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Political Web, page A1 … for 4:05 PM ET, December 21, 2005
Current Politics Page     Also:   Tech

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RELATED ITEMS:
John Schmidt / Chicago Tribune:
President had legal authority to OK taps  —  President Bush's post- Sept. 11, 2001, authorization to the National Security Agency to carry out electronic surveillance into private phone calls and e-mails is consistent with court decisions and with the positions of the Justice Department under prior presidents.
Marty Lederman / Balkinization:
Judge Posner and "Ad Hoc Initiatives" (i.e., Presidentially Sanctioned Felonies)  —  Judge Posner has an Op-Ed in the Washington Post this morning that is understandably receiving a lot of attention.  His argument is that the latest scandal reveals a serious gap in the legal intelligence-gathering laws.
Washington Post:
Spy Court Judge Quits In Protest
New York Times:
Spying Program Snared U.S. Calls
Daniel J. Solove / Concurring Opinions:
Judge Posner's Troubling Call for Massive Surveillance
Tom Watson:   The Bush Embolism II
Hindrocket / Power Line:
THE TIMES CONTINUES ITS ATTACK...
Discussion: Sadly, No! and THE ASTUTE BLOGGER
Washington Post:
With Cheney's Vote, Senate Passes Budget Bill  —  Legislation Would Trim $40 Billion Over 5 Years  —  The Senate narrowly passed a $40 billion budget-cutting bill today, with Vice President Cheney casting the deciding vote after the chamber split 50-50 on the measure.
RELATED ITEMS:
Andrew Taylor / Associated Press:
Cheney Breaks Senate Tie on Spending Cuts  —  WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote.
cbpp.org:
ASSESSING THE EFFECTS …
Discussion: The Left Coaster
H. Josef Hebert / Associated Press:
Senate Blocks Alaska Refuge Drilling  —  WASHINGTON - The Senate blocked an attempt to open an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling Wednesday, foiling an attempt by drilling backers to force the measure through Congress as part of a must-have defense spending bill.
RELATED ITEMS:
William Branigin / Washington Post:
Senate Blocks Arctic Drilling Provision  —  The Senate today failed to pass a major defense appropriations bill after a Democratic-led bloc stymied it with a filibuster in an effort to force removal of a controversial provision on oil drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge.
Associated Press:
Senate rejects drilling in Alaska wildlife refuge
Discussion: firedoglake
ydr.com:
Investigate perjury in Dover ID case  —  Judge Jones issued a broad, sensible ruling - finding that some board members lied.  —  Dec 21, 2005 — They lied.  —  William Buckingham and Alan Bonsell wanted to bring God into high school biology class, and in the process, they lied.
Discussion: ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES
RELATED ITEMS:
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Barking Up Every Tree  —  I'm sleeping better at night.  —  Our federal authorities have things under control.  —  FBI counterterrorism agents are on the case, looking into any nefarious plots by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  —  Documents obtained by the ACLU shows …
RELATED ITEM:
Rowan Scarborough / Washington Times:
Times faulted by 9/11panel
Max Boot / Los Angeles Times:
'Plame Platoon' is AWOL on new leaks  —  Highly classified programs have been revealed, which could provide real aid to our enemies.  So where's all that outrage now?  —  IT SEEMS like only yesterday that every high-minded politician, pundit and professional activist was in high dudgeon …
Richard Morin / Washington Post:
Majority of Americans Support Alito Nomination  —  A majority of Americans now support the confirmation of U.S. Appeals Court Judge Samuel A. Alito to the Supreme Court to fill the seat of retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Susan Schmidt / Washington Post:
Abramoff Reportedly Negotiating a Deal in Which He Would Plead Guilty, Testify  —  Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, facing trial on fraud charges Jan. 9 in Florida, is negotiating a possible deal with the Justice Department, in which he would agree to plead guilty and cooperate …
Phil Hirschkorn / CNN:
Officials: Sen. Clinton's GOP challenger to quit race  —  Adviser: Pirro plans to run for New York state attorney general  —  NEW YORK (CNN) — Jeanine Pirro, the longtime prosecutor who had been set to run against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton next year, has decided to drop out of the U.S. Senate race …
Discussion: Running Scared and Wonkette
Josh Meyer / Los Angeles Times:
Officials Fault Case Bush Cited  —  Internal breakdowns, not shortcomings in spy laws, were at play before Sept. 11, they say.  —  WASHINGTON — In confirming the existence of a top-secret domestic spying program, President Bush offered one case as proof that authorities desperately needed …
thepittsburghchannel.com:
Teen Guilty Of Manslaughter After Online Confession  —  Passenger Pulled Steering Wheel, Causing Crash  —  TAVARES, Fla. — An 18-year-old passenger who caused a fatal crash by pulling on the steering wheel pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter after prosecutors discovered a confession on his online blog.

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More Items:

Reuters:
Saddam steals show claiming US torture
TimChapman / Townhall.com:
Democrats derail fiscally responsible savings package
Hullabaloo:
Christmas Morning  —  Thank you all so much for your kind contributions.
Mark Stevenson / Associated Press:
Mexico Promises to Block Border Wall Plan
Jason Leopold / rawstory.com:
Leak probe not seen to end with Rove, lawyers say
Martin Crutsinger / Associated Press:
Economy Grows at Fastest Pace in 1 1/2 Years
Emanuele Ottolenghi / National Review:
The Light of the World  —  Let's embarrass Iran's evil regime.
Discussion: Atlas Shrugs and Solomonia
Gateway Pundit:
Hong Kong Democracy Advocates Win Legislative Showdown

Earlier Picks:

Chris Kromm / Facing South:
Why did people die in New Orleans?
Devlin Barrett / Associated Press:
Hillary Clinton says GOP deficit bill will increase abortions
Discussion: Slant Point
Larry Neumeister / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Anti-terror squad created prosecution plan
Discussion: Kesher Talk
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Add Centerpiece in Damon
La Shawn / La Shawn Barber's Corner:
Do You Hate Black People?
Washington Post:
Clash Is Latest Chapter in Bush Effort to Widen Executive Power
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
Revolt of the Professionals  —  The national security structure …
Patrick Cockburn / Independent:
Iraq's election result: a divided nation
 
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