memeorandum: PCC investigates Melanie Phillips' Spectator blog (John Plunkett/Guardian)

6:25 PM ET, March 20, 2011

Top Items:

Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libya action — A hard-core group of liberal House Democrats is questioning the constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya, with one lawmaker raising the prospect of impeachment during a Democratic Caucus conference call on Saturday.

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:

McCain: Obama waited too long in Libya — Washington (CNN) - Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona was critical of the president's timetable for action in Libya, but said he is confident the American military will succeed. — “He (President Obama) waited too long, there is no doubt in my mind about it.

Discussion: The Politico, The Page, The Moderate Voice and National Review

Don Surber:

Lefties react to Libya — I have all along wished for Barack Obama's success because I knew the only way for him to be a successful president would be to adopt the policies of President Bush. — So this silliness about civilian trials for combatants and for closing Gitmo or pulling out of Iraq …

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Pajamas Media, Donklephant, INSTAPUTZ, Big Hollywood and The Daily Dish

HotAirPundit:
“Who The Hell Do You Think You Are?” Farrakhan Blasts Obama For Calling For Qaddafi to Step Down (Video)

Discussion: YID With LID, Scared Monkeys, Althouse and Weasel Zippers

Associated Press:

Arab League criticizes allied airstrikes on Libya — CAIRO (AP) — The head of the Arab League has criticized international strikes on Libya, saying they caused civilian deaths. — The Arab League's support for a no-fly zone last week helped overcome reluctance in the West for action in Libya.

Discussion: The Daily Dish, AOL News, Booman Tribune, Outside the Beltway, The Page and Connecting.the.Dots

Washington Post:

Arab League condemns broad bombing campaign in Libya — Video: The Pentagon held a briefing about operation “Odyssey Dawn.” Vice Admiral William Gortney gave statement on the specific goals of the operation and took questions from the media. (March 19) — CAIRO—The Arab League secretary …

Discussion: JustOneMinute, The Hill and Maggie's Farm

Guardian:
Second night of air strikes under way in Libya

Discussion: Politics, Aljazeera, Truthdig, Libya February 17th and The Big Picture

New York Times:
Allies Intensify Barrage in Libya

Discussion: Washington Post, Fox News, Balloon Juice and American Forces Press Service

Marc Ambinder / NationalJournal.com:
Obama's First New War — As a fleet of French airplanes lacerated …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Atlantic Online, The Blaze and Balloon Juice

Latme / Babylon & Beyond:
LIBYA: Arab League head criticizes airstrikes as Western forces impose no-fly zone

Discussion: Yglesias, CNN, Questions and Observations, The Washington Note and Crooks and Liars

Liberty Chick / Big Government:

SEIU Hit With RICO Lawsuit, Blames Hunton and Williams and...Koch Brothers — After years of being harassed by the purple people beaters, one company has finally said ENOUGH. — In a press release issued Thursday, Sodexo USA announced that the company has filed a civil lawsuit …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, The Lonely Conservative, iOwnTheWorld.com and Pajamas Media

Boehner:

Statement by Speaker Boehner on Libya — House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the situation in Libya:

Discussion: Cubachi, Washington Wire, The Daily Dish, Liberty Pundits Blog and HotAirPundit

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Boehner wants Obama to explain US role in Libya

Discussion: CNN and The Politico

JSOnline:

Supreme Court tensions boil over — Prosser says he was goaded into insulting chief justice — By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel — Madison - As the deeply divided state Supreme Court wrestled over whether to force one member off criminal cases last year, Justice David Prosser exploded …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Political Carnival, Daily Kos and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Jane M. Von Bergen / Philly.com:

Unemployed facing new obstacle — Some do not want to hire the out-of-work, fearing they were let go because they were lousy workers. — The job, posted on Indeed.com, seemed promising - an opening in Texas for a quality engineer with experience in dimensional gauging and benchtop test equipment, offering up to $62,000 a year.

Discussion: The Lonely Conservative

Byron York / Washington Examiner:

BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL — ‘Unique capabilities’ mean virtually all-American war in Libya — Chief Political Correspondent Follow Him @ByronYork — With President Obama making only brief remarks during his trip to Latin America, most of what we know about the beginning of the war …

Discussion: Salon, The Sundries Shack, Sister Toldjah and Fox Nation

Simmi Aujla / The Politico:

Lugar sees Libya attack as dangerous — Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) warned on Sunday that the U.S. is starting a treacherous descent down a slippery slope of international diplomacy by getting involved in Libya. — It doesn't make sense, he said, for the U.S. to help Libyan civilians …

Discussion: CNN, Balloon Juice and Washington Monthly

Imtiyaz Delawala / ABCNEWS:

Exclusive: Saif Gadhafi ‘Surprised’ by Coalition Attack, Says Americans Supporting Terrorists — ‘There Is a Big Misunderstanding,’ Saif Gadhafi Tells ABC News' Christiane Amanpour — In an exclusive interview with ABC News “This Week” anchor Christiane Amanpour, Saif Gadhafi …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

John Plunkett / Guardian:

PCC investigates Melanie Phillips' Spectator blog — Blogpost on media coverage of murder of Israeli family on West Bank referred to the ‘moral depravity’ of Arab ‘savages’ — Melanie Phillips' Spectator blogpost titled ‘Armchair barbarism’ prompted complaints to the PCC. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian