Top Items:
Richard A. Posner / Washington Post:
Our Domestic Intelligence Crisis — We've learned that the Defense Department is deeply involved in domestic intelligence (intelligence concerning threats to national security that unfold on U.S. soil). The department's National Security Agency has been conducting, outside the framework …
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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.
Discussion:
protein wisdom, Macsmind, Instapundit.com, New Sisyphus, Daily Kos, Power Line, The Anchoress, Decision '08 and JunkYardBlog
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 — Jurist Concerned Bush Order Tainted Work of Secret Panel — A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources.
Discussion:
Reuters, Knight Ridder, New York Times, hughhewitt.com, Amygdala, Donklephant, The Washington Monthly, In From the Cold, The Moderate Voice, Gateway Pundit, War and Piece, Taegan Goddard's …, Angry Bear, The Strata-Sphere, Carol Platt Liebau, Power Line, The Sideshow, Althouse, Blogs for Bush, Faithful Progressive, The Poor Man, Say Anything, ACSBlog, Oliver Willis, Shakespeare's Sister, The Corner on National …, IntoxiNation-News …, NewsBusters.org, Liberty Street, Incomprehensible …, Daily Kos, Prometheus 6, Wonkette, Just a Bump in the Beltway, TalkLeft, The Carpetbagger Report and whatever already!
New York Times:Spying Program Snared U.S. Calls
Discussion:
The RCP Blog, Confederate Yankee, The Mahablog, Making Light, TAPPED, The Huffington Post, Booman Tribune ~ Boo!, MyDD, The Next Hurrah, The Carpetbagger Report, TKS on National Review Online, San Francisco Chronicle, Dr. Sanity, AMERICAblog, Shakespeare's Sister, Ezra Klein, Hit and Run and NewsBusters.org
Daniel J. Solove / Concurring Opinions:Judge Posner's Troubling Call for Massive Surveillance
Discussion:
The Washington Monthly
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.
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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.
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.
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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 — Republicans fail to garner enough support to avoid threat of filibuster — WASHINGTON - The Senate blocked oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge Wednesday, rejecting a measure that had been put into a must-pass defense spending bill in an attempt to garner wider support.
Discussion:
firedoglake
TQA / The Questionable Authority:
Kitzcarnival — UPDATED: 21 December 2005, 10:30 am. I did miss a couple of articles last night, and there have been a few good articles posted since then. I've added a section at the end with both. — As most of you are undoubtedly aware, Judge Jones has handed down his anxiously-awaited decision …
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Panda's Thumb, Scrivener's Error, Althouse, The Reaction and Science And Politics
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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 …
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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 …
Discussion:
The Washington Monthly, Right Wing News, In From the Cold, Daily Pundit, Power Line and Sister Toldjah
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 …
Discussion:
New York Times, firedoglake, The Reality-Based Community, Taegan Goddard's …, Daily Kos and Preemptive Karma
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 …
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 …
