meme orandum
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President Holds Press Conference White House — Permalink The James S. Brady Briefing Room THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. With the second term underway and a new Congress at work, we're moving forward on great goals for our country. In my inaugural address I renewed this nation's commitment to expanding liberty at home and promoting liberty abroad. | |
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James Martin Capozzola: (0) DISCUSSION | QUOTE(S) OF THE WEEK The President Performs For this week's quotes of the week, enjoy, if you will,... James Frederick Dwight: HUMOR IN POLITICS, CONTINUED — In regards to our conversation on humor in politics, an exchange during today's Presidential press conference is telling. Lambert @Corrente: YABL, YABL, YABL: Bush lying on the world being better off without Saddam — Remember the Bush "tell" that Froomkin... |
Paul McLeary: Just this morning, the president told reporters at a press conference that "all our Cabinet secretaries must realize... Josh Marshall: Here in the transcript of today's presidential press conference our man Carl Cameron (he of the Kerry-manicure... |
Bush Orders an End to Hiring Columnists By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - President Bush on Wednesday ordered his Cabinet secretaries not to hire columnists to promote their agendas after disclosure that a second writer was paid to tout an administration initiative. | |
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Garance Franke-Ruta: According to the Associated Press: "President Bush on Wednesday ordered his Cabinet secretaries not to hire columnists... The Farmer: I have a fleet of drone planes I'd like to sell you — Commander Fabulous burns the Punditto-Head Payola bridge. |
Joe Gandelman: Bush To Cabinet: Stop Hiring Columnists To Pitch Our Line — President George Bush issued an order today that probably... Greg @TheTalentShow: Question of the Day — What does it say about an organization when the guy in charge has to publicly order his employees to stop breaking the law? |
9 killed as trains derail near Los Angeles CNN — Permalink GLENDALE, California (CNN) — A commuter train crash and derailment killed at least nine people, including a sheriff's deputy, on Wednesday outside Los Angeles, fire officials said. | |
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Michele Catalano: And seeing as this guy is 3,000 miles away, I'll have to find another idiot to choke. Or just stay at my desk until this mood passes over. James Joyner: Train Derails Near Los Angeles, At Least 9 Dead 9 killed as trains derail near Los Angeles (CNN) "A commuter train... |
Oliver Willis: My God, She's Stupid — Right-Wing Stupidity A man did something stupid, horrible, and homicidal on the train tracks in L.A. today. Paul @Wizbang: And 10 people are dead from a train derailment in Los Angles. The wreck was caused when someone decided to commit suicide by parking on the train track. |
Columnist Backing Bush Plan Had Federal Contract By / WaPo — Permalink In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush's push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families. | |
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James Martin Capozzola: The otherwise detestable Howard Kurtz, "media reporter" at the Washington Post, a man who also takes a regular paycheck,... Paul McLeary: And in a similar story, today we hear that Maggie Gallagher, a syndicated columnist who repeatedly defended the Bush... Hugh Hewitt: Howard Kurtz reports on Maggie Gallagher's contract with the Department of Health and Human Services for $21,500 in writing services. |
John Hawkins: However, I find it to be more than a little bit hypocritical for people to get up in arms about this when the very guy... Zoe Kentucky: However, in an interview with the Washington Post, she asked "Did I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it?...I don't know. The Poor Man: Wingnut Welfare rmstrong Williams (perhaps) is not alone: "In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly... |
| Also: Paul Glastris, Skippy, Kathryn Jean Lopez, Joe Gandelman, Bassjhs, Captain Ed, David Neiwert, James Joyner, Chris Mooney, Josh Marshall, Michelle Malkin, Aaron @LiquidList, The Big Trunk, Steve Bainbridge, Ed Cone, Michael Froomkin, Taegan Goddard, Eugene Oregon, Oliver Willis, Roger Ailes, Kevin Aylward, Matt Welch | |
Bush Finds a Backer in Moynihan, Who's Not Talking By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 - As he pushes ahead with his proposal to remake Social Security by adding private investment accounts, President Bush has so far failed to attract any prominent Democratic supporters. At least, no prominent Democrats who are still alive. | |
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Tom Burka: One of Bush's new supporters is the prominently deceased Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the President told reporters today. DeLong: Why Oh Why Can't We Have a Better Press Corps? (Richard Stevenson Department) Richard Stevenson writes: [snipped quote] What is this "to many Democrats" business? Josh Marshall: TPM reader — NB reports in from the field on the semantic chaos that has the Grey Lady spinning in circles ... |
Jesse Taylor: Grave Spinnin' — The New York Times notes that using the specter of a dead man's support for your platform helps if he actually supports your platform. Orrin Judd: ALL BOWTIE, NO CATTLE: Bush Finds a Backer in Moynihan, Who's Not Talking (RICHARD W. STEVENSON, 1/26/05, NY Times)... |
Rice Confirmed as Secretary of State By / WaPo — Permalink The Senate confirmed Condoleezza Rice's nomination to be secretary of state today, voting to elevate the White House national security adviser to replace retiring Colin L. Powell as the nation's chief diplomat. The 85 to 13 vote came a day after Senate debate began on Rice's nomination. | |
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Hindrocket: "Centrists" Oppose Rice Nomination — Reader Richard Banyard pointed out this remarkable paragraph in the Washington... KJL: HUH? From the Washington Post: [snipped quote] Carl Levin's a centrist? Tom Harkin's a centrist? I could go on... |
Barbara O'Brien: According to this Washington Post article, twelve of the 13 (in no particular order) are: James Jeffords, Vermont... |
Controversy festers on Hamilton campus again By / Syracuse Post-Standard — Permalink A professor who likened victims in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann will headline a discussion at Hamilton College, a campus that has been a lightning rod for controversy in recent months. | |
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John Hawkins: However, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that well done sports blogs or even fantasy sports blogs have the... Ace: Only the best for our students (By Karol) Man who referred to 9/11 victims as 'little Eichmanns' will headline a discussion at Hamilton College. |
Charles Johnson: The Anti-American Academy — University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill, who sat down the day after September 11,... |
Education chief rips PBS for gay character AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - The nation's new education secretary denounced PBS on Tuesday for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles. | |
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Joe Gandelman: Pinch Me And Tell Me It's All A Bad Dream — This is beginning to look like a bad Saturday Night Live parody that you've... Joanne Jacobs: Cartoon lesbians on PBS — In a visit to Vermont on a federally funded PBS show, an animated bunny named Buster reports on farm life, maple sugaring and lesbian couples. |
Jeff Jarvis: The latest silliness: [snipped quote] WGBH will air the episode. |
Senate Confirms Rice As Secretary of State By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - Condoleezza Rice won easy confirmation Wednesday to be President Bush 's new secretary of state, despite strong dissent from a small group of Democrats who said she shares blame for mistakes and war deaths in Iraq . | |
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Captain Ed: McCain: Democrats "Sore Losers" — As Condoleezza Rice finally won her confirmation for Secretary of State despite the... Hindrocket: UPDATE: The Senate just voted to confirm Condoleezza Rice, 85 to 13. Thirty Democrats voted for her confirmation; John Kerry was among those voting "No." |
