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Juli Weiner / Vanity Fair:
In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011 — Christopher Hitchens—the incomparable critic, masterful rhetorician, fiery wit, and fearless bon vivant—died today at the age of 62. Hitchens was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the spring of 2010, just after the publication of his memoir …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Conservative Commune, Michelle Malkin, The Moderate Voice, Balloon Juice, Catholic Bandita, Scared Monkeys, Media Decoder, Gothamist, Wonkette, Hot Air, Big Journalism, Datechguy's Blog, The Lonely Conservative, The Spectacle Blog, UrbanGrounds, Belmont Club, Ricochet Conversations Feed, The Daily What, newsfeed.time.com, Outside the Beltway, The American Mind, Little Green Footballs, The Mahablog, Ed Driscoll, The Hinterland Gazette, neo-neocon, US Politics, Feministe, Naked Politics, Ace of Spades HQ, Taylor Marsh, BizzyBlog and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
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William Grimes / New York Times:
Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011: Christopher Hitchens Is Dead at 62 — Obituary — Christopher Hitchens, a slashing polemicist in the tradition of Thomas Paine and George Orwell who trained his sights on targets as various as Henry Kissinger, the British monarchy and Mother Teresa …
BBC:
Christopher Hitchens dies at 62 after suffering cancer — Vanity Fair's editor said those who read him felt they knew him — British-born author, literary critic and journalist Christopher Hitchens has died at the age of 62. — He died from pneumonia, a complication of the oesophageal cancer he had, at a Texas hospital.
Discussion:
Simply Left BehindThe …
Matt Schudel / Washington Post:
Christopher Hitchens dies; Vanity Fair writer was a religious skeptic, master of the contrarian essay — Christopher Hitchens, a sharp-witted provocateur who used his formidable learning, biting wit and muscular prose style to skewer what he considered high-placed hypocrites …
Discussion:
CNN and Michael Totten
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Writer Christopher Hitchens Dies At 62 — This graphic requires version 9 or higher of the Adobe Flash Player.Get the latest Flash Player. — Writer Christopher Hitchens was a critic of personalities, politicians and religious figures. — The influential writer and cultural critic …
Discussion:
Newshoggers.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Booman Tribune
Graydon Carter / Vanity Fair:
Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011: In Memoriam
Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011: In Memoriam
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Atlantic Online, Poynter and Truthdig, more at Mediagazer »
Anthony Boadle / Reuters:
Atheist intellectual Christopher Hitchens dead at 62
Atheist intellectual Christopher Hitchens dead at 62
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit
New York Times:
Gingrich Duels With Challengers at Iowa Debate — SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The leading Republican presidential candidates largely shelved their contentious attacks on one another to deliver their closing arguments on Thursday night at the final debate before the nominating contests begin …
Discussion:
GOP 12, Los Angeles Times, The Caucus, The Other McCain, NY Daily News, The Iowa Republican, ABCNEWS, Wall Street Journal and Taylor Marsh
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Jonathan Garthwaite / Townhall.com:
Gingrich wins Townhall/HotAir Primary; Conservatives still not completely sold that Gingrich is the last man standing
Gingrich wins Townhall/HotAir Primary; Conservatives still not completely sold that Gingrich is the last man standing
Discussion:
Hot Air
Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:
GOP debate: Gingrich's electability at issue
GOP debate: Gingrich's electability at issue
Discussion:
CNN, Politifact.com Truth …, Outside the Beltway and The Politico
Washington Post:
Gingrich and Romney on the defensive in GOP debate
Gingrich and Romney on the defensive in GOP debate
Discussion:
Associated Press, Iowa Caucuses, Taegan Goddard's …, ABCNEWS and The Page
Lymari Morales / Gallup:
Fewer Americans See U.S. Divided Into “Haves,” “Have Nots” — The majority would put themselves in the “haves” category if they had to choose — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans are now less likely to see U.S. society as divided into the “haves” and “have nots” than they were in 2008, returning to their views prior to that point.
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Frank Newport / Gallup:
Americans Prioritize Economy Over Reducing Wealth Gap — Fifty-two percent say having rich and poor is an acceptable part of the system — PRINCETON, NJ — More Americans say it is important that the federal government enact policies that grow the economy and increase equality of opportunity …
Discussion:
Via Meadia and The Politico
Darren Samuelsohn / The Politico:
GOP wins light bulb fight — The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs. — GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes …
Washington Post:
Congressional leaders reach spending deal to avoid government shutdown — Congressional negotiators signed off Thursday evening on a $1 trillion spending agreement for federal agencies, just 28 hours before a deadline that would have led to a government shutdown.
