Top Items:
Haaretz:
Ehud Olmert taking over prime ministerial powers — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a "significant" stroke with "massive bleeding" in his brain late Wednesday night, according to a Hadassah University Hospital official, and Sharon's authority has been transferred to Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
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Steve Weizman / Associated Press:
Sharon Sent Back Into Operating Room — JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent hours of surgery after suffering a massive, life-threatening stroke, but he was returned to the operating room Thursday after a brain scan revealed he required more treatment. Powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert.
Associated Press:
Palestinians Enter Egypt After Border Smash — RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Hundreds of angry Palestinians streamed into Egypt on Wednesday after militants with stolen bulldozers broke through a border wall, and two Egyptian troops were killed and 30 were wounded by gunfire in the rampage.
Jerusalem Post:
Jibril: Sharon illness is 'God's gift' — Pan-Arab satellite television broadcasters beamed out largely straightforward, nonstop live coverage early Thursday from outside the hospital where Prime Minister Ariel Sharon struggled for his life. — But a radical Palestinian leader in Damascus …
Steve Weizman / Associated Press:Israel's Sharon Suffers Massive Stroke
Discussion:
Kesher Talk, All Things Beautiful, The Political Pit Bull, Associated Press, Yourish.com, neo-neocon, The RCP Blog and TigerHawk
Omri / Mere Rhetoric:Disaster — All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Sharon, his family, and Israel.
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:Palestinian Gratitude — After having their daughter give …
Discussion:
Vodkapundit
John / AMERICAblog:
NBC confirms it's investigating whether Bush spied on CNN's Christiane Amanpour — That is the only way to read NBC's just-issued statement on why they deleted key portions of Andrea Mitchell's interview after we reported on it here earlier today. — [Background: We reported earlier today …
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Brian / mediabistro.com:
NBC Removed Reference To Amanpour To "Further Continue Our Inquiry" — Yesterday, MSNBC.com published a transcript of Andrea Mitchell's interview with author James Risen about the CIA's domestic spying program. In it, Mitchell asked Risen if he had uncovered evidence that CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour was eavesdropped upon.
Will / Attytood:
Was Christiane Amanpour spied on — and more importantly, if so, why? — "Given the choice, it's better to be viewed as a foot soldier for Bush than a spokeswoman for al-Qaeda." — Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti, referring to CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Sept. 14, 2003.
Bill Gertz / Washington Times:
NSA whistleblower asks to testify — A former National Security Agency official wants to tell Congress about electronic intelligence programs that he asserts were carried out illegally by the NSA and the Defense Intelligence Agency. — Russ Tice, a whistleblower who was dismissed from the NSA last year …
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Carol D. Leonnig / Washington Post:
Surveillance Court Is Seeking Answers — The members of a secret federal court that oversees government surveillance in espionage and terrorism cases are scheduled to receive a classified briefing Monday from top Justice Department and intelligence officials about a controversial warrantless …
Katherine Shrader / Associated Press:
White House Told NSA Briefings Broke Law — WASHINGTON - The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee told President Bush Wednesday that the White House broke the law by withholding information from the full congressional oversight committees about a new domestic surveillance program.
Patricia Wilson / Reuters:Cheney strongly backs eavesdropping operation
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report, AMERICAblog, Shakespeare's Sister, Big Brass Blog and The American Street
National Review:
Don't Delay, DeLay — Since 1994 Tom DeLay has led the Republican House majority ably and loyally. Now he needs to perform yet another act of service by not seeking to return as majority leader. — We have been among DeLay's staunchest defenders in his battle with Ronnie Earle.
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David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:
Liberal Groups to Release Ads Attacking Court Pick — WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 - The battle over the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. turned personal Wednesday with the announcement of new commercials that sharply escalated liberal attacks on him, moving beyond his legal views …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters
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Associated Press:Alito gets 'well-qualified' rating from American Bar Association
Discussion:
Confirm Them
Laurie Goodstein / New York Times:Minister, a Bush Ally, Gives Church as Site for Alito Rally
Discussion:
Sirotablog
White House:
Personnel Announcement — President George W. Bush today recess appointed the following individuals: — Floyd Hall, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the AMTRAK Reform Board. — Enrique J. Sosa, of Florida, to be a Member of the AMTRAK Reform Board. — Nadine Hogan, of Florida …
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Thomas B. Edsall / Washington Post:Bush Appointments Avert Senate Battles
Discussion:
Middle Earth Journal
Crooks and Liars:
Letterman to O'Reilly: "60% of what you say is crap" — Letterman to O'Reilly: "60% of what you say is crap" — Bill joined David last night on the Late Show and found that Letterman wasn't buying his phony war on Christmas deal. David also wasn't happy about his attacking Cindy Sheehan …
Peter Jackson / Associated Press:
Lynn Swann Says He'll Run for Pa. Governor — PITTSBURGH - Former Steelers star Lynn Swann declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor Wednesday in the city where he made his name in professional football. — He told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday afternoon …
Neal Lawson / Guardian:
Labour has run into the sand and can't depend on Brown to dig it out — The right response to the new Tory threat is to take on the wealth of ideas on the left, not to be more cautious — This is shaping up to be the most tumultuous year for Labour since 1994.
Discussion:
Harry's Place