C. D. Harris: P.S. : Dr. Rice was confirmed 85-13. Charles Johnson: McCain: Dems "Bitter" Sore Losers — Condoleezza Rice is confirmed as Secretary of State, and Sen. John McCain... |
Radiation scare causes WPB evacuation By / Palm Beach Post — Permalink WEST PALM BEACH - Fire rescue workers responding to a office fire evacuated a downtown block Wednesday after an instrument reading indicated that the building carried a high amount of radiation. | |
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Paul @Wizbang: Update 2:OOOOOPS The level of radiation coming from the Corradino Group, 321 S. Dixie Highway, was considered dangerous,... |
Jeff Quinton: 7: 28 EST UPDATE: Paul points out at Wizbang that the news has now been updated: "However, police and fire officials... |
Bush says Social Security shortchanges black seniors LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON - Race became a significant factor in the debate over Social Security on Tuesday when President Bush told black leaders that the government retirement program shortchanged blacks, whose relatively shorter life span meant they paid more in payroll taxes than they eventually received in benefits. | |
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Clayton Cramer: Now President Bush is pulling out the big gun of how Social Security's current retirement scheme produces racially disparate results: [snipped quote] This is not a trivial issue. Michelle Malkin: SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT... Just a glib thought on President Bush's apparent willingness to use race as a factor in... |
James Joyner: Bush: Social Security Shortchanges Black Seniors — Bush says Social Security shortchanges black seniors (LAT - Buffalo... |
Writer Backing Bush Plan Had Gotten Federal Contract By / WaPo — Permalink In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush's push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families. | |
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Garance Franke-Ruta: In a news conference today, President George W. Bush keyed off of Howard Kurtz's revelations in The Washington Post that... Andrew Sullivan: BUSH ON GALLAGHER AND WILLIAMS: He distances himself: [snipped quote] One way to insure this would be for Bush to order... |
Jeffrey Dubner: Hot on the heels of the Maggie Gallagher revelations, Henry Waxman's Committee on Government Reform puts out a brief... |
10 Killed As Suburban L.A. Trains Derail By / AP — Permalink GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) - A commuter train smashed into an SUV left on a crossing by a suicidal man early Wednesday, derailed and crashed into another Metrolink train, killing 10 people and injuring more than 100, authorities said. | |
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James Joyner: Update (1410): AP confirms this: "The SUV driver changed his mind about suicide and left the vehicle before it was hit, Police Chief Randy Adams said. |
Michelle Malkin: OFF THE RAILS — The deadly Glendale train derailment is one of today's top stories. Randy Townley asks: Are we now seeing the new face of terrorism? |
CRIPPLED C WILL BE BACK ON TRACK IN MONTHS, NOT YEARS New York Post — Permalink Service on the A and C line subway will be fully restored within the next six to nine months - not the five years previously feared - with more trains expected to be back starting next week, officials said yesterday. | |
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Stefan Beck: PostedThis morning I stumbled upon two fascinating posts, which will be of particular interest to riders (erstwhile riders, that is) of New York City's A and C subway trains. |
Michelle Malkin: "The other day in NY a homeless person wandered down the tracks and started a fire which may shut the A and C lines down for up to 5 years." |
Inaugural run-in for Reid aide By / The Hill — Permalink An aide to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was arrested on the West Front of the Capitol for disorderly conduct during President Bush's inaugural address last week. | |
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Orrin Judd: LONGING FOR DASCHLE: Inaugural run-in for Reid aide (Geoff Earle, 1/26/05, The Hill) [snipped quote] Hard to bellieve the... |
K. J. Lopez: A HARRY REID STAFFER was arrested for disorderly conduct while protesting the inauguration last week. |
Senate Confirms Rice as Secretary of State Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Condoleezza Rice was confirmed as secretary of state on Wednesday as a majority of senators swept aside objections from some Democrats that she should be held accountable for mistakes in the Iraq war. | |
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Skippy: mr. sun's confirmed rice mr. sun has some better questions for condaleezza "gibbons" rice, who has just today been... |
Kos @DailyKos: And my favorite: [quote] Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut Democrat who strongly backed the war, urged a "resounding vote" for...[end quote] |
Mexican People Smuggler Admits Boston Terror Hoax Reuters — Permalink MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - A "dirty bomb" alert in Boston last week was caused by a Mexican hoaxer trying to take revenge on Chinese immigrants who did not pay him for smuggling them across the U.S. border, Mexican prosecutors said on Wednesday. | |
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Charles Johnson: It was a hoax: Mexican People Smuggler Admits Boston Terror Hoax. |
Steve M.: AP And in other news, a coyote has admitted that he was responsible for the recent dirty-bomb hoax. |
Chill, blogophiles; you're not the first to do what you're doing USA Today — Permalink Thomas Paine was basically a blogger — in 1776. Martin Luther's version of blogs totally ticked off the Holy Roman Emperor, who issued the Edict of Worms banning Luther's writings. George Orwell was a blogger. So was Brian Lamb, the guy who started C-Span. | |
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James Joyner: Kevin Maney has an interesting piece in USA Today entitled, "Chill, blogophiles; you're not the first to do what you're doing." Dave Winer: According to a USA Today columnist, blogs are great, he loves blogs, but too bad they were invented in the 1700s by Thomas Paine or possibly even earlier. |
McQ: Words mean things — I don't know why but stuff like this drives me nuts. KJL: BLOGGERS: CHILL — USA Today's tech columnist: "These days, Internet blogs are all the rage. |
INSULT By / New York Post — Permalink DO YOU remember when immigration officials sent out flight-school visa-ap proval notices for two of the 9/11 hijackers — six months after they had committed their suicide attacks on America? | |
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Steve M.: That's from her New York Post column on the case. Malkin adds: What on earth is wrong with our federal government? James Joyner: Malkin uses this to illustrate that: [snipped quote] Bill at INDC Journal and John Hinderacker have more. |
Michelle Malkin: EXCLUSIVE: DHS AWARDS GREEN CARD TO DEAD SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIM yevgeny.jpg Eugueni Kniazev (Dec. 11, 1954-Sept. 11, 2001) ... |
Kuwaiti 'slit daughter's throat' BBC — Permalink A Kuwaiti man has reportedly confessed to killing his 14-year-old daughter because he believed she was having sex. Adnan Enezi - an employee in the Islamic Affairs ministry - had just returned from the pilgrimage to Mecca. | |
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Emperor Darth Misha I: Meanwhile, From the "Religion of Peace" (My Ass) (Link thanks to LC John) There's really not much that His Majesty want... Ace: Her father, who suspected her of having sex, tied her up, gagged her, and slit her throat in front of her two siblings. |
Charles Johnson: Father Returns from Hajj, Murders Daughter — Immediately upon returning from the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's... |
Coaching Iraq's New Candidates, Discreetly WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD — The midwives of democracy toil behind the towering gray blast walls that encase every Western enterprise in the new Iraq. This one, in an anonymous cluster of buildings, houses the country's first school for political candidates. | |
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Gene @HarrysPlace: I don't know if Mr. Bragg or the late Mr. Guthrie would approve of my borrowing that song's refrain for this post, but... Cori Dauber: Democracy is a Learned Skill — An absolutely fascinating article in today's Post on efforts to train Iraqi political parties on the nuts and bolts of democratic action. |
Richard Reeb: Iraqis Are Highly Resolved to Vote Sunday — At the end of a lengthy WaPo article about American and other groups... Orrin Judd: PAY NO ATTEBNTION TO THE COACH BEHIND THE CURTAIN (via mc): Coaching Iraq's New Candidates, Discreetly: U.S. |
Attorney General Approved Despite Abuse Concerns By / Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A divided Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved Alberto Gonzales as U.S. attorney general, rejecting Democratic complaints about his role in formulating administration policies blamed for contributing to the torture of detainees. | |
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Kos @DailyKos: Dems hold fast against Gonzales — We may not have the votes to stop Gonzales, but Democrats held together to take a critical stand against torture. |
Andrew Sullivan: ROLL CALL: The Committee Democrats who took a stand against Gonzales and torture: Leahy (VT), Kennedy (MA), Biden (DE),... |
Tortured Logic on Torture City Journal — Permalink In 1987, the United States rejected an amendment to the Geneva conventions that would have conferred prisoner of war status on terrorists. The Washington Post and the New York Times applauded the decision. | |
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Charles Johnson: Sullivan's Tortured Logic — At City Journal, Heather Mac Donald responds to Andrew Sullivan's overheated article for... Orrin Judd: DENYING THE LAW WHILE CLAIMING ITS PROTECTIONS: Tortured Logic on Torture: Andrew Sullivan misinterprets Abu Ghraib... |
Betsy Newmark: Heather MacDonald explains why Andrew Sullivan is all wrong in his agonizing over Abu Ghraib. KJL: MAC DONALD VS. SULLIVAN — Heather Mac Donald says that Andrew Sullivan misinterprets Abu Ghraib. |
Insurgents Vowing to Kill Iraqis Who Brave the Polls on Sunday By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 25 - The black sedan made its way down Madaris Street, the young men inside tossing leaflets out the window. "This is a final warning to all of those who plan to participate in the election," the leaflets said. | |
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Cori Dauber: The Story in a Nutshell — Now that typepad is accepting my posts again, let me re-post what I tried to put up this... James Joyner: Iraq Election News Roundup — As Sunday's election nears, it's rather clear that the terrorists are growing increasingly... |
Gene @HarrysPlace: Update: On one side are people distributing leaflets that read, "This is a final warning to all of those who plan to participate in the election. Damian Penny: The New York Times - yes, the Times - reports that Iraqi insurgents ("Minutemen" - Michael Moore) are making graphic... |
A Subway, Not a Shelter NYT — Permalink It started with a very cold night and, probably, a homeless person - one of hundreds hiding in the subway. A fire was lighted somehow and spread, incinerating a small control room. That loss of wires, cables and connections doomed almost 600,000 New Yorkers to various levels of commuter hell for months and possibly years. | |
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Barbara O'Brien: The New York Times editorializes about how sad it is, here. But that's not what I want to blog about right now. |
Stefan Beck: The Times helpfully editorializes today that the subway is not a homeless shelter. |
Country store becomes shootout site AP — Permalink ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — \When two men walked into a popular country store outside Atlanta, announced a holdup and fired a shot, owners Bobby and Gloria Doster never hesitated. The pair pulled out their own pistols and opened fire. The armed suspect and his partner were killed. | |
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James Joyner: Country Store Becomes Shootout Site — Country store becomes shootout site (CNN) [snipped quote] Apparently, she was successful. Acidman: jawja justice — I love stories with happy endings [snipped quote] Sometimes happiness really IS a warm gun. |
Glenn Reynolds: ARMED SELF-DEFENSE WORKS: [snipped quote] The practice worked. And note that the police also would have been too late to save the victims, if they had needed help. |
Senate Roll Call on Rice Nomination AP — Permalink The 85-13 roll call by which the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state. On this vote, a ''yes'' vote was a vote to confirm and a ''no'' vote was a vote not to confirm. Voting ''yes'' were 32 Democrats and 53 Republicans. | |
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Steve Soto: Here are the Brave 13 who have integrity: Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. John... |
Avedon Carol: Rice vote — Senate Roll Call on Rice Nomination (AP) [snipped quote] Boxer (CA), Akaka (HI), Durbin (IL), Bayh (IN),... |
Winning Cases, Losing Voters By / NYT — Permalink Princeton, N.J. AS Republicans revel in President Bush's inauguration and prepare for his agenda-setting State of the Union address next week, many Democrats would like to consider almost anything but the substance of politics as the reason for their defeat last November. | |
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Dale Franks: Heading towards oblivion — Paul Starr, one of the editors for The American Prospect, writes an op/ed for todays New... Orrin Judd: WRONG MORALLY IS ONE THING, WRONG POLITICALLY QUITE ANOTHER: Winning Cases, Losing Voters (PAUL STARR, 1/26/05, NY... |
Ace: Today's New York Times has an interesting commentary piece on this exact subject. |
31 Marines killed in Iraq chopper crash CNN — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter crashed early Wednesday in west Iraq, near the border with Jordan, killing 31 Marines, military officials said. The CH-53 Stallion crashed near Ar Rutbah in western Iraq at about 1:20 a.m. local time (5:20 p.m. Tuesday ET). | |
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Ace: Bad Day In Iraq. [Dave at Garfield Ridge] 31 Marines dead after their CH-53 helicopter crashed. James Joyner: 31 Killed in Marine Chopper Crash 31 killed in Marine chopper crash (CNN) [snipped quote] A shame. |
Kos @DailyKos: How much longer will this s**t go on? [snipped quote] The situation is untenable. 1,578 dead. $300 billion in treasure. |
A different way of death By / Guardian — Permalink While insurgents have been blowing themselves apart in Israel and Iraq, a silence has prevailed about what suicide bombing actually involves. Like hunger strikers, suicide bombers are not necessarily in love with death. | |
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Norm Geras: A complex symbolic act (updated) I'm sorry to see Terry Eagleton adding his voice to this particular line of argument:... Scott Burgess: Those naively believing that they do so "to kill their enemies" (Jews, Americans, or Iraqi 'collaborators') are... |
Harry @HarrysPlace: Taking them at their word — Terry Eagleton has a piece on suicide bombers which makes a number of highly contestable points and which is overall I think a very flawed argument. |
Chirac Calls for Global Tax to Fight AIDS By / Reuters — Permalink DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac called for a tax to fund the global fight against AIDS on Wednesday, as new figures showed a modest rise in the number of patients receiving life-saving drugs in poor nations. | |
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Vanderleun: [quote]Chirac to Tax the World for AIDS: "I propose today moving forward through the creation, in an experimental way, of a...[end quote] |
Matt Welch: Here's his latest: "DAVOS, Switzerland — French President Jacques Chirac called for a tax to fund the global fight... |
A Degrading Policy WaPo — Permalink ALBERTO R. GONZALES was vague, unresponsive and misleading in his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Bush administration's detention of foreign prisoners. | |
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Jeanne D'Arc: I don't know if it was the letters we've all been sending, the mainstream cover — both the NYT and the Post ran... |
Armando @DailyKos: Thank you Senator Kennedy. Here's another: [snipped quote] It's about torture and respect for the rule of law. |
US Senate Confirms Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State By / Voice of America — Permalink The Senate has confirmed by an 85-13 vote National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State. She succeeds Colin Powell as the nation's top diplomat. Ms. Rice's confirmation was never in doubt, as Republicans are the majority party in the Senate. | |
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Skippy: the voa news tells us: [snipped quote] this is circular logic that does nothing but perpetuate bad behavior. "oh, don't... |
Jeff Goldstein: Thirty-fifth in a series of real-time empirical observations — In the time it takes you to read this post, Dr... |
Senate to Likely Get Gonzales Nomination By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) - A Senate Judiciary Committee divided along partisan lines advanced Alberto Gonzales' nomination as attorney general to the full Senate Wednesday despite Democratic complaints that he is too close to President Bush to be effective as the nation's top law enforcement official. | |
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Armando @DailyKos: Huzzah: Dems Vote No On Gonzales; Now Some Advice — Kudos to the Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee for voting No on Gonzales. |
Susan Madrak: WAY TO GO — The Judiciary Committee Dems held firm and voted no on Gonzales - and to torture as a U.S. policy. |
A Marriage of Convenience By / TCS — Permalink I don't much care for anything Maggie Gallagher, president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, has to say. In particular, I find her columns on gay marriage and adoption often outright offensive — she seems to take some considerable glee in slapping gays around in print. | |
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Andrew Sullivan: Meanwhile, Ryan Sager defends Gallagher. |
KJL: RE: GALLAGHER — Ryan Sager, who tends not to agree with what she writes, defends Maggie Gallagher. |
Still in the dark over where to vote - or for whom Guardian — Permalink With four days to go before the election in Iraq, the vote looks unlike most other exercises in democracy. In an unusually secret ballot, Iraqis are going to the polls unaware of the identities of many of the people they will be voting for. | |
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Norbizness: From Linda Chavez, proud resident of Free Pony Land: Choosing one's leaders is an affirmation that the person making the choice has inherent worth. |
Norm Geras: [quote]They carried a warning: "Those who dare to stand in the lines of death to participate in the elections will be responsible for the consequences that will be heavy."[end quote] |
High School Journalist Faces Firing By / LAT — Permalink Co-editor of a Fullerton campus paper profiled three gay students who decided to come out. Officials say she needed their parents' OK. When high school journalist Ann Long sent a recent edition of her school's newspaper to the printer, she hoped her profile of three gay students would generate some discussion in the hallways. | |
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Matt Welch: Teen Fired for Interviewing Gay Students — Ann Long, editor in chief of Troy High School's Oracle newspaper in... |
Dave Johnson: The National Mood of Intimidation — High School Journalist Faces Firing: [snipped quote] The national mood of intimidation is getting worse. |
Kerry proposes health coverage for all children By / Boston Globe — Permalink WASHINGTON — Vowing to use his new ''national voice" in the wake of his presidential campaign, Senator John F. Kerry yesterday unveiled a sweeping plan to bring health coverage to all children, paid for by repealing recent tax cuts for the highest-income Americans. | |
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Howard Kurtz: "'FAHRENHEIT' FAILS AS CLUB SNUBS SCHLUB" I'm getting a distinct feeling of deja vu from this Boston Globe piece: ... Orrin Judd: BACK TO THE SECOND WAY: Kerry proposes health coverage for all children (Rick Klein, January 26, 2005, Boston Globe)... |
KJL: Just got a new e-mail from John Kerry. He's going to give every child in America healthcare. (Taking the Hillary [reins]?) |
The Difference Between Politically Incorrect and Historically Wrong By / NYT — Permalink If you're going to call a book "The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History," readers will expect some serious carrying on about race, and Thomas Woods Jr. does not disappoint. | |
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The Farmer: "It is being snapped up on college campuses and, helped along by plugs from Fox News and other conservative media, it..." Ed Cone: Big lies: an NYT editorial observer piece by Adam Cohen on "The Difference Between Politically Incorrect and... |
Oliver Willis: The Difference Between Politically Incorrect and Historically Wrong [snipped quote] I've said numerous times that if I... |
General Says the Current Plan Is to Maintain 120,000 Soldiers in Iraq Through 2006 By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 - The Army's current plan is to keep about 120,000 soldiers in Iraq through 2006, roughly the same number that are fighting there now, a senior operations officer said Monday. | |
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Steve M.: Mr Blair indicated that as this handover developed it would become clearer when the coalition could leave altogether... |
Kos @DailyKos: Another two hellish years for our troops. All for what? More Iraqis are dying now than died during Saddam's regime. |
31 Killed in Marine Chopper Crash in Iraq By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A U.S. military transport helicopter crashed in bad weather in Iraq's western desert Wednesday, killing 31 people, all believed to be Marines, while insurgents killed five other American troops in the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the Iraq war began. | |
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Steve Soto: On the deadliest day for American forces since the war began, at least 36 US soldiers died today in two separate incidents in Iraq. |
Jeralyn Merritt: A helicopter crash is beleived to have killed 31 Marines. Five soldiers were killed in a separate incident, believed to be an attack by insurgents. |
Cause Is Still Unknown; Another Incident Leaves 4 Marines Dead NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 26 - Thirty-one marines died today when a transport helicopter crashed in the desert in western Iraq, the United States military said in a statement here today. There was no immediate explanation of what caused the crash. | |
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Matthew Yglesias: Crash — Obviously the deaths of dozens of soldiers in a helicopter crash is a tragedy. |
The Poor Man: The Bloodiest Day rom the NY Times today: [snipped quote] Thirty-six soldiers died today. Jesus. |
The Lowdown on High Self-Esteem By / LAT — Permalink Thinking you're hot stuff isn't the promised cure-all. Does low self-esteem lie at the root of all human suffering, failure and evil? When I ran my first research study on self-esteem in 1973, that certainly seemed to be the case. They would even treat each other better. | |
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Kevin Drum: SELF-ESTEEM...This wasn't online yesterday, but psychologist Roy Baumeister had an op-ed in the LA Times on Tuesday... Hilzoy @ObsidianWings: Now its authors have written an article in the LA Times (via Kevin Drum, and this time competitive me is determined to be the first to pounce on it. |
Kieran Healy: Self-Esteem — Kevin Drum relays the bad news that high self-esteem is basically good for nothing in terms of tangible outcomes. Ezra Klein: Eh, turns out it did no good. No wonder you're such a f**k up. |
Rice confirmation expected Wednesday CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — Condoleezza Rice is expected to win Senate confirmation as secretary of state on Wednesday, after hours of sometimes-bitter debate Tuesday that focused largely on the war in Iraq. | |
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Frederick Maryland: He was predictably compliant: "Our responsibility is to determine whether the nominee is fit for the position ... and... |
James Joyner: Rice Confirmed as Secretary of State, 85-13 — Rice confirmed as secretary of state (CNN) [snipped quote] Given the... |
Bush Aides Say Budget Deficit Will Rise Again By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 - The White House announced on Tuesday that the federal budget deficit was expected to rise this year to $427 billion, a figure that includes a new request from President Bush to help pay for the war in Iraq. | |
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TChris: Today the administration admitted that the number will be closer to $427 billion, making this the fourth consecutive year in which the deficit has grown. Juan Cole: "It will cost you, the taxpayer, about $300 billion over five years. I know Wolfowitz is telling you Iraq's oil revenues will pay for it all, but that's ridiculous." Kos @DailyKos: Red ink. As far as the eye can see Didn't he promise lower deficits during the campaign? |
Kevin Drum: The New York Times headline said "Budget Deficit Will Rise Again," and the story included the excellent graphic reproduced above. Nathan Newman: Lies, Damn Lies and Bush Budgets — With the $80 billion for Iraq requested by Bush, the deficit this coming year will... |
Sunnis Weigh the Risks of Running WaPo — Permalink "It is better to show people that they can say no and still be a part of the political organization," he said. "Otherwise, people will see they have no one in the political system. They will lose hope, and when they lose hope they turn to violence." | |
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Joe Gandelman: Iraq's Pre-Election Intimidation Continues — Iraqi's "insurgents" are accelerating their intimidation campaign designed... Cori Dauber: But this little article in the Post is, I think, just superb. |
James Joyner: Still, the violence and threats of violence are clearly having a major impact: Sunnis Weigh The Risks Of Running (WaPo,... |
36 U.S. Troops Die in Iraq in Their Bloodiest Day By / Reuters — Permalink BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Thirty-one U.S. troops were reported killed in a helicopter crash and five more died in insurgent attacks Wednesday in the deadliest day for American forces since they invaded Iraq 22 months ago. Guerrillas also killed 10 Iraqis in a string of bombings and raids Wednesday. | |
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Mary @LeftCoaster: Today has already been a particularly deadly day as a helicopter in Iraq used for transporting troops crashed. |
Josh Marshall: 36 US troops dead today in Iraq. No commentary, just prayers. |
'60 Minutes' Document Expert Slams CBS Report, Demands Corrections By / Editor and Publisher — Permalink NEW YORK A document examiner involved in the flawed "60 Minutes Wednesday" report on George W. Bush's National Guard service claims that he was defamed and his reputation damaged by the recent report from an independent review panel that investigated the show's reporting practices, E&P has learned. | |
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Charles Johnson: Document Expert Demands CBS Corrections — Marcel Matley, the handwriting analyst whose work was deceptively used in the... Greyhawk: Rather Forgeries Update — Editor and Publisher reports that Marcel Matley, a document expert cited by CBS News in... TVNewser: Doc. Expert Says CBS Report Defamed Him [snipped quote] Editor & Publisher reports this morning. Here are the details. |
Captain Ed: Marcel Matley, the documents examiner that CBS dragged in front of them as a human shield in the days following the... Glenn Reynolds: HERE'S ANOTHER BLOW to any hopes CBS might have had that the Thornburgh Report would put RatherGate behind it: [snipped quote] Jeez. Greg Ransom: DOCUMENT EXPERT MARCEL MATLEY: I was defamed by CBS News and the Thornburgh commission. (hat tip to Roth Report). |
Iraqi Insurgents Attack Polling Stations By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents staged attacks against U.S. forces, schools to be used as polling stations and political party offices on Wednesday, as they pressed a bloody campaign to undermine Iraq 's weekend elections. A U.S. Marine transport helicopter crashed in western Iraq. | |
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Mitch Berg: Iraq Election Predictions — As Cap'n Ed noted yesterday, there's evidence that the terrorists in Iraq - operating in... |
Captain Ed: Islamist Terrorists Start Their Election Playbook — The Zarqawi-led terrorist insurgency started running its game plan... |
No Comparison By / American Prospect — Permalink "My God, we're not going to be like them," cried a member of the House Republican leadership, upset over the recently proposed gutting of the House ethics rules, as quoted in The Washington Post. He was referring to the arrogant Democratic congressional majority of the late 1980s and early '90s. | |
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Howard Kurtz: American Prospect's Sam Rosenfeld dismisses the notion that high-handed House Republicans are just copying their Democratic predecessors: "This is getting old. |
Michael Froomkin: If the Democrats can't paint the GOP as drunk on power and out of control, then something's wrong. |
In Senate, Democrats Assail Rice and U.S. Policy in Iraq NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 - Senate Democrats on Tuesday denounced Condoleezza Rice as the architect of a failed and misleading Iraq policy, turning a daylong debate on her nomination as secretary of state into a prolonged discussion of the conduct of the war. | |
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Eugene Oregon: During yesterday's debate over Rice's confirmation, Sen. Mark Dayton called her a liar and Sen. John McCain responded... |
Howard Kurtz: Here's the New York Times account: "Senate Democrats on Tuesday denounced Condoleezza Rice as the architect of a failed... |
President Discusses Issues With Black Leaders By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 - President Bush told a meeting of African-American religious and community leaders on Tuesday that he remained committed to a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and that fighting H.I.V. and AIDS in Africa remained a priority, a participant in the meeting said afterward. | |
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Nathan Newman: Bush Plays the Race Card on Social Security — In a meeting with black leaders, most of them religious, Bush pushed his... |
Orrin Judd: DIVIDE AND CONQUER: President Discusses Issues With Black Leaders (ELISABETH BUMILLER, 1/26/05, NY Times) |
For Families of Fallen Soldiers, the 2nd Knock Brings $12,000 By / NYT — Permalink Three days after the marines rang the doorbell and told Cpl. Marc T. Ryan's parents their son was dead, they returned to the Ryans' split-level house in Gloucester City, N.J. This time, they had a check. The military death gratuity, the Defense Department calls it. | |
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Steven Taylor: Ok, But it Needs a New Name — Via the NYT is a story on the "military death gratuity: For Families of Fallen Soldiers,... |
Cori Dauber: That's essentially about redefining the meaning of the gratuity, as near as I can tell, from money delivered... |
ANOTHER COLUMNIST WAS PAID TO PROMOTE BUSH PROPOSAL Drudge Report — Permalink In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush's push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families. | |
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Captain Ed: Gallagher: Not Another Williams — Drudge reported earlier tonight that conservative columnist Maggie Gallagher took... Michelle Malkin: So now, Drudge has a preview of Howard Kurtz's Washington Post article tomorrow exposing a conservative writer I have long admired, Maggie Gallagher. Glenn Reynolds: ANOTHER OPED PAYOLA SCANDAL? What are these people thinking? |
Lorie Byrd: Maggie Gallagher is the latest to be revealed. Why didn't they just disclose the government contracts? Scott Sala: Maggie Gallagher received $21,500 from the Department of Health and Human Services to promote marriage for the poor. Jesse Taylor: Money Money Money Moooooneeey! A second Bush Pundit appears, this time, Maggie "Who?" Gallagher. |
| Also: Tom Tomorrow | |
Democracy finds hope in Iraqi town By / CNN — Permalink KARMA, Iraq (CNN) — The concept of democracy appears to have taken root in the dusty town of Karma, a predominantly Sunni community of 75,000 people about nine miles (15 kilometers) northeast of Falluja. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: Then there is a reasonably positive piece from another unlikely source - CNN: "The concept of democracy appears to have... Captain Ed: Ready To Vote In The Sunni Triangle — CNN reports on a town that most other mainstream journalists seem to have missed in their reporting from Iraq. |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ — This is most encouraging: [snipped quote] I have to admit that I am more than a little perplexed... |
Democrats Denounce Rice Over Iraq War By / WaPo — Permalink Senate Democrats delivered one of the sharpest critiques yet of the Bush administration's credibility and its handling of the Iraq war yesterday, as the Senate prepared to confirm Condoleezza Rice's nomination to be secretary of state today. | |
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Sam Rosenfeld: It was refreshing to see someone like Mark Dayton of Minnesota harp on the "l" word with no hesitation at all: ... Betsy Newmark: If the election goes off reasonably well on Sunday, are the Democrats going to be so happy to have criticized the Iraq policy so vociferously? Ellen Dana Nagler: But the DSCC is feckless, or reckless, or just plain dumb for linking her splendid smackdown of Condi Rice to a fundraising letter. |
Frederick Maryland: More disturbing was this excerpt of Lieberman's pro-Rice remarks, published in today's Washington Post: [snipped quote] Yes, the world knows this. Steve Soto: Rice Battered By Senate Dems, Except Joe Lieberman — On a day when Condi Rice was battered by Senate Democrats for... |
Pentagon Files Reveal More Allegations of Abuse in Iraq By / LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — Pentagon documents released Monday disclosed that Iraqi prisoners had lodged dozens of abuse complaints against U.S. and Iraqi personnel who guarded them at a little-known palace in Baghdad converted to a U.S. prison. | |
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Jeanne D'Arc: The first headline that caught my attention: Pentagon Files Reveal More Allegations of Abuse In Iraq: Pentagon documents... Tom Tomorrow: More and more — From the LA Times: [snipped quote] Via Cursor. |
Billmon: Los Angeles Times Pentagon Files Reveal More Allegations of Abuse in Iraq Jeralyn Merritt: Also, don't miss this Los Angeles Times article describing this incredible case |
Closing the Neocon Circle By / Newsweek — Permalink Jan. 25 - Natan Sharansky can bestow no higher praise than to call George W. Bush an honorary "dissident." And the Israeli cabinet minister says he is elated that the U.S. president, in his second inaugural speech last week, appeared to fully embrace Sharansky's vision of foreign policy. | |
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Patrick Ruffini: Dissent Update — So, Robert Redford, who's the dissenter now? |
Orrin Judd: ESSAY: Closing the Neocon Circle: George W. Bush has unveiled a new vision for U.S. foreign policy. |
Johnny By / Weekly Standard — Permalink WHEN A PROMINENT AMERICAN in any field passes on, it's front page news. Some sneer at this and say, "The same thing happens to everyone. Why is it bigger if it happens to a star?" But I think it is bigger. | |
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The Big Trunk: "No pants" — In his Standard Online column, comedian Larry Miller offers a remembrance of his Tonight Show appearance... Greg Ransom: COMIC LARRY MILLER on Johnny Carson: "I loved the guy, and I mean, first, as a fan. |
Orrin Judd: (William F. Buckley, 1/25/05, National Review) -Johnny: Remembering Johnny Carson, 1925 - 2005. |
As a Matter of FactCheck.org NRO — Permalink The truth about Social Security even eludes the supposed truth-seekers. It's a sad commentary on the state of public discourse when you have to fact-check FactCheck.org. But that's what it's come to. | |
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Angry Bear: Before And After — Not surprisingly, the latest widely mocked Luskin piece has now been edited by the honest folks hacks over at National Review. PGL: Donald Luskin Proposes A Massive Increase in the Payroll Tax — Via Jesse Taylor and many other wise bloggers comes a... Jesse Taylor: . But Gollum Luskin steps in and not only screws the pooch, he invites R. Kelly over to videotape it. |
DeLong: Stupidest Man Alive Once Again... Pandagon directs us this morning to, yes, Donald Luskin, the stupidest man alive. Hilzoy @ObsidianWings: Via Brad DeLong comes news of an article in the National Review that is, if possible, even dumber than the one in which John Tamny told us that trade deficits didn't matter. Roger Ailes: Donnie posted a "fact-check" piece on Social Security and, after he was widely ridiculed for the numerous errors in the... |
| Also: Kevin Drum, Avedon Carol, Betsy Newmark | |
TED TURNER COMPARES FOXNEWS TO HITLER Drudge Report — Permalink Ted Turner called FOX an arm of the Bush administration and compared FOXNEWS's popularity to Hitler's popular election to run Germany before WWII. Turner made the controversial comments before a standing-room-only crowd at the National Association for Television Programming Executives's opening session Tuesday. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: Drudge reports that Turner charmed the standing room-only opening session of the National Association for Television... Ace: Quote of the Day (ok of yesterday, I'm a little late) [By Karol] [snipped quote] - A Fox News spokesperson responding to Ted Turner comparing Fox News to Hitler. Jeff Quinton: Drudge "Ted Turner called FOX an arm of the Bush administration and compared FOXNEWS's popularity to Hitler's popular election to run Germany before WWII. |
Charles Johnson: UPDATE at 1/25/05 2:46:13 pm: At Drudge Report: A FOXNEWS spokesperson responded: "Ted is understandably bitter having... Betsy Newmark: Ted Turner is really sounding more demented every time he sticks his head above ground and mouths off. he has some obsession with Rupert Murdoch, Fox, and Nazis. Ed Driscoll: Because today, according to Ted Turner, it's Fox News' turn to play Hitler: [snipped quote] As Dennis Miller said in... |
| Also: Lorie Byrd, Steve Antler | |
Turner Compares Fox's Popularity to Hitler Broadcasting & Cable — Permalink Ted Turner called Fox a propaganda tool of the Bush administration and indirectly compared Fox News Channel's popularity to Adolf Hitler's popular election to run Germany before World War II. | |
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Dale Franks: FOXNews really has Ted Turner steamed. "On Fox News: While Fox may be the largest news network [and has overtaken Turner's CNN], it's not the best, Turner said. Steven Taylor: Fox is The Hitler News Network… …or so says Ted Turner From Broadcasting & Cable: Turner Compares Fox's... Cori Dauber: But if that was all that was going on, would we so consistently see this level of hysteria in the response to Fox from major media figures, from academics, and from journalists. |
Charles Johnson: But not too burned out to compare Fox News to you-know-who: Turner Compares Fox's Popularity to Hitler. (Hat tip: NY Nana.) TVNewser: We wish him well." (Via B&C) > "They don't call Turner the loudmouth of the South for nothing. Greg Ransom: OFFICIAL FOX reaction to Ted Turner's latest outrage: Ted is understandably bitter having lost his ratings, his network, and now his mind. |
Backers of Gay Marriage Ban Use Social Security as Cudgel NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 - A coalition of major conservative Christian groups is threatening to withhold support for President Bush's plans to remake Social Security unless Mr. Bush vigorously champions a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. | |
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Brian Montopoli: (According to an article in the New York Times yesterday, social conservatives are threatening to withhold support for... Steve Soto: And to top it all off, as Yuval noted below the Arlington Group, a front group for social conservatives, is complaining... Yuval Rubinstein: According to an article in today's New York Times, these groups are planning to oppose the Social Security phase-out if... |
Ezra Klein: Pesky Political Bedfellows — James Dobson, fresh from protecting our children from the persuasive homosexual arguments... Noam Scheiber: SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES LIKE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, TOO: The Times has an interesting piece today about how leading... Nathan Newman: But in a letter to Karl Rove, supporters of the gay marriage ban are threatening to withhold support for social security... |
| Also: Joe Gandelman, Matthew Yglesias, Jerome Armstrong, Steve M., The Farmer, Tom Maguire | |
'Aviator' Gets 11 Academy Award Nods By / AP — Permalink BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - The Howard Hughes epic "The Aviator" led Academy Awards contenders with 11 nominations Tuesday, including best picture among them, plus acting honors for Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Alan Alda and a directing slot for Martin Scorsese. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: The angry left: Moore passes the baton to Turner — So Michael Moore missed out on Oscar nominations. James Joyner: Oscars Snub Fahrenheit 9/11 and Passion of the Christ 'Aviator' Gets 11 Academy Award Nods (AP) [snipped quote] "The... Captain Ed: The AMPAS announced the Oscar nominations this morning, and ironically enough, neither film championed by the right and left got nominated for Best Picture. |
Vanderleun: Flick-Pix — Give an Oscar to Michael Moore, Take a Big B.O. Bath There's a lot of talk and a little bit of surprise... Steve Bainbridge: So Fahrenheit 911 got zero Academy Award nominations - none, nada, zilch - while the Passion of the Christ picked up... Ace: Mooreover — Zero nominations. The Passion is effectively shut out as well. |
| Also: McQ, Charles Johnson | |
ABC, CNN, and NBC Touted Saddam 100-Percent Media Research Center — Permalink Will They Dismiss a Real Vote, When They Fell for a Fraud? While the network news gurus have spent weeks questioning whether Sunday's elections in Iraq would (A) occur on time or (B) be accepted as legitimate, it's important to remember that when Saddam... | |
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Lorie Byrd: What an exellent point from the MRC! (Hat tip to Betsy's Page) I had forgotten how some mainstream media outlets... Betsy Newmark: The Media Research Council reminds us of how the networks covered the 2002 election when Saddam won almost 100%. Tim Graham: 2002 VS. 2005 — As you watch the top TV news stars furrow their brows about the questionable nature of the Iraqi... |
Cori Dauber: Busted — Via Instapundit, the MRC does the invaluable service of reminding us exactly what language the media was using... Ed Driscoll: Iraqi Elections — Over the weekend, Glenn Reynolds wrote: [snipped quote] Meanwhile, the Media Research Center has an... Glenn Reynolds: WERE THE MEDIA REALLY more enthusiastic about Iraqi elections two years ago than they are today? |
Democrats Use Rice Debate to Inveigh Against War in Iraq By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 - Senate Democrats who oppose President Bush's Iraq policy spoke today against Condoleezza Rice's nomination to be secretary of state, signaling that they intended to vigorously oppose the administration's foreign policy despite their minority status. | |
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Wind Rider: All dressed up as 'advice and consent', wrapped in the respectable packaging of proper parlimentary procedure, topped... David Allan Pell: A headline in the NYT sums it up thusly: Democrats Use Rice Debate to Inveigh Against War in Iraq The sentiment might be right, but the timing is way off. |
Captain Ed: Temper Tantrum Continues In Full Senate — As hard as I tried, I just couldn't get worked up about the day-long temper... Ramesh Ponnuru: EVAN BAYH is the name that jumps out at you on this list of Democrats against Rice's confirmation |
Meat Packing Industry Criticized on Human Rights Grounds By / NYT — Permalink For the first time, Human Rights Watch has issued a report that harshly criticizes a single industry in the United States, concluding that the nation's meat packing industry has such bad working conditions that it violates basic human and worker rights. | |
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Nathan Newman: I'll give a point to Henry Farell at Crooked Timber about a NY Times story about a Human Rights Watch report about violations of workers rights in the meatpacking industry. Susan Madrak: HUMAN MEAT — This may be enough to push me over into the vegetarian column: [snipped quote] Don't worry, I'm sure the USDA is right on top of it. |
Henry Farrell: Which is why I hope that this recent NYT story describing a Human Rights Watch report on the US meatpacking industry... |
Democrats Call Rice Liar, Bush Apologist By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - One Senate Democrat called Condoleezza Rice a liar Tuesday and others said she was an apologist for Bush administration failures in Iraq , but she remained on track for confirmation as secretary of state. | |
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Charles Johnson: Dems Hit Bottom, Dig — This is a perfect example of why I can no longer be part of the Democrat Party; they have purely... Oliver Willis: Democrats Call Rice Liar and a Apologist [snipped quote] Oh no. The mean Democrats are being "partisan". |
John Cole: They Aren't Even Trying to Be Discreet — If you had any doubt that the recent disgusting behavior by the Democrats was... Mathew Gross: Some Dems Have 'Em (Some Don't) So much for Salazar: "Kicking off the Democratic assault, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news,... |
Senate Democrats Speak of Slowing Confirmation Votes By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 - Trying to show that they remain a force despite their reduced numbers, Senate Democrats on Monday threatened new hurdles for President Bush's cabinet choices and expressed deep misgivings about the planned Social Security changes at the heart of this year's Republican agenda. | |
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Howard Kurtz: The Democrats, who have little power on the Hill, may be slowing down the clock: "Trying to show that they remain a... Sam Rosenfeld: An article like this gives one the impression of a caucus that has blessedly resisted the myth that "obstructionism" is politically deadly and to be avoided. PoliPundit: And it's only going to get worse: "Trying to show that they remain a force despite their reduced numbers, Senate... |
Kos @DailyKos: For the record, Boxer is not the only Senate Democrat showing renewed vigor. The entire caucus is showing signs of life. Captain Ed: The Democratic minority has decided to express its frustration at the marginalization they inflicted upon themselves by... Steve Bainbridge: Dem Slowdown — [snipped quote] Orrin Judd aptly labels the Democrat stall: "The Politics of Petulance." |
| Also: Orrin Judd | |
Would-be suicide bomber angry at those who sent him USA Today — Permalink BAGHDAD — His head and hands were wrapped in bandages and his uncovered face looked like bubbled tar. Ahmed Abdullah al Shaya survived the explosion of the bomb-rigged gas truck that he was driving on Christmas day. | |
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Laura Rozen: Is it really possible that Iraqi authorities recently captured Zarqawi only to let him go seven hours later? Greyhawk: Suicide Bombing: Not All it's Cracked up to Be — Here's a different sort of story from USA Today: "His head and hands... James Joyner: Would-be Suicide Bomber Angry at Those who Sent Him — Would-be suicide bomber angry at those who sent him (USA Today)... |
Michael Ledeen: So here's a story from USA Today about a case in which the martyr-to-be thought he was going to run away...but they tricked him. Kevin Drum: BAD STUFF....Did the Iraqi police really arrest terrorist thug Abu Musab al-Zarqawi but then let him go seven hours later because they didn't recognize him? Orrin Judd: THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO...: Would-be suicide bomber angry at those who sent him (Steven Komarow and Sabah... |
| Also: Pejman Yousefzadeh | |
FBI: Boston Terror Tip Was a False Alarm AP — Permalink BOSTON — The FBI said Tuesday that the possible terrorist plot reported against Boston by a tipster last week was a false alarm. "There were in fact no terrorist plans or activity under way," the FBI said in a statement. | |
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Steve M.: A leading theory was that a smuggler tipped authorities to a false terror plot to exact revenge on a group of Chinese... Jeff Quinton: Others blogging: Chad Evans Kevin Aylward invokes Godwin's Law Steven Taylor Posted by Jeff Quinton at 05:23 PM |... |
Joe Gandelman: Boston Terror Tip Was Bogus — The "tip" about a terrorist plot to set off some kind of nuclear device in Boston has now... |
Results, Not Timetables, Matter in Iraq WaPo — Permalink The debate on Iraq is taking a new turn. The Iraqi elections scheduled for Jan. 30, only recently viewed as a culmination, are described as inaugurating a civil war. The timing and the voting arrangements have become controversial. | |
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Gregory: Henry Kissinger & George Schultz, writing in the WaPo. A few quick points. Wretchard: The Kissinger-Schultz Article — An article jointly authored by Henry Kissinger and George Schultz in the Washington... Cori Dauber: This just can't be good — I just agreed with Henry Kissinger. But I feel really strange about it. |
Donald Sensing: In today's Washington Post, former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and George Shultz have a jointly-written article, "Results, Not Timetables, Matter in Iraq." Dale Franks: Results, not timetables — Henry Kissinger and George Schultz have penned a detailed assessment of progress in Iraq, as well as policy suggestions for being successful there. |
'God-drenched' pledges of the president split Republicans By / Times of London — Permalink PRESIDENT George Bush's bold inauguration vow to end tyranny around the world does not amount to a "right turn" or signal dramatic changes in US foreign policy, according to senior administration officials. | |
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RDF @Corrente: Attribution—Times of London What, pray tell, is "an acceleration of existing strategy" if not "more bad wars faster"? Jack Cluth: Yeah, I know; I can't believe I'm quoting Pat Buchanan, either "Bush has asserted a right to intervene in the internal... |
Orrin Judd: 'God-drenched' pledges of the president split Republicans (Tony Allen-Mills, 1/23/05, Times of London) |
Personal to Johnny NRO — Permalink My nights on Tonight. If Johnny Carson could have managed it, no doubt his death would have been a private affair. Who would have been invited to his memorial service? We don't know. That is the measure of his integrity as a private man. | |
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Orrin Judd: MORE (via Tom Morin): Personal to Johnny: My nights on Tonight. (William F. Buckley, 1/25/05, National Review) -Johnny: Remembering Johnny Carson, 1925 - 2005. Greg Ransom: You might also enjoy this one — Bill Buckley remembers Johnny: "I was sometimes [a guest with David Susskind], and he... |
Michael DeBow: Lileks explains Carson's brand of cool. Also recommended: Tributes from William F. Buckley and Steve Martin. |
U.S. Hostage Pleads for His Life in Iraq By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - An American hostage pleaded for his life with a rifle pointed at his head in a video released Tuesday while 11 Iraqi police died in fierce clashes and gunmen assassinated a senior judge in slayings highlighting security risks ahead of this weekend's elections. | |
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James Joyner: American Hostage Roy Hallums Begs for Life on Video — U.S. Hostage Pleads for His Life in Iraq (AP) "An American... Michelle Malkin: REPORTING ON AMERICAN HOSTAGE ROY HALLUMS — If you are wondering about the video of American hostage Roy Hallums that... |
Paul @Wizbang: Another American Hostage on Video Tape — Notice the gun to his head: U.S. Hostage Pleads for His Life in Iraq ...In the... Joe Gandelman: An American hostage...on video tape...pleading for his life with a gun visibly at his head...shortly before Iraqi elections: Do we need a psychic to guess the intent of this event? |
VOTES AND VIOLENCE Online NewsHour — Permalink Iraqi insurgents killed at least 22 police officers and soldiers Monday in an effort to derail the Jan.30 elections. Two regional experts discuss the impact continued violence may have on the upcoming elections. Background Report. | |
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Wretchard: The Kissinger-Schultz Article 2 — The consequences of having to include the base of the Sunni insurgency in the... |
Glenn Reynolds: And here's a PBS NewHour transcript of a discussion featuring McGurk and Larry Diamond. |
Google and Yahoo Are Extending Search Ability to TV Programs By / NYT — Permalink Google and Yahoo are introducing services that will let users search through television programs based on words spoken on the air. The services will look for keywords in the closed captioning information that is encoded in many programs, mainly as an aid to deaf viewers. | |
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Dean Esmay: Searching TV Dialogue by Dean Good lord, look what Google and Yahoo are adding to their search engines! |
Glenn Reynolds: BLOGGER'S DELIGHT: [snipped quote] Not quite the whole deal, but pretty cool. |
. . . Oh, Never Mind By / WaPo — Permalink Perhaps I owe readers an apology. While I was critical of President Bush's inaugural address in some respects, it appears that I took its promise of an expansive campaign on behalf of democracy too seriously. | |
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Dale Franks: Cynicism — E.J. Dionne has irked me. After carefully considering the president's inauguration speech, he's decided that it's a bunch of right-wing BS. Avedon Carol: A couple of things — Good news - E.J. Dionne came down from whatever he was smoking on inauguration day and has reevaluated the big speech. |
Ramesh Ponnuru: SPEECH REAX — A friend emails a note with this conclusion: "So far the worst piece on the Bush speech is (slightly surprisingly) by E. J. Dionne. |
Balking at Vote, Sunnis Seek Role on Constitution By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 24 - Sunni Arab leaders who have been the most vocal in calling for a boycott or postponement of the coming elections say they intend to get involved in politics after the vote, including taking part in writing a permanent constitution. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: Here's the piece in question (hat tip: Instapundit). Hugh Hewitt: The New York Times has an article on Sunni plans post-election. We are closing in on a huge moment for the middle east. Matthew Yglesias: In what counts as a bit of good news from Iraq, Sunni Arab political leaders who will be boycotting next week's election... |
Cori Dauber: Take for example today's lead article from the Times, "Balking at Vote, Sunnis Seek Role on Constitution." Juan Cole: Ed Wong of the New York Times writes an important piece about the behind the scenes maneuverings of major Sunni Arab... Rich Lowry: WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE — For the second day in a row, the New York Times has a positive Iraq piece, this one about Sunnis wanting to have a part drafting the consitution. |
| Also: Glenn Reynolds | |
Democrats Call Rice Liar, Bush Apologist ABCNEWS — Permalink WASHINGTON Jan 25, 2005 — One Senate Democrat called Condoleezza Rice a liar Tuesday and others said she was an apologist for Bush administration failures in Iraq, but she remained on track for confirmation as secretary of state. | |
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Avedon Carol: Most impressive is the headline at ABC (from AP): Democrats Call Rice Liar, Bush Apologist. |
Ramesh Ponnuru: DAYTON joins the Boxer caucus. Actually, he takes the lead. |
Junior High By / New York Magazine — Permalink The holidays are over, but if you spaced on buying the budding reader in your life a present, Ricardo Cortes's It's Just a Plant is available on the Barnes & Noble Website this month. It's the story of Jackie, a young girl who walks in on her parents smoking marijuana. | |
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Clayton Cramer: It's not tobacco this new children's book teaches kids is okay: "The holidays are over, but if you spaced on buying... |
Michelle Malkin: IT'S JUST A PLANT — Did you see the new children's marijuana book? I wish I could tell you it's an Onion spoof. But it's not. |
Politics and Values in a 51%-48% Nation Pew Research Center — Permalink Public attitudes on national security are now much more strongly associated with partisan affiliation than they were in the late 1990s. A comprehensive study of long-term public values finds that beliefs about national security are now twice as important as economic or social values in shaping a person's partisan identification. | |
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Arnold P. California: I Hate Polls — This Pew Research Center poll has lots of interesting information. |
Avedon Carol: (Also I Hate Polls, reacting to some incoherent poll results: As I always say, there is no higher morality than that of... |
Film Critics By / TNR — Permalink John Kerry let slip a few gaffes in his run for president, and the one that may have hurt him most is barely remembered. In July, at a Bush-bashing fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall, Kerry told a group of Hollywood entertainers that they "conveyed the heart and soul of the country." | |
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Julian Sanchez: Blue State Bluenoses — The latest in a long line of victory-through-capitulat ion suggestions for besieged Democrats... |
Jim Henley: Now I Know Why God Put OTHER People on the Earth - A disadvantage of working at a day job where you really don't feel... |