Top Items:
Robin Toner / New York Times:
Democrats See Dream of '06 Victory Taking Form — WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 - Suddenly, Democrats see a possibility in 2006 they have long dreamed of: a sweeping midterm election framed around what they describe as the simple choice of change with the Democrats or more of an unpopular status quo with the Republican majority.
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Richard Cohen / Washington Post:
Let This Leak Go — The best thing Patrick Fitzgerald could do for his country is get out of Washington, return to Chicago and prosecute some real criminals. As it is, all he has done so far is send Judith Miller of the New York Times to jail and repeatedly haul this or that administration high official …
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Washington Post:
SEC Issues Subpoena To Frist, Sources Say — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has been subpoenaed to turn over personal records and documents as federal authorities step up a probe of his July sales of HCA Inc. stock, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Patridiot Watch, Balloon Juice, Bark Bark Woof Woof, TalkLeft, The Democratic Party and Eschaton
Washington Post:
Role of Religion Emerges as Issue — President Bush said yesterday that it was appropriate for the White House to invoke Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers's religion in making the case for her to skeptical conservatives, triggering a debate over what role, if any, her evangelical faith should play in the confirmation battle.
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John Fund / Opinion Journal:
How She Slipped Through — Harriet Miers's nomination resulted from a failed vetting process. — "There's a standard vetting process that we go through with all nominees." —White House spokesman Scott McClellan — "The president is very, very confident in his judgments about people, and he likes to reward loyalty."
Drudge Report:
HIDDEN TESTIMONY REIGNITES MIERS FIRES — The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a copy of sworn testimony given by Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers in 1990 in which she said that she "wouldn't belong to the Federalist Society" - a conservative and libertarian lawyers' organization - because it was "politically charged."
centcom.mil:
What Extremists Are Saying — We note seven critical themes from the Zawahiri-Zarqawi letter. The first four confirm al-Qaida's long-term strategy and core beliefs; the latter three reflect new information about how senior al-Qaida leader Zawahiri views developments in Iraq - and elsewhere - turning against them.
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Gateway Pundit:
Chechen Terrorists Attack City, Airport; Hostages Taken! — Chechen Terrorists Attack Russian City! — * At least 60 are reported killed in the clashes, including civilians! — * Putin orders a blockade on the city of Nalchik! — * Hostages reportedly taken at police station!
Discussion:
Daily Pundit
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Dan / danieldrezner.com:
THOMAS SCHELLING GETS HIS DUE FROM SWEDEN — BUT NOT FROM SLATE — My favorite class to teach in recent years has been Classics in International Relations Theory. This is a great books course, starting with Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War and ending with Thomas Schelling's Strategy of Conflict.
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Anthony Browne / Times of London:
Dutch unveil the toughest face in Europe with a ban on the burka — THE Netherlands is likely to become the first country in Europe to ban the burka, under government proposals that would bring in some of the toughest curbs on Muslim clothing in the world. — The country's hardline …
Washington Post:
For Miers, Proximity Meant Power — Longtime Bush Confidante Became Gatekeeper of Access to the President — In the days last November after he was elected to a second term, President Bush had chosen Alberto R. Gonzales as his next attorney general, and word was spreading …
Jonathan Finer / Washington Post:
Iraq's Shiite Hub Awaits Its Day — Najaf Prepares to Endorse Charter, but Rifts Are Apparent — NAJAF, Iraq, Oct. 12 — Families gather in the festive streets after dark during the holy month of Ramadan, munching sweets after a day of fasting. Iraqi soldiers — who recently assumed control …
Bill Roggio / The Fourth Rail:
Iraqi Security Forces Update — While the debate continues over the number of "fully operational" (Level 1) Iraqi battalions, the Iraqi Security Forces continue to grow and take on a greater role in security operations. — The October 12 edition of This Week in Iraq reports on the progress of the Iraqi Security Forces.
Discussion:
Dean's World
Adam C. Smith / St. Petersburg Times:
Harris' magic touch for fundraising failing her … When U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris decided to take on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, even the skeptics in her own party acknowledged her strengths as a candidate: a tireless worker, a celebrity to the Republican base, a renowned talent for raising big money.
Ian / The Political Teen:
The Political Teen Turns 1 — Here's the post that started it all. — If you asked me last year if I thought I would be blogging today, the answer would have be no. — I began reading blogs in mid August, right before the Republican National Convention. The first blog I read was Blogs for Bush.
