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Cafferty: Dictatorship — Jack Cafferty didn't hold back today: — Video-WMP Video-QT — Cafferty: We all hope nothing happens to Arlen Specter, the Republican head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cause he might be all that stands between us and a full blown dictatorship in this country.
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Bush says U.S. not 'trolling through personal lives' — USA Today reports NSA building massive phone records database — WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush said Thursday the government is "not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans" …

Immigration Deal Reached in Senate Provides Citizenship Opportunity — Senate leaders reached a deal yesterday on reviving a broad immigration bill that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens and said they will try to pass it before Memorial Day.


Bush Is Pressed Over New Report on Surveillance — WASHINGTON, May 11 — Congressional Republicans and Democrats alike demanded answers from the Bush administration on Thursday about a report that the National Security Agency had collected records of millions of domestic phone calls …

An Easy Call: Lying — At least now we know that the Bush administration's name for spying on Americans without first seeking court approval — the "terrorist surveillance program" — isn't an exercise in Orwellian doublespeak after all. It's just a bald-faced lie.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice

Bush Says U.S. Spying Is Not Widespread — President Bush today denied that the government is "mining or trolling through the personal lives of innocent Americans," as Democrats expressed outrage over a news report describing a National Security Agency program that has collected vast amounts of telephone records.
Discussion:
Pacific Views, Big Lizards, TalkLeft, Lean Left, David Corn, The Strata-Sphere, TAPPED, Riehl World View, Democrat Taylor Marsh …, The Reaction, The Left Coaster, Obsidian Wings, The Sandbox, Michelle Malkin, Wizbang, Daily Kos, Decision '08, Shakespeare's Sister, The Carpetbagger Report, Defense Tech, The Moderate Voice, Linkmeister, JustOneMinute and Vidiot Speak

NSA Collected Phone Records in U.S., Lott Says (Update1)
Discussion:
Unqualified Offerings

Congress Demands Phone Records Answers
Discussion:
ACLU, Power Line, Sister Toldjah, Decision '08, The Left Coaster, PunditGuy, Right Wing News and Daily Kos

NSA SWEEP "WASTE OF TIME," ANALYST SAYS
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Majikthise, The Moderate Voice, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, JOSHUAPUNDIT, QandO, Hotline On Call and Just a Bump in the Beltway

Hyping USA Today's "Big Brother" Bombshell: TV Jumps on Stale NSA Database Story
Discussion:
USA Today, Bull Moose, Captain's Quarters, Hit and Run, The Volokh Conspiracy, The Anonymous Liberal, Midtopia, INTEL DUMP, protein wisdom, Power Line, Unfogged, Outside The Beltway, The Carpetbagger Report, Sigmund, Carl and Alfred, BluegrassReport.org, In the Bullpen, The American Thinker, Thank You Qwest dot Org, Flopping Aces, The Corner on National …, A Blog For All, Pharyngula, BillHobbs.com and Hot Air


Why Won't U.S., Iran Hash Out Differences? — VIENNA, Austria - As the United States toughens its stance on Iran's nuclear program, and bitterness toward America hardens on the streets of Tehran, many people can't help but wonder: Why don't the two countries hold face-to-face talks to ease the crisis?
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Grand jury indicts Gov. Ernie Fletcher — The special grand jury that's been investigating state government hiring practices today indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on three misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination. — The jury also indicted former …
Discussion:
Outside The Beltway
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Pictures and words — Here are some pictures of today's [War] protests : — Policeman in plaincloths beating up a protester. — And he keeps on kicking. — Another protester getting arrested by plainclothed policeman. — A woman sucrries away with her child as she witnesses another protester getting beat up.
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Live-blogging today's demonstration crackdown
Discussion:
The Belmont Club

More Questions About a Goss Aide — New links surface between the No. 3 man at the CIA and a defense contractor — The number three official at the Central Intelligence Agency, who announced this week he is stepping down as his boss Director Porter Goss leaves later this month …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
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Joint Economic Committee Releases Tax Cuts Make Tax System More Progressive — The Joint Economic Committee yesterday released Federal Income Tax System Is Highly Progressive After Recent Tax Cuts (#109-36):

One Juror Between Terrorist And Death — Only one juror stood between the death penalty and Zacarias Moussaoui and that juror frustrated his colleagues because he never explained his vote, according to the foreman of the jury that sentenced the al-Qaeda operative to life in prison last week.


US military, intelligence officials raise concern about possible preparations for Iran strike — Use of Iraq terror group bypassed Congress, sources say — Concern is building among the military and the intelligence community that the US may be preparing for a military strike on Iran …

Indexing Iraq — Brookings, the liberal Washington think tank, this week released a massive compendium of statistics about the extraordinary situation in Iraq. The report, by Michael O'Hanlon and Nina Kamp, consists of 55 pages of tables and graphs addressing everything from civilian deaths to economic growth to life expectancy.
Discussion:
chicagoboyz.net

L.A. Psychologist Who Didn't Get Tote Bag at Mother's Day Angel Game Files Lawsuit — A Los Angeles psychologist who was denied a tote bag during a Mother's Day giveaway at an Angel game is suing the baseball team, alleging sex and age discrimination. — Michael Cohn's class-action claim …


Army Acts to Curb Abuses of Injured Recruits — From left, Pfc. Richard Thurman, Pvt. Justin Nugent and Pvt. Damien McMahon in Lawton, Okla. The Army is acting to address accusations of abuse at the injured soldiers' unit at nearby Fort Sill, Okla. — LAWTON, Okla. — The Army has shaken …
Discussion:
Democrat Taylor Marsh …


DeLay notifies Speaker of the House he will resign June 9 — It's official: Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has announced he will resign from Congress June 9. A copy of his resignation letter was acquired by RAW STORY. — Congressman Tom DeLay — Representing the 22nd District of Texas