I am an Obama scholar.” — From Tom Ficklin in New Haven — Via P/Oed Patriot: — Obviously, that separation of church and state rule only applies to Christianity.
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Boehner: Lift the Cap — House Minority Leader John Boehner on This Week today said he's now in favor of lifting the cap on BP's liability in the Gulf oil spill. Though currently law makes BP responsible for cleaning up the actual oil, it limits its liability to $75 million.
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Erika Lovley / Politico Live's Blog:
Boehner to Hoyer: Stop Blaming Bush
Boehner to Hoyer: Stop Blaming Bush
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Jackie Calmes / New York Times:
Obama Plans First Oval Office Speech to Put Pressure on BP — WASHINGTON — President Obama will use his first Oval Office speech Tuesday night to outline a plan to legally compel BP to create an escrow account to compensate businesses and individuals for their losses from the oil spill …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Washington Post, Politics Daily, The Moderate Voice, Eschaton, Washington Monthly, The Mahablog and Truthdig
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Barak Ravid / Haaretz:
Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza naval blockade — The Palestinian president reportedly told Obama that lifting the naval blockade of Gaza would bolster Hamas, a move that shouldn't be done at this stage. — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is opposed to lifting …
David Brooks / The Atlantic Online:
Teachers Are Fair Game — I started covering education reform in 1983, with the release of the “Nation at Risk” report. In those days everybody had some idea for how we should reorganize the schools or change the curriculum—cut school size, cut class size, create vouchers, create charters …
Discussion:
Open Left
Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:
This Time Is Different — My friend, Mark Mykleby, who works in the Pentagon, shared with me this personal letter to the editor he got published last week in his hometown paper, The Beaufort Gazette in South Carolina. It is the best reaction I've seen to the BP oil spill …
Discussion:
The Glittering Eye
Times of London:
Defence chief to be axed — BRITAIN'S most senior military officer is to be axed as the new government seeks to draw a line under past failures in Afghanistan. — Liam Fox, the defence secretary, told The Sunday Times the chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup …