Top Items:
Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Despite Advocacy, Alito Is Not on Public's Radar Screen — Until Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) gaveled the confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to order yesterday, the battle over Alito's nomination had been a shouting match between partisans.
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John O'Sullivan / Chicago Sun Times:
Dems off to bad start at Alito hearings — If the Democrats seriously wish to secure the rejection of Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, then they made a very bad start with Monday's hearings. Only by making Alito deeply unpopular with the American people …
Washington Times:
The closing of Ted Kennedy's mind — Something unusual happened on the way to this week's nomination hearings for Judge Samuel Alito: Reporters scoffed at the ridiculousness of Sen. Ted Kennedy. Notably, one columnist called his antics "meandering and listless" and suggested Mr. Kennedy is beyond his prime.
Sam Rosenfeld / TAPPED:ALITO FATALISM. The Sam Alito hearings begin today …
Discussion:
firedoglake, tpmcafe.com, Crooks and Liars, The Fix, Lawyers, Guns and Money, No More Mister Nice Blog and Lean Left
New York Times:Alito Tells Senators That 'Rule of Law' Is Paramount
Discussion:
Campaign for the Supreme Court, Concurring Opinions, SCOTUSblog, NewsBusters.org and Daily Kos
Jesse J. Holland / Associated Press:Alito Pledges to Do What the Law Requires
Discussion:
Confederate Yankee
George F. Will / Washington Post:
For the House GOP, A Belated Evolution — Before evolution produced creatures of our perfection, there was a three-ton dinosaur, the stegosaurus, so neurologically sluggish that when its tail was injured, significant time elapsed before news of the trauma meandered up its long spine to its walnut-size brain.
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USA Today:
Most consider lobbying scandal a big deal, poll shows — WASHINGTON — Americans are paying close attention to the lobbying scandal in the Capitol and say corruption in government will play a big role in their vote for Congress in November — more important than Social Security, taxes, abortion or immigration.
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New York Times:
Ignoring Protests, Iran Resumes Nuclear Program — Defying its European partners and the United States, Iran reopened its vast uranium enrichment complex today, resuming nuclear activities that it suspended 14 months ago, according to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.
Discussion:
The Corner on National …, TAPPED, Elephants in Academia, Gateway Pundit, Decision '08, Classical Values and Donklephant
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Ellen Knickmeyer / Washington Post:
In Ambush Lasting Seconds, U.S. Reporter in Iraq Becomes Hostage — BAGHDAD, Jan. 9 — The call came from reporter Jill Carroll's cell phone, from a young, wary-sounding Iraqi man who said he had just picked up the phone from a sprawled body on a Baghdad street.
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Roger Alford / Opinio Juris:
Most Popular Law Blogs — There is great commentary today at Prawfsblawg, Concurring Opinions, and Tax Prof Blog on the topic of law blogging. In light of that discussion, I thought it might be interesting to know what are the most popular law blogs based on traffic reports available here.
Discussion:
TaxProf Blog, Discourse.net, Concurring Opinions, Conglomerate Blog and Crescat Sententia
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Digby / Hullabaloo:
Freeping The Court — I watched the Roberts hearings and couldn't help being impressed by the guy even though I knew he was way too conservative for me. He was obviously intelligent, confident and smooth and I ended up thinking that anybody who was smart enough to keep a good distance between himself …
Discussion:
Science And Politics
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Dana Milbank / Washington Post:Bipartisan Agreement: Roberts Was Just Terrific
Discussion:
The Heretik
Carol D. Leonnig / Washington Post:
Russert Resisted Testifying on Leak — Lawyers for NBC News reporter Tim Russert suspected in the spring of 2004 that his testimony could snare Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, in a lie and Russert resisted testifying at the time about private conversations with Libby …
Washington Post:
Lobby Firm Is Scandal Casualty — Abramoff, DeLay Publicity Blamed For Shutdown — One of Washington's top lobbying operations will shut down at the end of the month because of its ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former House majority leader Tom DeLay.
Discussion:
The Left Coaster, Talking Points Memo, The All Spin Zone, Wonkette and Air America Radio
Peter S. Goodman / Washington Post:
China Set To Reduce Exposure To Dollar — SHANGHAI, Jan. 9 — China has resolved to shift some of its foreign exchange reserves — now in excess of $800 billion — away from the U.S. dollar and into other world currencies in a move likely to push down the value of the greenback …
Discussion:
Brilliant at Breakfast
Reuel Marc Gerecht / Washington Post:
'Hearts and Minds' in Iraq — As History Shows, Ideas Matter More Than Who Pays to Promote Them — Once again we are confronted with stories about how the Pentagon and its ubiquitous private contractors are undermining free inquiry in Iraq. "Muslim Scholars Were Paid to Aid U.S. Propaganda," reports the New York Times.
Washington Post:
Record Share Of Economy Is Spent on Health Care — Rising health care costs, already threatening many basic industries, now consume 16 percent of the nation's economic output — the highest proportion ever, the government said yesterday in its latest calculation.
Eric Lichtblau / New York Times:
Judges and Justice Dept. Meet Over Eavesdropping Program — WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 - The Justice Department held an unusual closed-door briefing Monday for judges on a secret foreign-intelligence court in response to concerns about President Bush's decision to allow domestic eavesdropping without warrants.
