Top Items:
Steven R. Weisman / New York Times:
Rice Admits U.S. Underestimated Hamas Strength — LONDON, Jan. 29 — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that the United States had failed to understand the depth of hostility among Palestinians toward their longtime leaders. The hostility led to an election victory …
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John O'Neil / New York Times:
Abbas and Hamas Leader Call for Continuation of Aid — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and a leader of Hamas today both called for a continuation of foreign aid. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the European Union responded that Hamas must renounce violence and accept Israel's right …
Scott Shiloh / Arutz Sheva:
Mofaz: Hamas Acting Responsibly; Hamas: Israel Must Change Flag — Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the Israeli cabinet on Sunday that since the election Hamas was acting responsibly. Shortly afterwards, a senior Hamas official called on Israel to change its flag.
Debra Burlingame / Opinion Journal:
Our Right to Security — Al Qaeda, not the FBI, is the greater threat to America. — One of the most excruciating images of the September 11 attacks is the sight of a man who was trapped in one of the World Trade Center towers. Stripped of his suit jacket and tie and hanging on to what appears …
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Philip Bobbitt / New York Times:
Why We Listen — IN the debate over whether the National Security Agency's eavesdropping violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, we must not lose sight of the fact that the world we entered on 9/11 will require rewriting that statute and other laws.
David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:
In Alito, G.O.P. Reaps Harvest Planted in '82 — Last February, as rumors swirled about the failing health of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, a team of conservative grass-roots organizers, public relations specialists and legal strategists met to prepare a battle plan to ensure any vacancies were filled by like-minded jurists.
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Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:
Corruption Scandals Cast Shadow on GOP Leadership Race — In eight concise paragraphs, two moderate and two conservative House Republicans put into writing last week what they say many of their colleagues quietly fear: the GOP's plunging poll numbers, rising public support for a Congress controlled …
Discussion:
Hotline On Call, tapscottscopydesk.blogspot.com, The Next Hurrah, AMERICAblog, Hoffmania! and Stygius
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John Fund / Opinion Journal:The Republican Soul — Tom DeLay's predecessor talks about how to reclaim it.
Discussion:
QandO
Associated Press:
Exxon Mobil Sees Record Profit for U.S. Co. — IRVING, Texas - Exxon Mobil Corp. posted record profits for any U.S. company on Monday — $10.71 billion for the fourth quarter and $36.13 billion for the year — as the world's biggest publicly traded oil company benefited from high oil and gas prices and demand for refined products.
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Budget to Hurt Poor People on Medicaid, Report Says — WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 — Millions of low-income people would have to pay more for health care under a bill worked out by Congress, and some of them would forgo care or drop out of Medicaid because of the higher co-payments and premiums …
Michelle Malkin:
PHOTO OF THE DAY — Yahoo!/AP caption: In this photo released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez embraces visiting U.S. peace activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, during his national broadcast 'Hello President' in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006.
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Shankar Vedantam / Washington Post:
Study Ties Political Leanings to Hidden Biases — Put a group of people together at a party and observe how they behave. Differently than when they are alone? Differently than when they are with family? What if they're in a stadium instead of at a party? What if they're all men?
New York Times:
An Enron Jury Free of Grudges? Easy, Judge Says — HOUSTON, Jan. 29 — Chances are that in this city's pool of 2.3 million registered voters, there are at least 16 people who are not angry about the implosion of Enron, the largest business collapse in history. But finding them in a single day could be a challenge.
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Jonathan Finer / Washington Post:
ABC Team Stabilized After Iraq Convoy Hit — BAGHDAD, Jan. 29 — A co-anchor of ABC's "World News Tonight" and an ABC cameraman suffered serious head wounds Sunday in a roadside bomb attack in Taji, north of Baghdad. They were stabilized at a military hospital and were later flown to Germany …
Discussion:
Rantingprofs, mediabistro, Informed Comment, Donklephant, The Moderate Voice and Conglomerate Blog
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MSNBC:
Cartoons bring Muslim wrath on Denmark — Government warns citizens not to visit Saudi Arabia amid protests — COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Denmark warned citizens on Monday not to go to Saudi Arabia and Gaza gunmen said any Danes or Norwegians who came there would face attack …
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Michael Kinsley / Slate:
Kick Me, I'm a Democrat — The game politicians play. — It seems to be time once again to play Kick the Democrats. Everyone can play, including Democrats. The rules are simple. When Republicans lose elections, it is because they didn't get enough votes.
Joby Warrick / Washington Post:
Interior Offered Extensive Katrina Aid — FEMA Ignored Proposals or Didn't Use Resources Effectively, Department Says — Hundreds of federal search-and-rescue workers and large numbers of boats, aircraft and bulldozers were offered to FEMA in the hours immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit …
Craig Whitlock / Washington Post:
Al Qaeda Detainee's Mysterious Release — Moroccan Spoke Of Aiding Bin Laden During 2001 Escape — RABAT, Morocco — For more than a decade, Osama bin Laden had few soldiers more devoted than Abdallah Tabarak. A former Moroccan transit worker, Tabarak served as a bodyguard for the al Qaeda leader …
Discussion:
The Counterterrorism Blog, Booman Tribune, the talking dog, Body and Soul, Brilliant at Breakfast and Daily Kos
Washington Post:
Swann's Popularity Has a Downside for Some Pennsylvania Republicans — Former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Lynn Swann, who is hoping to be the Republican nominee in this year's Pennsylvania governor's race, is giving Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell more than a run for his money in the latest polls.
