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Political Web, page A1 … for 5:45 PM ET, December 17, 2005
Current Politics Page     Also:   Tech

Top Items:

White House:
Radio Address by the President to the Nation  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  —  As President, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and I have no greater responsibility than to protect our people, our freedom, and our way of life.  On September the 11th, 2001, our freedom …
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David E. Sanger / New York Times:
In Speech, Bush Says He Ordered Domestic Spying  —  President Bush delivered his radio address in the Roosevelt Room.  In the live address, he criticized senators who voted not to renew the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act.  —  WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 - President Bush acknowledged …
Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Bush Acknowledges Approving Eavesdropping  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday he has no intention of stopping his personal authorizations of a post-Sept. 11 secret eavesdropping program in the U.S., lashing out at those involved in revealing it while defending it as crucial to preventing future attacks.
Washington Post:
President Acknowledges Approving Secretive Eavesdropping  —  Bush Also Urges Congress to Extend Patriot Act  —  President Bush today acknowledged that he had secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on international communications of Americans and other domestic residents with known links to al Qaeda.
Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
Bush And The "Secret" Eavesdropping  —  The NY Times continued its war on America yesterday with its revelation that … Careful readers of the story will note that this program had some judicial and legislative oversight: … That seems reasonably clear.
Discussion: Let Freedom Ring
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
At the Times, a Scoop Deferred  —  The New York Times' revelation yesterday that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to conduct domestic eavesdropping raised eyebrows in political and media circles, for both its stunning disclosures and the circumstances of its publication.
Ezra Klein:
The Imperfect Spy  —  This is Bush's "f**k you" moment.
Discussion: Liberty Street and MyDD
Washington Post:
Bush Picks Controversial Nominees for FEC  —  President Bush nominated two controversial lawyers to the Federal Election Commission yesterday: Hans von Spakovsky who helped Georgia win approval of a disputed voter-identification law, and Robert D. Lenhard, who was part of a legal team …
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Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:
Cozy
White House:
Personnel Announcement  —  President George W. Bush today announced …
Krempasky / RedState.org:
White House Announces FEC Nominations
Discussion: Election Law
iranvajahan.net:
Iran President's Bodyguard Dies in Ambush  —  Tehran, Iran — One of the bodyguards of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was killed and another wounded when an attempt to ambush the presidential motorcade was thwarted in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, according to a semi-official newspaper and local residents.
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The New Republic:
BANDOW AND THE CORRUPTION OF THE CONSERVATIVES:  —  Mike has highlighted my piece on Abramoff and the conservative intellectuals.  At the time, I was sure that Abramoff paid Peter Ferrara and Doug Bandow for op-eds—and tried to strongly hint that in my piece.  But, as you'll see, I couldn't quite prove it.
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Bill Roggio / Weekly Standard:
Election Day on the Euphrates  —  In the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar, the cities of Barwana, Haqlaniya, and Haditha are collectively known as the Triad.  Over the summer, before the joint U.S. military and Iraqi forces established a security presence in the Triad, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi …
Discussion: Gateway Pundit and Free Thoughts
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Bill Roggio / ThreatsWatch.Org:   Election Reflections
White House:
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan  —  MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon, everyone.  The President looks forward this afternoon to meeting the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Sumaidaie.  This will be an opportunity for the President to congratulate the Iraqi people on a successful election yesterday.
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Judd / Think Progress:
Yesterday, Bush Said Confirming NYT Story …
Discussion: AMERICAblog
Emily Bazelon / Slate:
The Get-Out-of-Torture-Free Card  —  Why is Congress banning torture but allowing the use of torture testimony?  —  Congress deserves a pat on the back today for facing down the Bush administration and passing John McCain's unconditional ban on torture, right?  Not exactly.
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New York Times:
Iraq Votes for a Third Time  —  Iraq's Election Day was a glorious success.  Now on to the hard part.  —  Compared with any previous Iraqi election, with any reasonable expectation and with any other recent election in the Arab Middle East, Thursday's vote for a new Iraqi Parliament was an overwhelming and heartening triumph.
Marty Lederman / Balkinization:
The McCain Amendment — The Good  —  Faced with apparent veto-proof supermajorities in both the Senate and the House, the White House had little choice but to capitulate today to accepting the McCain Amendment in the form it passed the Senate, without the CIA exemption upon which the Vice President had been insisting.
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More Items:

Associated Press:
AP: Frist AIDS Charity Paid Consultants
Discussion: MyDD and Fired Up! Missouri
Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:
House Votes to Toughen Laws on Immigration
Discussion: MyDD, AMERICAblog and Hugh Hewitt
Kevin Aylward / Wizbang:
THOUGHTS ON THE 2005 WEBLOG AWARDS
tv.yahoo.com:
'West Wing' Actor John Spencer Dies at 58
Tim Harford / Slate:
The Great Xbox Shortage of 2005
Discussion: Iddybud and Catallarchy
Jim Galloway / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Reed admits misstep in work
Martin Garbus / The Huffington Post:
An Incredible Day in America  —  Today, for two separate reasons …
Reuters:
Bush says wrestled with decision to invade Iraq

Earlier Picks:

tcsdaily.com:
Defeat the Defeatists!
Discussion: Power Line
Steve Clemons:
Make the List Public: Who Did the White House Spy On?
Howard W. French / New York Times:
Chinese Pressing to Keep Village Silent on Clash
Washington Times:
House approves border fence
Reuters:
Iraq insurgents say election truce won't last
Rick Weiss / Washington Post:
Scientists Find A DNA Change That Accounts For White Skin
Discussion: INDC Journal and Prometheus 6
Guardian:
Reflections in the Evening Land
 
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