meme orandum
Fresh brewed news plus stewing views
Archive Edition for   Friday, June 17, 2005Go to Current Page
Google
Web News


memeorandum presents an automated hourly synopsis of the latest online news and opinion, combining weblog commentary with traditional news reports.   (More)

Site Notices

Subscribe:   XML   (Help)
  •Add to My Yahoo!
  •Add to My MSN
  •Add to Bloglines
  •Add to NewsGator


Recent archives:



Quoted in this edition:

Ace of Spades HQ
  Ace
Agence France Presse
Air Force Times
  Lance M. Bacon
Aljazeera
Althouse
  Ann Althouse
AMERICAN DIGEST Essays
  Vanderleun
Amygdala
  Gary Farber
The Anchoress
  TheAnchoress
Associated Press
  Rebecca Carroll
  Jackie Hallifax
  Jim Abrams
  Gina Holland
  Ryan J. Foley
  Frank Griffiths
  Sophie Nicholson
  Nedra Pickler
  Megan Reichgott
  Connie Cass
  Liz Sidoti
baldilocks
  Baldilocks
Balloon Juice
  John Cole
BBC
THE BELGRAVIA DISPATCH
  Gregory Djerejian
Betsy's Page
  Betsy
BillHobbs.com
  Bill Hobbs
The Blogging of the President
  Oldman @BOPNews
Boston Globe
  Raphael Lewis
Boston Herald
Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal
  Brad DeLong
Brendan Nyhan
  Brendan Nyhan
BrothersJudd Blog
  Orrin Judd
Captain's Quarters
  Captain Ed
CBS News
Centerfield
  Tully @Centerfield
  Rickheller @Centerfield
Chicago Tribune
  Jill Zuckman
Chrenkoff
  Arthur Chrenkoff
Chris C Mooney
  Chris Mooney
The Corner
  K. J. Lopez
  Kathryn Jean Lopez
corrente
  Lambert @Corrente
  Riggsveda @Corrente
Cox & Forkum Editorial Cartoons
  Forkum
Crescat Sententia
  Will Baude
Crooked Timber
  Chris Bertram
Daily Kos
  Armando @DailyKos
  Kos @DailyKos
Daimnation!
  Damian Penny
Daly Thoughts
  Gerry @DalyThoughts
danieldrezner.com
  Daniel Drezner
Demagogue
  Frederick Maryland
  Zoe Kentucky
Democratic Veteran
  Jo Fish
ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES
  Echidne
Economist's View
  Mark Thoma
EconoPundit
  Steve Antler
Ed Driscoll.com
  Ed Driscoll
EdCone.com
  Ed Cone
Editor and Publisher
  Joe Strupp
Electablog
  David Allan Pell
Eschaton
  Atrios
Ezra Klein
  Ezra Klein
Fafblog!
  Fafnir
The Fourth Rail
  Bill Rice
Gateway Pundit
  Gateway Pundit
Guardian
  Jonathan Steele
Happy Furry Puppy Story Time with Norbizness
  Norbizness
Harry's Place
  Marcus @HarrysPlace
The Hill
  Josephine Hearn
Hit and Run
  Jacob Sullum
  Julian Sanchez
The Huffington Post
  Arianna Huffington
  Byron York
  Harry Shearer
  Andy Stern
  Nellie B
  Richard Bradley
HughHewitt.com
  Hugh Hewitt
Independent
  Colin Brown
The Indepundit
  Smash
Informed Comment
  Juan Cole
Instapundit.com
  Glenn Reynolds
Investor's Business Daily
iowahawk
  Senator Dick
JustOneMinute
  Tom Maguire
Kesher Talk
  Judith Weiss
L.A. Observed
  Kevin Roderick
Lean Left
  LeanLeft
The Left Coaster
  Steve Soto
  Duckman GR
  Paradox @LeftCoaster
  Pessimist @LeftCoaster
The Liquid List
  Oliver @LiquidList
Little Green Footballs
  Charles Johnson
Los Angeles Times
The Mahablog
  Barbara O'Brien
Majikthise
  Lindsay Beyerstein
mediabistro
  Brian Stelter
  Garrett M. Graff
Michael J. Totten
  Michael J. Totten
Michelle Malkin
  Michelle Malkin
The Moderate Voice
  Joe Gandelman
MSNBC
MyDD
  Jerome Armstrong
NathanNewman.org
  Nathan Newman
The Nation
National Review
New York Times
  Sabrina Tavernise
  John C. Danforth
  Neal Stephenson
  Raymond Hernandez
  Louis Uchitelle
  Caryn James
  Nina Bernstein
  Edmund L. Andrews
  Thomas L. Friedman
  Scott Shane
  Keith Bradsher
  Sheryl Gay Stolberg
  Anne E. Kornblut
  Danielle Pletka
  Eric Lichtblau
NewsHog
  Cernig
No More Mister Nice Blog
  Steve M.
normblog
  Norm Geras
Opinion Journal
  Daniel Henninger
Opinions You Should Have
  Tom Burka
Orcinus
  David Neiwert
Outside The Beltway
  James Joyner
pandagon.net
  Jesse Taylor
  Amanda Marcotte
Patterico's Pontifications
  Dafydd
Pejmanesque
  Pejman Yousefzadeh
The Peking Duck
  Richard TPD
PoliBlog
  Dr. Steven Taylor
PoliPundit.com
  Jayson @PoliPundit
  DJ Drummond
The Politburo Diktat
  Commissar
Politics from Left to Right
  Chris Nolan
Power Line
  John @PowerLine
  Paul @PowerLine
  Scott @PowerLine
ProfessorBainbridge.com
  Steve Bainbridge
protein wisdom
  Jeff Goldstein
Publius Pundit
  Robert Mayer
The QandO Blog
  McQ
Rantingprofs
  Cori Dauber
Reuters
  Vicki Allen
Right Wing News
  John Hawkins
Rising Hegemon
  DeDurkheim
  Attaturk
The Road To Surfdom
  Tim Dunlop
Roger Ailes
  Roger Ailes
Roger L. Simon
  Roger L. Simon
Romenesko
  Jim Romenesko
Sadly, No!
  Sadly, No!
Salon
  Joe Conason
San Diego Union-Tribune
  Marcus Stern
San Francisco Chronicle
Secular Blasphemy
  Jan Haugland
Shot In The Dark
  Mitch Berg
The Sideshow
  Avedon Carol
Sirotablog
  David Sirota
skippy the bush kangaroo
  RJ Eskow
  Pudentilla
Slant Point
  Scott Sala
Southern Appeal
  Patrick Carver
  Justin @SouthernAppeal
St. Petersburg Times
The State
  Lee Bandy
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
  Taegan Goddard
Talking Points Memo
  Josh Marshall
TalkLeft
  Jeralyn Merritt
TAPPED
  Jeffrey Dubner
  Mark Leon Goldberg
  Sarah Wildman
Think Progress
  Judd @ThinkProgress
  John Podesta
  Mipe @ThinkProgress
Unfogged
  Fontana Labs
USA Today
  Donald Rumsfeld
USS Neverdock
  Marc @USSNeverdock
The Volokh Conspiracy
  Orin Kerr
Wall Street Journal
  Christopher Cooper
War and Piece
  Laura Rozen
The Washington Monthly
  Kevin Drum
  Paul Glastris
Washington Post
  Dana Milbank
  Dan Balz
  Juliet Eilperin
  Howard Kurtz
Washington Times
White House
Winds of Change.NET
  Bill Roggio
Wizbang
  Kevin Aylward



Democrats Play House To Rally Against the War
  By / WaPo   —   Permalink 
In the Capitol basement yesterday, long-suffering House Democrats took a trip to the land of make-believe.
They pretended a small conference room was the Judiciary Committee hearing room, draping white linens over folding tables to make them look like...
Dafydd: The article in the Washington Post was penned (rather, keyed, I presume) by Dana Milbank, usually not thought of as a member of the VRWC.
Charles Johnson: Dems Stage Mock Impeachment — Yesterday, House Democrats staged a mock impeachment hearing for George W. Bush—and the loonies came out to play.
Kevin Aylward: Moonbats On Parade - Downing Street Memo Edition — The Washington Post's Dana Milbank covers Rep. John Conyers's...
Bill Roggio: Reject attempts by members of your party to continually brand the War in Iraq as being based on LIES, LIES, LIES (as well as plots by Jews).
John Hawkins: Here's how things started off in cuckoo crazy land: [quote] "Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) banged a large wooden gavel and got the other lawmakers to call him "Mr. Chairman.[end quote]
Captain Ed: Ahh, Democrats ... They're So Cute When They Play Make-Believe — Dana Milbank, of all people, notes the folly of a...
Also: TheAnchoress, Echidne, Avedon Carol, Gerry @DalyThoughts, Jeffrey Dubner, Judd @ThinkProgress, Jeff Goldstein, Patrick Carver, K. J. Lopez, Orrin Judd, Pejman Yousefzadeh

We Are Our History -- Don't Forget It
  LAT   —   Permalink 
Not knowing history is worse than ignorance of math, literature or almost anything else. Ignorance of history is undermining Western society's ability to talk straight and think straight. Parents must attack the problem by teaching their own children the facts.
Hugh Hewitt: Not one editorial word from the big newspapers, although the Los Angeles Times runs a David Gelernter piece that calls...
Baldilocks: It's on the editorial page, however, and embedded in a rant about general historical ignorance.
Barbara O'Brien: Update: Lies and propaganda alert— I see the righties are linking to this LA Times op ed, in which David Gelenter writes, "Ignorance of history destroys our judgment.
Forkum: Michelle Malkin has many related links here, here, here, and here, including this one from the Los Angeles Times: We Are Our History — Don't Forget It.
Smash: DAVID GELERNTER labels Durbin's remarks "an astonishing, obscene piece of ignorance."
Tom Maguire: Don't Know Much About History... David Gelertner, writing in the LA Times, slaps Sen. Dick Durbin for his comments...
Also: Scott @PowerLine, Michelle Malkin, Betsy, Juan Non-Volokh

Dick Durbin's passion ignites foes' ire
  By / Chicago Tribune   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON — With his unassuming Midwestern demeanor and genial bearing, Dick Durbin is no one's vision of a political street fighter.
Yet Illinois' senior senator—who is growing in stature as a national Democratic voice and a font of strategic and...
Hugh Hewitt: The Chicago Tribune runs a long, mostly glowing profile of Durbin, which includes a report on his perks as #2: "With his...
Baldilocks: Reporting: None Op-eds (some disguised as reporting): â Jill Zuckerman stands by her man.
Charles Johnson: UPDATE at 6/17/05 8:18:55 am: The Chicago Tribune gives three cheers for Durbin: Dick Durbin's passion ignites foes' ire.
Senator Dick: Nothing could have prepared me for the shock that awaited as I exited the front door of my home early Wednesday morning,...
Betsy: But the real kicker is how it is covered in the Chicago Tribune.
Michelle Malkin: DURBIN WATCH: MSM REAX — The Chicago Tribune fawns over Durbin's "passion." The paper's editorial page says "Ignore him."

Gov. Bush wants probe of Schiavo collapse
  AP   —   Permalink 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) — Gov. Jeb Bush asked a prosecutor Friday to investigate why Terri Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago, calling into question how long it took her husband to call 911 after he found her.
Joe Gandelman: Gov. Jeb Bush Wants Yet ANOTHER Schiavo Inquiry — "Hey, I'll have what Florida Governor Jeb Bush is drinking..": "Gov...
Frederick Maryland: According to the Associated Press: [snipped quote] Bill Frist must be kicking himself for not having thought of this first.
Amanda Marcotte: Jeb Bush scrapes the bottom of the pandering barrel — Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse
Jeralyn Merritt: Jeb Bush Calls for Schiavo Investigation — Maybe this is how Jeb Bush intends to get even with Michael Schiavo for "winning" the autopsy?

Senator Regrets if Remarks Misunderstood
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON — Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Friday that he regretted any misunderstandings caused by his comments earlier this week comparing American interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis. The White House, Senate Republicans and others had called for an apology after Durbin's comments Tuesday.
Captain Ed: Durbin: I'm Sorry You Didn't Comprehend My Genius — Under fire for his remarks comparing humiliation techniques for...
Armando @DailyKos: The Outrage — Update [2005-6-17 20:29:58 by Armando]: Bumped because of this: "On Friday, Durbin tried to clarify the issue.
Jeralyn Merritt: There are many more like it here. Update: Via Armando at Daily Kos, Senator Durbin again explains his comments.

Durbin said what?
  Chicago Tribune   —   Permalink 
Here we thought Sen. Dick Durbin had a cushy job that he likes. Truth told, he's auditioning for the job of Speechwriter/Silly Similes at Amnesty International.
Last month the human rights group called on the U.S. to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Hugh Hewitt: And the Tribune blasts his remarks without calling for his censure or resignation: "Durbin's comparison of U.S...
Michelle Malkin: The paper's editorial page says "Ignore him." The Boston Herald editorializes: "Durbin must go."
K. J. Lopez: SENATORIAL TORTURE — The Chicago Tribune on Dick Durbin: "We know what Durbin thinks about the treatment of Guantanamo prisoners.
Betsy: UPDATE: Senator Durbin's home paper, the Chicago Tribue, doesn't play so lightly with him on its editorial page.
Ace: Dickie Durban's Hometown Newspaper Smacks Him Up — Getting out the word: "Here we thought Sen. Dick Durbin had a cushy job that he likes.

Sunnis to Accept Offer of a Role in Constitution
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 16 - Iraqi political leaders broke weeks of deadlock on Thursday, with Sunni Arabs accepting a compromise offer to increase their representation on the Shiite-led parliamentary committee that is to draft a constitution.
Bill Roggio: The Iraqi Assembly has successfully completed negotiations with the Sunnis to participate in creating the Constitution,...
Bill Rice: Operation Spear — Operation Spear began today in Iraq. I highly recommend Bill Roggio's piece at Winds of Change.
Judith Weiss: Rich Lowry on the latest horsetrading in the nascent Iraqi government: "Here's an administration official on the deal...
Commissar: Sunnis Join Iraqi Constitutional Committee — NYT: Iraqi political leaders broke weeks of deadlock on Thursday, with...
McQ: Sunnis accept compromise for writing consitution — Another step forward: [snipped quote] So the Sunnis are now fully committed to the process of writing the Constitution.

Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
IT would be an oversimplification to say that America's culture wars are now between people of faith and nonbelievers. People of faith are not of one mind, whether on specific issues like stem cell research and government intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo, or the more general issue of how religion relates to politics.
Avedon Carol: Mystery dance — Bless you, John Danforth, for your op-ed in today's NYT, Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers:...
Tully @Centerfield: Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers [snipped quote] This agnostic says, "Amen, Senator."
John Cole: John Danforth in the Times — Great op-ed in the NY Times by John Danforth: [snipped quote] Good for him.
Paul Glastris: Still, over the years, I have remained a fan of Danforth's. And his op-ed in the New York Times today shows why.
Frederick Maryland: Former U.S. Sen. John C. Danforth (R-Mo.), and he has written a welcome op-ed in today's New York Times: "It is...
Armando @DailyKos: Danforth Rejects The Party of Dobson — Republican Former Senator John Danforth says no to the Dobson/Bush/Frist Extreme Agenda: [snipped quote] Well done Sen. Danforth.

Probe Sought in Terri Schiavo 911 Call
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Jeb Bush said Friday that a prosecutor has agreed to investigate why Terri Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago, citing an alleged time gap between when her husband found her and when he called 911.
LeanLeft: Now Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is opening a probe into the 911 call from 1990, claiming that there was an unusual delay...
RJ Eskow: via raw story, we learn that the first brother is calling for an inquiry into the "alleged time gap" between the time her husband found her and when he called 911.
Norbizness: (1) "I understand that these events took place many years ago, and that you may not be able to collect all the relevant records and physical evidence.

House Passes Bill to Slash Funds to U.N.
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
Culminating years of frustration with the performance and behavior of the United Nations, the House voted Friday to slash U.S. contributions to the world body if it does not substantially change the way it operates.
Jayson @PoliPundit: In the U.S. House of Representatives. Out there in that 11-plus trillion dollar economy of ours.
Mitch Berg: Trimming The Fat — The House has voted to slash UN funding, and the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut some of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's funding.
Patrick Carver: UN Reform: The House passed the Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act, 221-184, that states that if the UN doesn't...

Turn On, Tune In, Veg Out
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
IN the spring of 1977, some friends and I made a 40-mile pilgrimage to the biggest and fanciest movie theater in Iowa so we could watch a new science fiction movie called "Star Wars." Expecting long lines, we got there early, and found the place deserted.
Michael J. Totten: Neal Stephenson in the New York Times nails exactly, precisely, what's so horribly wrong with the new Star Wars movies.
Ann Althouse: Did you see the NYT op-ed about "Star Wars" by Neal Stephenson? I just wrote about that for GlennReynolds.com, ending my week of guest-blogging over there.
Ed Cone: Jedi scientists — Neal Stephenson in the NYT: "Scientists and technologists have the same uneasy status in our society as the Jedi in the Galactic Republic."
Avedon Carol: Neal Stephenson has an op-ed in the NYT that's about Star Wars - sort of: In sum, very little of the new film makes sense, taken as a freestanding narrative.
Glenn Reynolds: UPDATE: Continuing the science fiction theme, check out this Neal Stephenson column on Star Wars.

Conservatives Promoting Anti-Clinton Book
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 16 - Republican and conservative activists are behind a vigorous campaign to promote a controversial new biography about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, with some even suggesting that the book will help dash any presidential aspirations she might have.
Captain Ed: VRWC Sighting At The Gray Lady — Mickey Kaus notes that the New York Times has discovered a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy...
Tom Maguire: The NY Times runs a silly piece noting that some folks who hate Hillary love the new Hillary-basher.
Kathryn Jean Lopez: You see, contrary to popular (Hillary's & the New York Times) belief, we're not all foaming-at-the-mouth Clinton haters,...
Taegan Goddard: Conservatives Hope Book Will Derail Clinton — "Some conservative activists are suggesting that a controversial new...

Halliburton to build new $30 mln Guantanamo jail
  Reuters   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Halliburton Co. unit will build a new $30 million detention facility and security fence at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the United States is holding about 520 foreign terrorism suspects, the Defense Department announced on Thursday.
Barbara O'Brien: Halliburton to build new $30 mln Guantanamo jail "A Halliburton Co. unit will build a new $30 million detention...
Zoe Kentucky: Which makes this little tidbit interesting. [snipped quote] As far as I know, Cheney still has financial ties to Halliburtion.
Kevin Drum: MORE GITMO?....Via Laura Rozen, it appears that Halliburton has won a $30 million contract to build a new prison at Guantanamo.
Gerry @DalyThoughts: This is a really good example of how it happens: [snipped quote] Pass the popcorn. Addendum: Welcome to readers from the Mahablog.
Jeralyn Merritt: Halliburton Gets Contract for New Guantanamo Jail — In the "you can't make this stuff up" department, via David Corn,...
Jeffrey Dubner: George W. Bush, June 9, asked about closing Gitmo: [snipped quote] By "looking at all alternatives," of course, he meant expanding its capacity by 40 percent.
Also: John Cole, Joe Gandelman, Dr. Steven Taylor, Laura Rozen, Attaturk, K. J. Lopez, Jayson @PoliPundit

Globalization: It's Not Just Wages
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - Who is the biggest exporter of German-made washing machines to the United States? Not Miele or Bosch-Siemens, or any other German manufacturer. It is the American appliance maker, Whirlpool, the company proudly reports.
Brad DeLong: Germany's Revealed Comparative Advantage in High-End Front-Loading Washing Machines — Louis Uchitelle reports: ...
Tom Maguire: Interesting Piece On Globalization — The Times runs an article on globalization in the business section (clever, that).
Daniel Drezner: How whirlpool does globalization — Louis Uchitelle has a nice case study of how one U.S. multinational deals with...

FBI looking at sale of Cunningham home
  By / San Diego Union-Tribune   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON - The FBI has opened an inquiry into Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's 2003 sale of his Del Mar house to a defense contractor, who later sold it at a $700,000 loss, a Justice Department official said yesterday.
Smash: The Union-Trib has a story about some questionable real-estate deals, sparking a "preliminary inquiry" by the FBI.
Josh Marshall: According to the — San Diego Union-Tribune, the FBI has openned a preliminary investigation into the Randy "Duke" Cunningham case.
Duckman GR: Today's paper reports the FBI is looking into the deal, and they have some pictures and figures for comparisons of the homes, and some choice quotes.

Cosmic Struggles of Cultural Proportions
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
LIFE is complicated enough without having to keep track of "Star Wars" mythology, in its infinite nerdiness, or the history of Batman. (Now he's campy, now he's not.)
Ann Althouse: Here's a piece by Caryn James in today's NYT about the film that tries to make some political points and to compare it...
Orrin Judd: THERE'S ONLY ONE STORY: Cosmic Struggles of Cultural Proportions (CARYN JAMES, 6/17/05, NY Times) [snipped quote] It is,...
Will Baude: This generally unexceptional NYT Piece on Batman and Star Wars contains one odd claim.

Thunderbirds to get first female pilot
  By / Air Force Times   —   Permalink 
The 2006 Thunderbird team won't start training until this fall, but it already is headed for the history books. The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron on Thursday announced the selection of Capt. Nicole Malachowski as the team's No. 3 right wing pilot,...
Kevin Aylward: Compiled from wire services, The Las Vegas Review Journal, and Air Force Times
Gary Farber: THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! [snipped quote] Be still, my beating heart. (Okay, I have no idea how good her conversation is, but anyway.)
Commissar: Two Women — Capt. Nicole Malachowski will be the No. 3 right wing pilot in the Thunderbirds, the USAF's crack flight demonstration team.
James Joyner: Nicole Malachowski to be First Female Thunderbird — Thunderbirds to get first female pilot (Air Force Times) [snipped quote] A major milestone, to be sure.

'Nazi' comment disgraceful
  Boston Herald   —   Permalink 
The second highest ranking Democrat in the Senate has compared American servicemen and women to Nazis on the floor of that body. Has political debate sunk so low that a comment that hideous can be made by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) without repercussions?
Glenn Reynolds: ANOTHER UPDATE: The Mudville Gazette has a Durbin roundup, including links to video and to a Boston Herald editorial saying that "Durbin must go."
Marc @USSNeverdock: Their silence over Durbin's and Foley's remarks shows otherwise. One newspaper has spoken up though - The Boston Herald.
John @PowerLine: "Durbin Must Go" — The Boston Herald called this morning for Dick Durbin's resignation.

Questions, Bitterness and Exile for Queens Girl in Terror Case
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
DHAKA, Bangladesh - Slumped at the edge of the bed she would have to share with four relatives that night, the 16-year-old girl from Queens looked stunned.
The Hayder family house, right, is on 216th Street in Queens Village.
Chris Nolan: Also, today, the New York Times tells the story of a Queens girl who was deported. Why?
Avedon Carol: Do you feel safer now that you've been protected from this 16-year-old girl? (Via Faith and Justice, via The Daou Report.)
Sarah Wildman: If you haven't yet, read the long story in today's New York Times about Tashnuba Hayder, a 16-year-old Bangladeshi-born...
Pudentilla: feeling safer?

Durbin Warfare
  Investor's Business Daily   —   Permalink 
POWs: The only kind thing that can be said about Dick Durbin's rant this week on the Senate floor, as hearings on alleged prisoner abuses at Guantanamo began, is that it made Howard Dean look sane.
Forkum: The title of this cartoon comes from this Investor's Business Daily editorial, which states: "Among his complaints is...
Michelle Malkin: The Boston Herald editorializes: "Durbin must go." Investor's Business Daily: He "made Howard Dean look sane."

Chief Justice Marks Court Anniversary
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
(06-16) 14:52 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) —
William H. Rehnquist was tapped to be chief justice 19 years ago Friday, and while conventional wisdom says his combination of age and cancer won't allow him to stay around for a 20th, some court watchers are not so sure.
Betsy: Friday marks the 19-year anniversary of Rehnquist being nominated for Chief Justice.
Justin @SouthernAppeal: "William H. Rehnquist was tapped to be chief justice 19 years ago Friday, and while conventional wisdom says his...
James Joyner: Chief Justice Rehnquist May Not Retire — Chief Justice Marks Court Anniversary (AP) [snipped quote] This is all pure conjecture, of course.

War Criticism and Concerns Both Growing
  LAT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON — Apprehension over the war in Iraq surged Thursday as a group of lawmakers demanded that President Bush develop plans to withdraw troops and a top Pentagon official expressed concern about sagging public support for the U.S. military effort.
McQ: Same old tune, same generation, but now they're in the Senate and House, writing on newspaper staffs, and teaching in universities.
Jeralyn Merritt: Exit Plan from Iraq Demanded — A bi-partisan group of legislators have introduced a bill seeking an exit plan for...
Armando @DailyKos: Here's Rove's plan: "The White House said Bush planned to deliver a speech this month on the importance of the U.S...

Policies already transparent
  By / USA Today   —   Permalink 
Arguably, no detention facility in the history of warfare has been more transparent and received more scrutiny than Guantanamo. There have been numerous visits from members of the news media, congressional representatives and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Betsy: Go and buy your sticker. Meanwhile, check out Donald Rumsfeld's defense of Gitmo in USA Today.
K. J. Lopez: DEFENDING GITMO — Rumsfeld in USA Today

'Wiki' Era Dawns at 'L.A. Times': Chaotic, But Kinsley is 'Loving It'
  By / Editor and Publisher   —   Permalink 
NEW YORK The wikitorial era at the Los Angeles Times began with a somewhat chaotic bang Friday as someone temporarily defaced the feature's pages with a profane slogan, while other users altered the set up of other pages and even split the featured editorial in two.
Kevin Roderick: Afternoon update: LAVoice.org is following the wiki blow-by-blow, while Editor and Publisher recounts the various...
Jim Romenesko: Kinsley: First day of LAT's wikitorial experiment is a success — Editor & Publisher There were a few problems, though, reports Joe Strupp.

Schiavo timeline troubles governor
  St. Petersburg Times   —   Permalink 
LARGO - Refusing to give up on the Terri Schiavo case, Gov. Jeb Bush has asked Pinellas prosecutors to sort out time discrepancies Michael Schiavo has provided regarding the hour he found his wife unconscious 15 years ago.
Steve M.: There goes Jeb on point #1, and Peggy Noonan on point #2 ("She looks like one of those coma cases that wind up in the...
Atrios: Necrophiliac — Jeb: LARGO - Refusing to give up on the Terri Schiavo case, Gov. Jeb Bush has asked Pinellas prosecutors...
John Cole: "It's Very Troubling" — And the smears against Michael Schiavo continue unabated, this time by the Governor of Florida:...

War and Consequences
  LAT   —   Permalink 
As the war in Iraq grinds on and the number of U.S. troops remains stubbornly fixed at 140,000, murmurs of dissatisfaction at home become louder and more widespread. Republican members of Congress have joined Democrats in questioning how much longer the troops will have to stay.
Hugh Hewitt: Kinsley's crowd did find time to write at length on the war yesterday, and on yesterday's call for a timetable for troop...
Kevin Drum: Given the kind of traffic that the LA Times draws, I assume that wikitorials will change about every ten seconds or so once everyone figures out they're there.
Kevin Roderick: The Wikitorial era begins * The innovation du jour at the Times editorial page is a lead editorial, titled War and...

Why Iran's clerics fear this election
  By / Guardian   —   Permalink 
It is one of the paradoxes of the modern Middle East that a higher percentage of people attends Friday prayers in Turkey, an avowedly secular state, than in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Pejman Yousefzadeh: MISTAKEN PREMISES — Jonathan Steele argues that the clerics in Iran fear the presidential elections going on today more...
Marcus @HarrysPlace: Too true in the case of Iran. Harry adds: But The Guardian's Jonathan Steele has a different view.
Norm Geras: I refer to Jonathan Steele, veteran of the genre: [snipped quote] Well, next door at Harry's Place Marcus has the lowdown...

Poll Shows Slump in Trust Between French, Americans
  Reuters   —   Permalink 
PARIS - Trust between the French and Americans has slumped to its lowest level in 17 years, more than two years after a bitter feud over the Iraq war, an opinion poll showed on Friday.
Patrick Carver: Well, duh: A new poll reveals the shocking news that Americans aren't big fans of France and that the cheese-eating surrender monkeys don't like us either.
K. J. Lopez: I KNOW THAT'S WHY I WAS FURIOUS ALL ELECTION SEASON — Reuters: "French people openly supported French-speaking Democrat...

Durbin Defends Guantanamo Comments
  By / WaPo   —   Permalink 
Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) drew a White House rebuke yesterday for comparing the treatment of prisoners at the naval detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the interrogation tactics of the Nazis and the Soviet gulags.
Baldilocks: The Post does indeed report that only two Republican senators have openly criticized Senator Durbin for his remarks and neither of them is Bill Frist or John McCain.
Smash: Heated rhetoric like this, however, is taking things a bit too far: [quote] "If I read this to you and did not tell you that...[end quote]

Fed Official Moves Up and Into Politics
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 16 - For years, some of his closest friends did not know that Ben S. Bernanke was a Republican.
It is not that Mr. Bernanke has been shy about his views. As an economist at Princeton, he broke new ground on the causes of the Depression.
Mark Thoma: The New York Times on Bernanke — I haven't had a chance to read this closely yet, and won't until much later today, so I thought I'd pass it along.
Orrin Judd: OUTED (via Robert Schwartz): Fed Official Moves Up and Into Politics (EDMUND L. ANDREWS, June 17, 2005, NY Times)...

Wisconsin May Ban Morning-After Pill
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Assembly approved a ban on the so-called morning-after pill on state college campuses, a restriction that would be the first in the nation if approved.
The vote in the lower chamber late Thursday sends the bill to the state Senate; both are controlled by Republicans.
Jesse Taylor: Now I Can Understand Why Conservatives Want To Privatize Education — It would make it slightly less likely they would...
Armando @DailyKos: Direct Assault on the Right To Privacy By Wisconsin GOP — The Wisconsin GOP wants to ban emergency contraception,...

U.S. Launches Major Operation in West Iraq
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military launched a major combat operation Friday as 1,000 Marines and Iraqi soldiers fanned out to track down insurgents and foreign fighters in a volatile western province straddling Syria.
Tom Maguire: Operation Spear — The US Marines are back in action on the Iraqi-Syrian border. Glenn Reynolds has had some interesting reports from Austin Bay in Iraq.
James Joyner: U.S. Launches Operation Spear in West Iraq — U.S. Launches Major Operation in West Iraq (AP) [snipped quote] Taking out Zarqawi's group is obviously the goal.

Terrorism for Everyman
  By / Opinion Journal   —   Permalink 
As far as I can tell, this is the recent news out of Iraq:
Yesterday: "Six U.S. Servicemen Die in Iraq Violence."
Wednesday: "Surge of Violence Leaves 52 Dead in Iraq."
Ed Cone: On the paper's opinion page, Daniel Henninger says that "news coverage of these repeated slaughters of civilians in Iraq...
Michelle Malkin: Tom Maguire on Chicago parallels. The ADL's reminder. Daniel Henninger wonders: Is America losing the will to fight?
Steve Bainbridge: Iraq — Daniel Henninger looks at the downer news coming out of Iraq and asks Is America losing the will to fight?
Roger L. Simon: The Big Acquiescence — Daniel Henninger's spooky opinion piece in the WSJ - Terrorism for Everyone - coupled with a...
Jesse Taylor: Insurgent Pop — Bet you didn't know that Iraqi insurgents were only bombing people because the media created a market for it.

Oxfam pays $1m tsunami aid duty
  BBC   —   Permalink 
British charity Oxfam has had to pay the Sri Lankan government $1m in import duty for vehicles used in tsunami reconstruction work.
Paperwork had kept the 25 four-wheel drive vehicles idle in the capital, Colombo, for a month.
Chris Bertram: State robbery Around a million dollars donated in the wake of the Tsunami is being stolen by the government of Sri...
Julian Sanchez: But now: "Britain's Daily Telegraph said Sri Lankan customs had charged $5,000 a day while the vehicles were processed.

As Toyota Goes ...
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
So I have a question: If I am rooting for General Motors to go bankrupt and be bought out by Toyota, does that make me a bad person?
It is not that I want any autoworker to lose his or her job, but I certainly would not put on a black tie if the entire management team at G.M. got sacked and was replaced by executives from Toyota.
Roger L. Simon: Toyota and the Schizo-political — I don't agree frequently with Tom Friedman these days, but I found myself nodding my...
Ezra Klein: If GM Goes — Rare as it may be, Tom Friedman's got it right today.

The Big Quake Question: What Comes After Four?
  LAT   —   Permalink 
A 4.9 magnitude earthquake centered in San Bernardino County rattled a large section of Southern California on Thursday, the third significant temblor to hit the state in less than a week.
Steve Antler: Kinda scary... I clicked on the following headline: The Big Quake Question: What Comes After Three? and found the story had changed significantly in the interim.
Ann Althouse: "They say there is no such thing as earthquake weather..." "... but there is."

Antiwar Group Says Leaked British Memo Shows Bush Misled Public on His War Plans
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 16 - Opponents of the war in Iraq held an unofficial hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday to draw attention to a leaked British government document that they say proves their case that President Bush misled the public about his war plans in 2002 and distorted intelligence to support his policy.
Arianna Huffington: Headline in this morning's New York Times: "Antiwar Group Says Leaked British Memo Shows Bush Misled Public on His War Plans" Antiwar group?
TheAnchoress: This IMPEACHMENT REHEARSAL got some coverage from the NY Times, but not with the same information Milbank presented.
Mipe @ThinkProgress: The President doesn't care what you have to say. Apparently neither does the New York Times.
Captain Ed: UPDATE: While Milbank and the Washington Post had the sense not to fall for this foolishness, Scott Shane and the New...
Gerry @DalyThoughts: Update 2: Should I be surprised that the New York Times reporting on this does not mention anything about the background of this "witness"?
Riggsveda @Corrente: In fact, they did have a story below the fold of the website, under the head "Antiwar Group Says Leaked British Memo...
Also: K. J. Lopez, Cookie Jill

Apology Demanded for Remark on U.S.
  NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 16 - Leading Republicans demanded an apology from Senator Richard J. Durbin on Thursday, two days after he compared abusive treatment of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay to the war crimes of oppressive regimes like the Nazis and the Khmer Rouge.
Baldilocks: Durbin: The Big Four Coverage — New York Times: The Gray Lady's reports are perfunctory and to the point.
Betsy: The New York Times has a brief mention of the story and focuses the whole story around Republican criticism.
Byron York: This morning, the paper ran a small (176 word), unsigned item on page A-18 headlined, "Apology Demanded for Remark on U.S."
Michelle Malkin: More swarming...bRight and Early; Iowa Voice; always-must-read Captain Ed on the Democratic ping echo from John Kerry to...

Disneyland in China Offers a Soup and Lands in a Stew
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
HONG KONG, June 16 - Donald Duck and friends are being drawn into an unusual showdown between Western sensitivities and Chinese tradition, setting off a debate that has this city buzzing.
John Podesta: Something's Fishy In the Magic Kingdom — Just in case the kids were thinking of taking Dad to Disneyland this weekend,...
Jacob Sullum: Fin Fan Fight — I'm not taking sides in the controversy over shark fin soup at Hong Kong Disneyland, but I will say...

Romney backs new effort to prohibit gay marriages
  By / Boston Globe   —   Permalink 
Governor Mitt Romney yesterday endorsed a grass-roots effort to pass a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Massachusetts in 2008, abandoning his support for what he called a ''muddied" compromise measure that would also ban gay marriages but allow gays to enter into civil unions.
Taegan Goddard: Romney Backs Effort to Ban Gay Marriage — Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) "endorsed a grass-roots effort to pass a...
K. J. Lopez: YOUR MORNING ROMNEY UPDATE — Boston Globe: "Governor Mitt Romney yesterday endorsed a grass-roots effort to pass a...

Rulebook on Iranian Elections
  AP   —   Permalink 
A look at election rules in Iran:
WHO CAN RUN: Under the Iranian Constitution, candidates for president must be Muslim and between the ages of 25-75. There are differing interpretations about whether women are eligible for the presidency, but the ruling clerics have blocked all women from standing.
Marcus @HarrysPlace: Stitch Up — Here's a useful guide to the hoops through which you would have had to have jumped had you wanted to put...
Damian Penny: If you wanted to be a candidate in today's Iranian election, the rules are here. (via Harry's Place) If you support anything other than some kind of Shi'ite theocracy, forget it.

U.S. Pressure Weakens G-8 Climate Plan
  By / WaPo   —   Permalink 
Bush administration officials working behind the scenes have succeeded in weakening key sections of a proposal for joint action by the eight major industrialized nations to curb climate change.
Chris Mooney: Such behavior has become so routine that the Washington Post thankfully provides the big picture: [snipped quote] This...
Pudentilla: burn, baby, burn — [snipped quote] we hope that some republican from away will be as happy to pay top dollar to buy our...

Tom Cruise Proposes to Katie Holmes
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
PARIS - Actor Tom Cruise said he and girlfriend Katie Holmes are engaged, after he popped the question early Friday morning atop the Eiffel Tower.
Cruise, speaking at a Paris news conference with Holmes, said: "Yes, I proposed to her."
Justin @SouthernAppeal: It's official: Tom Cruise is officially beginning preparations for his third divorce, this time to Katie Holmes (loved ya in Dawson's Creek!)
James Joyner: Tom Cruise Proposes to Katie Holmes (AP) [snipped quote] Let's just hope Katie is taking her vitamins.

Bush's Support on Major Issues Tumbles in Poll
  NYT   —   Permalink 
Increasingly pessimistic about Iraq and skeptical about President Bush's plan for Social Security, Americans are in a season of political discontent, giving Mr. Bush one of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency and even lower marks to Congress, according to the New York Times/CBS News Poll.
Kevin Drum: Something like this: Democrats demand an end to the war. Increasingly, polls appear to back them up.
Gerry @DalyThoughts: Given that there were nearly 20 other choices, some of which were vague, that demonstrates a big difficulty that Bush and Congress will have in dissipating the discontent.
James Joyner: Bush's Support on Major Issues Tumbles in Polls (NYT | RSS) [snipped quote] The complete results of the poll are available here in PDF format.
Steve Soto: The poll, weighted to reflect census and demographic factors, had a party ID breakdown of 34% Democrats, 28%...
DeDurkheim: Dare we begin to dream? A new New York Times-CBS News poll has Bush and the Congress at low, low numbers of support.
Echidne: For example: "Despite months of presidential effort, the nationwide poll found the public is not rallying toward Mr...
Also: Talking Dog

US lied to Britain over use of napalm in Iraq war
  By / Independent   —   Permalink 
American officials lied to British ministers over the use of "internationally reviled" napalm-type firebombs in Iraq.
Yesterday's disclosure led to calls by MPs for a full statement to the Commons and opened ministers to allegations that they held back the facts until after the general election.
Cernig: And for those who believe that this administration wouldn't lie about something so important, here's a report from the Independent newspaper.
Juan Cole: As the scandal of the Downing Street Memo continues to percolate, it was confirmed on Thursday that the United States...
Attaturk: We've got your WMDs Right Here — We just don't want to tell you...'cause we're using them.
Gateway Pundit: This from the Independent, yesterday: Despite persistent rumours of injuries among Iraqis consistent with the use of...
Steve Soto: Tomorrow's Independent newspaper in Great Britain is reporting that the Bush Administration lied to the Blair government about its use of napalm in Iraq.

A press coverup
  By / Salon   —   Permalink 
To judge by their responses, the leading lights of the Washington press corps are more embarrassed than the White House is by the revelations in the Downing Street memo — which quite suddenly is becoming as "famous" as NBC's Tim Russert suggested weeks ago, when most of his colleagues and everyone at his network were still ignoring the document.
Paradox @LeftCoaster: Joe Conason professionally eviscerates Kinsley today for such gross arrogance, admirable work if it weren't so depressing.
Atrios: War Pigs — Conason.
Avedon Carol: Conason: How foolish and how sad that all these distinguished journalists prefer to transform this scandal into a debate...

WH Press Secretary Mocks 'Downing Street Memo,' as Congressman Calls for Inquiry
  Editor and Publisher   —   Permalink 
NEW YORK With a forum about to begin on Capitol Hill on the so-called Downing Street Memo, hosted by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), reporters at today's White House briefing by Press Secretary Scott McClellan naturally raised the subject, albeit briefly.
Pessimist @LeftCoaster: WH Press Secretary Mocks 'Downing Street Memo,' as Congressman Calls for Inquiry I think that this is an individual who...
Attaturk: From E&P: [snipped quote] You can feel the love in this picture from the White House aide can you not?

White House Castigates Durbin for Remarks
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON - The White House said a senator's comparison of American interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviet gulags and Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot was reprehensible and a disservice to those serving in the military.
Forkum: Durbin Warfare — From AP: White House Castigates Durbin For Remarks.
Joe Gandelman: Durbin And White House Use The Verbal Atomic Bombs — A big controversy continues to rage over how the U.S. treats enemy...
Michelle Malkin: THE TREACHEROUS DICK DURBIN — Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Camp Delta) refuses to apologize for his unhinged remarks likening...
Fafnir: Well the White House wants you to know it's all crazy talk! There's just no way Guantanamo Bay is as bad as the Soviets or Pol Pot.
Captain Ed: Despite a national furor over his remarks, Durbin has refused to retract them, although he laughingly added yesterday...
LeanLeft: Defending the Indefensible — Filed under: Politics Iraq Terrorism — Kevin The White House has joined the right wing...
Also: Jo Fish, Lindsay Beyerstein, Barbara O'Brien, Alexander K. McClure, Atrios, Kos @DailyKos

Nation/Politics
  Washington Times   —   Permalink 
"The noise machine of the far right never stops and it's gotten so much more in operation in the last few weeks," he said. "This is all a distraction by the White House."
But Mr. Reid did not directly address Mr. Durbin's gulag comparison.
Hugh Hewitt: Ducking the Durbin Slander — From this morning's Washington Times: "Several Democrats ducked the furor yesterday.
Jeff Goldstein: The greatest love of all — If I'm reading him correctly, retired Navy Seal Matthew Heidt is less than thrilled with...
David Neiwert: Perhaps typical of this was the nakedly false Washington Times headline, "Gitmo called death camp."
Jeralyn Merritt: Sen. Frist, repeating a false headline in the Washington Times, accused Sen. Durbin of saying Guantanamo is "a death camp."
DJ Drummond: The Washington Times observed that while Republican lawmakers were outraged by Durbin's behavior, the Democrats simply tried to pretend that it had somehow never happened.
Paul @PowerLine: Just for the record (as if that matters to the left) Rowan Scarborough in the Washington Times reminds us of the...
Also: John @PowerLine, Steve Verdon, K. J. Lopez, Taegan Goddard, Kos @DailyKos, Ace

Sen. Durbin Stands by Guantanamo Remarks
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
CHICAGO — Sen. Dick Durbin refused to apologize Wednesday for comments he made on the Senate floor comparing the actions of American soldiers at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviet gulags and a "mad regime" like Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's in Cambodia.
Michelle Malkin: The paper ran an AP story on the controversy on Wednesday. But no original reporting of its own. I've searched both the website and Nexis.
Scott @PowerLine: As for Senator Durbin, what is there to say? The AP reports: "Sen. Durbin stands by Guantanomo remarks."
Jeff Goldstein: Shouldn't concerned Senators stand on the Senate floor and make it clear that—were the US military actually responsible...
Hugh Hewitt: What is truly amazing is the relative silence of MSM on the Durbin meltdown. The New York Times, The Washington Post.
Barbara O'Brien: It's happening again. The righties are shocked that Senator Dick Durbin compared Gitmo to a gulag.
Bill Hobbs: Nazis — Lance Frizzell comments on Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin's claim that American troops guarding the terrorists...
Also: Rich Lowry

Bush's Approval Ratings Stay Low
  CBS News   —   Permalink 
(CBS) President George W. Bush's job approval rating is now just 42 percent, and most Americans think he does not share their priorities.
Iraq and the economy — not the President's signature issue of Social Security — are most important to Americans,...
Steve Soto: Mr. 42%, Exhibit B (Graphic courtesy of the Times) After reporting yesterday that a Pew Center poll done this week shows...
Jeralyn Merritt: Poll: Bush Approval Drops: 51% Disapprove — Pretty soon he'll be in the tank...Crooks and Liars has the latest Bush...
Joe Gandelman: Bush Poll Numbers Continue To Sink — President George Bush's polling numbers continue to resemble an elevator — heading down.
Kos @DailyKos: Bush still going down, down, down — CBS News/NYT. 6/10-15. MoE 3%.

Statement by the President on Iranian Elections
  White House   —   Permalink 
In recent months, the cause of freedom has made enormous gains in the broader Middle East. Millions of people in Afghanistan and Iraq defied terrorists to cast their ballots in free elections.
Norm Geras: Why, it's the President of the United States of America. These are some of the relativities that continue to surprise one.
Robert Mayer: Just scroll. UPDATE: Bush comes out with it. "In recent months, the cause of freedom has made enormous gains in the broader Middle East.
Arthur Chrenkoff: Iranian spring, part 3 — President Bush lets the people of Iran know what he thinks of the elections (hat tip: Regime...

Frist: Schiavo Autopsy Results End Case
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a surgeon who had questioned Terri Schiavo's diagnosis during the intense national debate on whether to remove her feeding tube, said the autopsy documenting her severe brain damage brings "a very sad chapter to a close."
Michelle Malkin: Interestingly, the paper did assign a reporter to write a piece on GOP Sen. Bill Frist defending his remarks about the Schiavo case, which was published on A17, 6/17/05.
Jo Fish: After all the demogoguery about the Schiavo case here's poor little Billy "Kitty Killer" Frist on the Schiavl autopsy:...
Joe Gandelman: But now, according to the Washington Post, Frist seems to want to put as as much distance between him and his comments...
Jeralyn Merritt: Frist Comments on Schiavo Autopsy — Sen. Bill Frist comments on the Terri Schiavo autopsy results.

Small Bipartisan Group in House Presses for Iraq Exit Strategy
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 16 - A resolution calling on President Bush to announce an exit strategy from Iraq was introduced in the House today by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including one who was once so upset about French opposition to the war that he wanted the House cafeterias to change the name "French fries" to "freedom fries."
Mark Leon Goldberg: Take, for example, the sentiment captured by Sheryl Gay Stolberg in her piece yesterday on the bipartisan proposal for a withdrawal timeline.
Andy Stern: Today a bipartisan group in the House called for a withdrawal of troops. Although long overdue, it's never too late to save some lives.
Jerome Armstrong: Both left and right sides of the House (from Dennis Kucinich to Ron Paul) came together demanding a quick exit plan from the Bush administration.
Steve Bainbridge: Iraq II — I don't think I agree with the Congressmen asking for an exit strategy for Iraq.

Top Zarqawi aide captured in Iraq's Mosul: US
  AFP   —   Permalink 
MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) - A top aide to Al-Qaeda frontman Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been captured in Iraq's northern city of Mosul, the US military revealed.
Mohammed Khalaf Shakar, also known as Abu Talha, is "Zarqawi's most trusted operations agent in all of Iraq," a military statement said Thursday.
Betsy: We have captured another Zarqawi aide. How many aides does this guy have? And isn't "aide" a rather antiseptic word for a murderous thug like Zarqawi?
John @PowerLine: In more good news, Mohammed Khalaf Shakar, also known as Abu Talha, who has been in charge of operations for Zarqawi's terrorist network, was captured today in Mosul.
Jan Haugland: Top aide to al-Zarqawi captured — Top terrorist captured in Iraq: A top aide to Al-Qaeda frontman Abu Musab al-Zarqawi...
Charles Johnson: Got a Big Fish in Iraq — Top Zarqawi aide captured in Iraq's Mosul: US.

US senator stands by Nazi remark
  Aljazeera   —   Permalink 
A US senator has refused to apologise for comparing the actions of US soldiers at Guantanamo Bay to those of Nazis, while others have decried or defended the mandate and method used to hold prisoners there.
Gateway Pundit: Aljazeera was sure not to miss out on this goodie from Senator Dick: A US senator has refused to apologise for comparing...
Baldilocks: As a result, Al Jazeera, the terrorist rag of choice, takes note: [snipped quote] It's one thing for traditional media entities to express their contempt for the military.
Charles Johnson: JihadTV Recognizes an Ally — JihadTV loves Dick Durbin: Aljazeera.Net - US senator stands by Nazi remark.
Hugh Hewitt: Durbin's slander of the American military, and his refusal to apologize for it has now been picked up by Al Jazeera's English operation.
Scott @PowerLine: The AP reports: "Sen. Durbin stands by Guantanomo remarks." Al-Jazeera reports: "US senator stands by Nazi remark."
Tom Maguire: If Al Jazeera Is With You... Dick Durbin gains international stature. Hugh Hewitt has more.

Democrats Cite Downing Street Memo in Bolton Fight
  By / Reuters   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats rejected a Republican compromise over John Bolton's nomination as U.N. ambassador on Thursday and cited a British report backing their view that the Bush administration hyped intelligence on Iraq before the 2003 invasion.
Laura Rozen: From the AP: "For his part, Bolton meet briefly during the day with his two most vocal Democratic opponents — Sens.
David Allan Pell: Now the focus is that British report that the U.S. hyped intelligence on the road to war in Iraq: From Senate Minority...
Pudentilla: for a moment the press pierces the pretense — [snipped quote] someday, someone will write a story questioning the...

News Media Give Overlooked Memo on Iraq Second Glance
  By / WaPo   —   Permalink 
For many liberals already frustrated with the media's coverage of President Bush, it has become a rallying cry over the past six weeks: What about the Downing Street memo?
Kevin Aylward: Not only that: They add nothing to what was publicly known in July 2002.And they're not the only ones saying that there...
Harry Shearer: Harry Shearer: Why the New Memos Matter — It's a sad litany of excuses Howard Kurtz pries out of the editors of...
Jim Romenesko: U.S. news media take second look at Downing Street memo — Washington Post Howard Kurtz says liberals' anger, amplified...
Avedon Carol: But I guess it's real news when Howard Kurtz admits what we've been saying all along: [snipped quote] Yes, exactly.
Tom Maguire: Kurtz Cuts The Comedy - We — Howard Kurtz provides an overview of the MSM coverage of the Downing Street Debacle, but...
Garrett M. Graff: A Little Pet Press Corps — What between the Neil Cavuto interview last week and the Downing Street Memo, Dan Froomkin,...
Also: Zoe Kentucky

Poll Shows Dwindling Approval of Bush and Congress
  NYT   —   Permalink 
Increasingly pessimistic about Iraq and skeptical about President Bush's plan for Social Security, Americans are in a season of political discontent, giving Mr. Bush one of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency and Congress one of its lowest rating in years, according to the New York Times/CBS News Poll.
Joe Gandelman: UPDATE: The New York Times piece on this poll has the White House response which downplays the poll: "Nicole Devenish,...
Jeralyn Merritt: Analysis: Bush has problems. More here
Taegan Goddard: Dwindling Support for Bush and Congress — "Americans are in a season of political discontent," giving Presidnet Bush...

The Doughnut Democrats
  Opinion Journal   —   Permalink 
Tim Russert: "In your home state of Vermont there is a vacancy for the United State Senate. Bernie Sanders wants to run for that seat. He is a self-described avowed socialist. Is there room in the Democratic Party for a socialist?"
Steve Bainbridge: Why the Dems Problems are Bad for the GOP — OpinionJournal.com documents the problem with the modern Democrat Party:...
Pejman Yousefzadeh: EVERYONE'S PROBLEMS — A very good catch by Stephen Bainbridge. Do read it.
Ed Driscoll: This Wall Street Journal editorial also helps to explain this trend.

Schiavo Autopsy Renews Debate on G.O.P. Actions
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 15 - The autopsy of Terri Schiavo - particularly the findings that she had irreversible brain damage and was blind - left Republicans who had pushed so aggressively for federal intervention struggling on Wednesday to defend their argument that she should have been kept alive.
Tom Burka: "Yours, Senator Doctor William Frist" Dear Dr. Frist, I have chronic recurring dizziness and I often lose my sense of balance.
Judd @ThinkProgress: Frist on Senate Floor, 3/17/05: "I have looked at the video footage. Based on the footage provided to me, which was part of the facts of the case, she does respond."
Commissar: Mel Martinez — NYT: Schiavo Autopsy Renews Debate on Legislative Actions [snipped quote] Not exactly Churchillian eloquence, but I agree with Senater Martinex (R.
Fontana Labs: Test results — The Schiavo autopsy results have confirmed what we long suspected: Bill Frist is a dick.
Sadly, No!: Pretty much as I predicted, except that the other party won — Looks like someone just soiled their armor and has...

The Trillion-Dollar Bet
  NYT   —   Permalink 
American homeowners have made a trillion-dollar bet that mortgage rates will remain near record lows for at least a few more years. But with some interest rates already rising, economists worry that the bet could turn bad.
Nathan Newman: Take the looming housing meltdown: [snipped quote] By 2007, over $1 trillion of mortgage debt will switch over to...
Fontana Labs: , I ran across this story about mortgages in the NYT, and thought, "hell yeah! I've got a low fixed rate, baby! Damn!"
Brad DeLong: Variable Interest Rate Mortgages — David Leonhardt and Motoko Rich write: The Trillion-Dollar Bet - New York Times:...
Lindsay Beyerstein: You're on, Bozo! Clownmortgage [snipped quote] Worry? Nah, interest rates will be low forever. [NYT, via FL]

Military files murder charges in Iraq killings
  MSNBC   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON - An Army National Guard staff sergeant has been charged with premeditated murder in a "fragging incident" that killed two senior officers at a U.S. base near Tikrit, Iraq, last week, the U.S. military said Thursday.
Scott Sala: More coverage from Eyewitness 7 News, DefenseLINK and MSNBC (free video).
Lambert @Corrente: Whack: Not at all like VietNam — Well, except for the fragging: "An Army National Guard staff sergeant has been...
Oldman @BOPNews: Fragging Incident — And now we start getting people fragging their superior officers in Iraq.

Crazy Times?
  NRO   —   Permalink 
The Los Angeles Times announces some changes.
"My colleagues and I also hope to be out in the community more, explaining what we do and listening to your complaints," Los Angeles Times editorial-page editor Andres Martinez signed off his "To Our Readers"...
Kevin Roderick: Updates: Jay Rosen at NYU takes notice, and Cathy Seipp fills in the National Review audience on what's up at the LAT.
K. J. Lopez: WIKIWEIRDNESS — Let's just sit back and watch the weirdness going on at the LATimes re: adventures communal editing.
Jim Romenesko: HIS REVIEW: [snipped quote] ALSO: Catherine Seipp checks out LATer Michael Kinsley's talk at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Schiavo autopsy sides with her husband
  San Francisco Chronicle   —   Permalink 
Miami — An exhaustive autopsy found that Terri Schiavo's brain had withered to half the normal size since her collapse in 1990 and that no treatment could have remotely improved her condition, medical examiners said Wednesday.
John Hawkins: The Terri Schiavo Autopsy: The Hype Doesn't Match Up With The Facts — Many people in the mainstream media are drawing wild conclusions (Ex: Schiavo autopsy sides with her husband.
Michelle Malkin: But if mentioned at all, the news reports I have seen have downplayed and buried these astonishing revelations...

Lawmakers Push Resolution on Iraq Pullout
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON - President Bush would have to start bringing home U.S. troops from Iraq by Oct. 1, 2006, under a measure a small bipartisan group of House lawmakers — including a Republican who voted for war — proposed Thursday.
Dafydd: Lawmakers Push Resolution on Iraq Pullout By Liz Sidoti, Associated Press Writer 16 June, 2005 WASHINGTON - President...
Mitch Berg: Note To The President — A group of Democrats, and a few "Republicans", have decided that what the world needs is to put...
John @PowerLine: The press is touting a resolution introduced by four House members, two of them Republicans, which would require...

The Latest Downing Street Memos
  The Nation   —   Permalink 
New "Downing Street" memos keep popping up. In recent days, several confidential memos written by senior officials in Tony Blair's government in March 2002 have garnered attention. (AfterDowningStreet.org has all of them posted.)
Atrios: Corn on the Memos — Link: All of this contradicts what Bush told Americans before the invasion of Iraq.
Jeralyn Merritt: The Import of the Downing Street Memos — David Corn, at the Nation: [snipped quote] [hat tip Atrios. ]

Clinton wins S.C. straw poll
  By / The State   —   Permalink 
Richland County Democrats held the nation's first straw poll for the 2008 presidential race Wednesday and the surprise winner was U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
"We're simply delighted," said Bob Kunst, president of Hillarynow.com, who is traveling the country promoting Clinton's candidacy.
Gary Farber: Keeping an eye on the late-breaking developments in the 2008 Presidential election, which is now coming down to the...
Dr. Steven Taylor: Hillary Wins SC Straw Poll — Via The State: Clinton wins S.C. straw poll [snipped quote] As I tell my students: all a...
Gerry @DalyThoughts: Clinton wins S.C. straw poll — The State: "Richland County Democrats held the nation's first straw poll for the 2008...
K. J. Lopez: HILLARY WINS — S.C. straw poll

Runaway Bride's Dowry Deal
  By / WaPo   —   Permalink 
New York superagent Judith Regan has bought the rights to the life stories of runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks and her fiance after offering them $500,000 for a package that — in an unusual twist — included the first news interview with the couple.
Brian Stelter: When "New York superagent Judith Regan" bought the rights to Jennifer Wilbanks' story, a deal memo "specified that an...
Roger Ailes: Meet Your Liberal Media: Infomerical Journalism At Its Finest Edition — NBC News brags about the highest and best use...
John Cole: Getting The Last Laugh — Good for her: [snipped quote] That is approximately $4200.00 an hour for the 120 hours community service she was sentenced to perform.
Richard TPD: Most painful of all is to see trash like this become rich off of this sleaze. Absolutely disgusting. Break the law and get rich.
Jim Romenesko: Additional items for June 16, 2005 > Media spotlight misses cases of missing minorities (USA Today) > Court TV's Dimond...
Ann Althouse: Attention lawyers! Newly deepened pocket!

Not Our Man in Iran
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
IF the polls and pundits can be believed, Ali Akhbar Hashemi Rafsanjani will move a step closer to regaining the presidency of Iran in tomorrow's national elections.
Gregory Djerejian: Vakil Trumps Pletka — Underwhelmed by Danielle Pletka's boiler-plate, cliched op-ed piece in today's NYT? Have no fear!
Orrin Judd: Not Our Man in Iran (DANIELLE PLETKA, 6/16/05, NY Times) From David Cohen: RAFSANJANI SAYS MUSLIMS SHOULD USE NUCLEAR...
Pejman Yousefzadeh: NOT OUR MAN IN IRAN — For those who believe that a new age of reform may dawn in Iran with the election of Ali Akbar...
Laura Rozen: Writing in the NY Times, AEI's Vice President Danielle Pletka argues that while some in Washington are viewing the...
Cori Dauber: The Situation in Iran — A Times oped piece argues that the "elections" in Iran aren't about to make much difference one way or the other.

USDA plants its own news
  Chicago Tribune   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has churned out three dozen radio and television news segments since the first of the year that promote a controversial trade agreement with Central America opposed by labor unions, the sugar industry and many members of Congress, including some Republicans.
Nellie B: The new news about fake news comes courtesy of the Chicago Tribune, reporting that the US Department of Agriculture has...
Brendan Nyhan: Government propaganda watch: Dept. of Agriculture — CJR Daily, which has played a key role in watchdogging the Bush...
David Sirota: Government-Funded Propaganda Pushes CAFTA — If you were disgusted by the Armstrong Williams controversy, and nauseated...

Lawyers Fought U.S. Move to Curb Tobacco Penalty
  By / NYT   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON, June 15 - Senior Justice Department officials overrode the objections of career lawyers running the government's tobacco racketeering trial and ordered them to reduce the penalties sought at the close of the nine-month trial by $120 billion, internal documents and interviews show.
Orin Kerr: Leaks in DOJ Tobacco Case: Today's New York Times offers an unusually public perspective on Justice Department...
Steve Soto: Career Prosecutors Ignored When They Warned Against Tobacco Penalty Reduction (Photo of Robert McCallum courtesy of the...
Pudentilla: if everyone started smoking, we wouldn't have a social security shortfall: [snipped quote] no need to be cynical. perhaps...
Richard Bradley: There's more evidence of that today, as the Times reports that political appointees at the Justice Department...
Gary Farber: SMOKING WEED. Who is surprised? I'll give these people this: they're honest crooks — they stay bought.

Durbin won't apologize for Guantanamo comments
  By / AP   —   Permalink 
Sen. Dick Durbin refused to apologize Wednesday for comments he made on the Senate floor comparing the actions of American soldiers at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviet gulags and a ''mad regime'' like Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's in Cambodia.
Hugh Hewitt: The Chicago Sun Times and the San Francisco Chronicle picked up an AP account, but, to borrow from Bob Dole, "Where's the outrage?"
Orrin Judd: LIGHTWEIGHT LEADERSHIP: Durbin won't apologize for Guantanamo comments (MEGAN REICHGOTT, 6/16/05, Chicago Sun-Times)...
Vanderleun: Bad Americans — Meanwhile, Back in Iraq IN THE SAFETY OF WASHINGTON, THE APTLY NAMED "DICK DURBIN" feels justified in...
Steve Bainbridge: Dick — [snipped quote] res ipsa loquitur

Republican Strains Emerge Over Iraq
  By / WSJ   —   Permalink 
WASHINGTON — As bad news continues to emerge from Iraq and the U.S. detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, some Republicans are starting to edge away from the White House on its policies in the war on terror.
Barbara O'Brien: BTW, Christopher Cooper reports in the Wall Street Journal that "some Republicans are starting to edge away from the White House on its policies in the war on terror."
Rickheller @Centerfield: Republicans Go Wobbly — A free article in the Wall Street Journal reports on Republican criticism of the conduct of the war on terror and in Iraq.
Oliver @LiquidList: A: When small cracks appear, magma and flying rocks are sure to follow.
Steve Soto: As some GOP senators give signs that they are backing away from hardline support of Bush on Iraq, the Administration...
Taegan Goddard: Republican Rift Forming Over Iraq — Some Republicans "are starting to edge away from the White House on its policies in...

Dems cheer House poll
  By / The Hill   —   Permalink 
Recent Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) polling shows that seven Republican members would be easily defeated if their reelection took place today, the committee's chairman told House Democrats yesterday at a closed-door meeting.
Steve Soto: Yes, he has pushed through a class-action lawsuit limitation bill, a bankruptcy restriction bill, and an estate tax...
Kos @DailyKos: DCCC polling gives Dems big hopes — House Dems are buzzing over their latest polling.
Taegan Goddard: According to The Hill, the poll found that "seven Republican members would be easily defeated if their reelection took place today."

Where We're Coming From
  LAT   —   Permalink 
We came by bus, train and car — one guy walked, but he's always been an outlier — and as we traveled we read, chatted or listened to the radio. But the 10 members of the editorial page staff who logged our commutes one week ago this morning share one thing: Like everyone else in L.A., we have all come up with various coping mechanisms.
Kevin Roderick: They drive, they ride, etc. * The experiment called the L.A. Times editorial page veered off in a new direction today.
Jim Romenesko: Thursday's LAT editorial page veers off in a new direction — LA Observed | National Review Online There are no...

'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for June 15
  MSNBC   —   Permalink 
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Amnesty International calls Gitmo the gulag of our time. Defenders say America is at war, there's no alternative site and the prisoners are treated humanely. Tonight, should the United States shut down the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay?
Atrios: Tweety's America — This is how Chris Matthews imagines the United States of America: "My big concern is, the longer you keep them, the angrier they get.
Tim Dunlop: Guantanamo Bay: a solution, finally — Television host Chris Matthews discusses freedom and democracy with studio...