Top Items:
The Big Trunk / Power Line:
THE TIMES AND THE LAW — Since the New York Times published the Risen/Lichtblau NSA story on December 16, we have cited the federal law that makes the disclosures on which the story is based a crime. The federal law is 18 U.S.C. § 798, a law that precisely prohibits leaks of the type …
RELATED ITEMS:
David Ensor / CNN:
NSA: Amanpour, other CNN reporters not targeted for surveillance — WASHINGTON (CNN) — A senior U.S. intelligence official told CNN on Thursday that the National Security Agency did not target CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour or any other CNN journalist for surveillance.
John / AMERICAblog:
CNN covers Amanpour spy story — Ok, CNN just did the story. Here's the quick summary: — Jacki "Blog Chick" Schechner did a good summary of how the story broke online. Then national security correspondent David Ensor gave his report. And it was, uh, a bit surreal.
Discussion:
The Hotline's Blogometer, TAPPED, The Indepundit, Factesque, War and Piece and Alternate Brain
Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:Let Me Help With This Non-Denial — Was Christiane Amanpour spied upon?
Discussion:
Elephants in Academia, QandO, Media Blog on National …, CNN, Decision '08 and The American Thinker
Glenn Greenwald / Hullabaloo:Hanging the Messenger — Atrios asked this question yesterday:
Discussion:
Sadly, No!
Christopher Hitchens / Slate:
What Sharon Did — The Bulldozer's long, brutal career ended better than anyone expected. — On the day after Ariel Sharon's massive stroke, it's not difficult to remember a time when the news of his demise would have been, not to be too callous about it, something that would have been welcomed …
Discussion:
Austin Bay Blog, Kesher Talk, Boker tov, Boulder!, Decision '08, Yourish.com, Legal Fiction and Air America Radio
RELATED ITEMS:
Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:A Calamity for Israel — The stroke suffered by Israeli Prime …
Discussion:
CNN, Haaretz, New York Times, TAPPED, Yourish.com, Gates of Vienna, Vodkapundit, Oliver Kamm, The Political Pit Bull, All Things Beautiful and Betsy's Page
E. J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
Abramoff and His Vanishing Friends — It almost makes you feel sorry for Jack Abramoff. — Republicans once fell all over themselves to get his "moolah," the term used famously by the disgraced superlobbyist, and to get his advice on dealing with that warm and cuddly entity known as "the lobbying community."
RELATED ITEMS:
Opinion Journal:
Cleaning House — Banish the Abramoff Republicans. — This week's plea agreement by "super-lobbyist" Jack Abramoff has Republicans either rushing to return his campaign contributions in an act of cosmetic distancing, accuse Democrats of being equally corrupt, or embrace some new …
Discussion:
The RCP Blog, The Strata-Sphere, Balloon Juice, Slate, Hit and Run, sisu and Shot In The Dark
Timothy J. Burger / Time:
Disgraced Congressman 'Wore a Wire' — Sources tell TIME that Duke Cunningham wore a wire after agreeing to cooperate with a graft probe — Washington's power players have always bragged about being well-wired, but for disgraced former congressman Duke Cunningham, "wired" wasn't just a figure of speech.
Charles Babington / Washington Post:
Senators to Demand Full Answers From Alito — Democrats Signal Willingness to Delay Final Vote on Supreme Court Confirmation — Senate Democrats warned Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. yesterday to expect pointed questions at next week's hearing, and said they may postpone …
RELATED ITEMS:
Eric Schmitt / New York Times:
Iraq Facing Hurdles, U.S. General Warns — CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Jan. 4 - The top American operational commander in Iraq has offered a sober assessment of the hurdles facing a new Iraqi government, voicing concerns that sectarian rivalries and incompetence could cripple major ministries …
Discussion:
american footprints, Rantingprofs, The Left Coaster, The Heretik, Middle Earth Journal and TAPPED
RELATED ITEMS:
David E. Sanger / New York Times:
Visited by a Host of Administrations Past, Bush Hears Some Chastening Words — President Bush Thursday with present and former secretaries of state and defense. From left: Harold Brown, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, James A. Baker III, Colin L. Powell, James R. Schlesinger, Donald H. Rumsfeld …
RELATED ITEM:
Al Kamen / Washington Post:
Scooter Finds Fellowship at the Hudson Institute — I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby , chief of staff and national security adviser to Vice President Cheney until that indictment unpleasantness a few months ago, has found a new perch as he awaits trial. — Libby is joining the Hudson Institute …
RELATED ITEM:
thenewstribune.com:
IRS tracked taxpayers' political affiliation — WASHINGTON - As it hunted down tax scofflaws, the Internal Revenue Service collected information on the political party affiliations of taxpayers in 20 states. — Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a member of an appropriations subcommittee …
Kimberly Hefling / Associated Press:
Murtha Denies Causing Recruitment Woes — WASHINGTON - Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record) says the military is blaming him for a recruitment slump instead of recognizing mistakes that have led to an enlistment shortage. — "They're trying to direct attention away from their problems …
RELATED ITEM:
Scott Shane / New York Times:
Republican Senator Defends Briefings on Domestic Spying — WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 - In a sign of growing partisan division over domestic eavesdropping, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday defended the Bush administration's limited briefings for Congress …
RELATED ITEM:
New York Times:
Coal's Power Over Politicians — As inspectors delve into the deadly mine disaster in Sago, W.Va., their starting premise must be that the explosion that choked off 12 workers' lives would never have happened if all the safety rules now on the books had been properly enforced.
RELATED ITEM:
Nicholas Wade / New York Times:
DNA Offers New Insight Concerning Cat Evolution — Researchers have gained a major insight into the evolution of cats by showing how they migrated to new continents and developed new species as sea levels rose and fell. — About nine million years ago - two million years after the cat family …
Omar Sinan / Associated Press:
Al-Qaida Touts U.S. Troop Cuts in Iraq — CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, said in a videotape aired Friday that the United States' recent decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq represented "the victory of Islam." — Al-Zawahri, wearing a white turban and gray robe …
Sam Dillon / New York Times:
Florida Supreme Court Blocks School Vouchers — In a ruling expected to reverberate through battles over school choice in many states, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a voucher program yesterday for students attending failing schools, saying the State Constitution bars Florida …
