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White House Says Little About Embattled Jones — White House officials offered tepid support Friday for Van Jones, the administration's embattled energy efficiency guru, who has issued two public apologies this week, one for signing a petition that questioned whether Bush administration officials …
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Sing It... Van Jones Cut Nasty Hate-Filled Music Album, Too! (Video) ...Update: Album Cover Found! — VAN JONES CUT A CD... The CD starred Van Jones and cop killer Mumia abu-Jamal. — UPDATE: Kristinn found the album (CD) cover: — Jones used his Ella Baker Center for Human Rights …


GOP uses Jones to launch czar revolt — Republicans who have spent months criticizing the proliferation of “czars” in the Obama White House have finally landed a major punch. — Over the past few weeks, White House green jobs czar Van Jones has been accused of being a communist …

Who Cleared Van Jones? — Bob Beckel said on Fox this morning that Obama White House green jobs czar Van Jones will be canned by Tuesday. Beckel reasoned that Jones's background is simply indefensible for a White house appointment, and wondered if the FBI screwed up because they must not have uncovered this in the vetting process.

Key House Dem. Clyburn: ‘half a loaf’ on health care better than nothing
Discussion:
The Plum Line, Daily Kos, Angry Bear, The Politico, TPMDC, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post


Sources: White House drafting health care bill
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AMERICAblog News, msnbc.com, TPMDC, D-Day, The Page, Salon, Washington Monthly, Hot Air, The Hill and American Power

Bond Urges Congressional Hearing on Administration's Mr. Jones
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Another Black Conservative, Right Wing News, Hot Air, Fox News, Nice Deb, Michelle Malkin, Pundit & Pundette and Gateway Pundit

Trouble For Jones — At his daily press briefing Friday afternoon …


The ESPN Zone of Empires — ESPN Zone New York (cc photo by bigweasel) — Afghanistan is often called the “Graveyard of Empires,” but I think the phrase is pretty misleading. It seems to imply that empires that venture in Afghanistan get defeated and die.

Obama looking for retirement plan reforms — Among the changes are expanded access to 401k plans and a pledge to let workers convert vacation days into retirement savings. — President Barack Obama announced a series of policy changes Saturday aimed at making it easier for Americans to save money for retirement.

Protester to Mark Warner: Which part of the Constitution says you get to take over health care? — Via CNS. We've been down this road before but it's one thing to kick around arguments in the comments and another to watch a U.S. Senator be put on the spot.
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DISSENTING JUSTICE, CNSNews, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Freedom's Lighthouse, The Other McCain and HotAirPundit

Obama May Need Sense of Crisis to Revive Health-Care Overhaul — Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama returns to Washington next week in search of one thing that can revive his health-care overhaul: a sense of crisis. — Facing polls showing a drop in his approval …

The right way to debate healthcare reform — If you have 10 minutes on the eve of the three-day weekend, you really should take the time to watch the video below. It shows Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., talking with a group of his constituents who oppose the Democratic healthcare reform plans.

A Doctor's Plan for Legal Industry Reform — My modest proposal to rearrange how lawyers do business. — Printer — Friendly — Since we are moving toward socialism with ObamaCare, the time has come to do the same with other professions—especially lawyers.

Afghanistan Is Not 'Obama's War' — Republicans should never do to President Obama what many Democrats did to President Bush. — Printer — Friendly — In his column for the Washington Post on Tuesday, the influential conservative George Will provided intellectual fodder …

Panel Rules Against Ashcroft in Detention Case — Former attorney general John Ashcroft may face personal liability for the decisions that led to the detention of an American citizen as a material witness after the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal appeals court panel ruled on Friday.


Dems: “Republicans Want To End Medicare” (VIDEO) — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele penned an op-ed in the Washington Post on Monday accusing Democrats of looking to gut Medicare. — Five days later — on the eve of a three-day weekend — Democrats are hitting back.


Gates Assails ‘Appalling’ Decision by AP to Release Photo of Dying Marine — The defense secretary went as far as to ask the AP to reconsider distributing the photo of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard. — FOXNews.com — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has harshly criticized the decision …
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Lens, Afghan Quest, Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, American Power, BLACKFIVE and Weasel Zippers


Reminder: DOJ Honors Program Applications Are Almost Due — This morning, we reminded you about judicial clerkships as one career option to explore. Now we'd like to remind you of another: the Attorney General's Honors Program, at the U.S. Department of Justice. The application deadline is this coming Tuesday, September 8.
Discussion:
The Volokh Conspiracy


A Stable Pakistan Needs a Stable Afghanistan — The fight against militant Islam must be pursued on both sides of the border. — Printer — Friendly — Winning the war in Afghanistan—creating a stable and legitimate Afghan state that can control its territory—will be difficult.

Reid may compromise on public option — SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled he's open to compromising on the government-run insurance option that is roiling the health care debate back in Washington. — Speaking to reporters near the home where he grew …
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Kausfiles