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Russell Berman / The Hill:
Shutdown averted: Deal reached on $1T omnibus package
Shutdown averted: Deal reached on $1T omnibus package
Discussion:
The Politico, Hot Air and The Lonely Conservative
Sarah Maslin Nir / New York Times:
Tea Party Group Leader Is Arrested at La Guardia — An influential Tea Party leader was arrested at La Guardia Airport early Thursday after he tried to board a flight with a semi-automatic handgun and its ammunition in his luggage, the authorities said. — Mark J. Meckler, 49 …
Discussion:
The Politico, ThinkProgress and Gawker
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Josh Lederman / The Hill:
Tea Party leader arrested with gun at NY airport
Tea Party leader arrested with gun at NY airport
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and CNN
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Nikki Haley to endorse Romney — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, one of the most sought-after remaining Republican endorsements, will come out for Mitt Romney Friday morning, POLITICO has learned. — Haley will offer her formal endorsement on Fox and Friends, giving Romney an important boost ahead …
Discussion:
Fox News, Reuters, GOP 12, The Caucus, CNN, Wonkette, Outside the Beltway, Trail Blazers Blog, The Hinterland Gazette and Ricochet Conversations Feed
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Kasie Hunt / Associated Press:
SC governor Nikki Haley endorses Mitt Romney
Steven Jiang / CNN:
‘Batman’ star Bale punched, stopped from visiting blind Chinese activist — DONGSHIGU VILLAGE, China (CNN) — As Christian Bale approached an impromptu checkpoint leading to this tiny village in eastern China, four men blocking the narrow path started marching toward him in menacing unison.
Discussion:
Global Spin, News Desk, Washington Post, msnbc.com, Guardian and The Daily What
Wayne Besen / Truth Wins Out:
Marcus Bachmann Backs Down and Caves on Bogus $150 ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy Bill — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Contact: John Becker, Director of Communications — BURLINGTON, Vt. - The heated standoff between Truth Wins Out and Marcus Bachmann abruptly ended today after the therapist agreed …
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay
David Weigel / Slate:
The Mysterious Jeb Bush Poll — It started when the mayor of Merrifield, New Hampshire, tweeted that he'd gotten a robo-poll asking about a possible Jeb Bush presidential campaign. It's continued, with random granite state citizens getting the same calls. One of them sent over the gist of questions received last night.
Scott Peterson / Christian Science Monitor:
Exclusive: Iran hijacked US drone, says Iranian engineer — In an exclusive interview, an engineer working to unlock the secrets of the captured RQ-170 Sentinel says they exploited a known vulnerability and tricked the US drone into landing in Iran. — ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Darren Samuelsohn / The Politico:
Allen West: Goebbels would be proud of Democrats — Tea party favorite Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said Thursday that Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels would be “very proud” of Democrats for shifting public sentiment against Republicans, and he blamed the press for helping spread their message.
Discussion:
The Buzz Florida Politics Feed, The Raw Story, Daily Kos and The New Republic
Kevin Zieber / Media Matters for America:
Cartoon Regularly Featured On Big Journalism Connected To Nazi-Era Magazine — In at least three instances, Andrew Breitbart's Big Journalism website has used an image connected to a Nazi-era German magazine noted for anti-Semitic cartoons and pro-Hitler leanings.
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs
Libby A. Nelson / Inside Higher Ed:
Search form — By — WASHINGTON — Although final details were still elusive late Thursday, members of Congress appear to have reached a compromise on a federal budget for 2012 that would preserve the maximum Pell Grant while changing the program's eligibility criteria.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Clayton Cramer's Blog
Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
Air Force Vet Ron Paul Drops Bombs On Newt Gingrich for War Deferments — Air Force veteran and presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul. R-Texas, has opened up a new line of attack against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. — Interviewed by Megyn Kelly on Fox News Channel …
Jennie Rothenberg Gritz / The Atlantic Online:
Hitchens: ‘People Need Ritual, and Probably Particularly Funerals’ — A never-before-published excerpt from a 2007 interview. Read the rest of the interview here. — Reuters — You say that there's a harmony and beauty inherent in the laws of physics. Can you say more about that?
Rebecca Evans / Daily Mail:
Saviour of 2,000 Afghans who saved a baby's life executed by the Taliban — Dr Karen Woo was with nine others in the Kuran Wa Munja district of Badakhshan when they were killed — A British doctor shot dead by the Taliban was part of a humanitarian mission that had helped 2,000 Afghans, an inquest heard yesterday.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers