memeorandum: The Trouble With Heroic Conservatism, Cont. (The Atlantic Online)

6:30 PM ET, November 28, 2007

Top Items:

Giuliani billed obscure agencies for trips — As New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses amassed during the time when he was beginning an extramarital relationship with future wife Judith Nathan in the Hamptons …

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:

Hillary And Obama Campaigns At War Over Bill's Iraq Comments — Bill Clinton's surprising claim yesterday that he opposed the Iraq war "from the beginning" has ignited a kind of research war between the Hillary and Obama campaigns, with both sides digging deep into the public record …

Discussion: Eschaton, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Page, Interesting Times, The Atlantic Online and Cassy Fiano

Ron Fournier / Associated Press:

ON DEADLINE: "Good Bill" vs "Bad Bill" — DES MOINES, Iowa - As only he can do, Bill Clinton packed campaign venues across eastern Iowa and awed Democratic voters with a compelling case for his wife's candidacy. He was unscripted, in-depth and generous. — He also was long-winded, misleading and self-absorbed.

Discussion: New York Times, TIME and Assorted Babble

Anne E. Kornblut / The Trail:

Bill Clinton Says He Opposed Iraq War From the Outset — Former president Bill Clinton said on Tuesday that he "opposed Iraq from the beginning," apparently glossing over the more nuanced views of the war he has expressed over time. Clinton made the remarks while campaigning for his wife in Iowa …

Discussion: Salon, Don Surber, TownHall Blog, NewsBusters.org, Booman Tribune, Comments from Left Field, Flopping Aces, Jules Crittenden, Captain's Quarters, Macsmind, The Corner and Liberty Pundit

Byron York / The Corner:

South Carolina Poll: Mitt, Huck Up, Rudy Cratering, Race Super-Volatile — Greetings from Clemson, South Carolina, where John McCain is scheduled to make an appearance this morning before heading to Florida for the YouTube debate. — But the big news here is a new Palmetto Poll …

Discussion: CNN, New York Times, Power Line, Comments from Left Field, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Hot Air, DownWithTyranny!, PrairiePundit and Pollster.com

Democratic National Committee:

DNC Launches FlipperTV — As the Republican presidential candidates prepare to finally answer questions tonight directly from the American people at the CNN/YouTube debate, the Democratic National Committee launched FlipperTV, a unique, new online video tool that is part of the DNC's ongoing efforts …

Discussion: The Caucus, michellemalkin.com, Democrats.com, Riehl World View, BitsBlog and MyDD

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Why (and How) Huckabee Can Win Iowa — The rise of Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee in the Iowa polls over the past month reveals (yet again) the incredible level of fluidity that exists in the GOP nomination fight. — The latest Washington Post-ABC News survey and a series …

Discussion: Southern Political Report, Power Line, The Anonymous Liberal, Democratic Strategist, Political Machine and Pollster.com

John R. Wilke / Wall Street Journal:

Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself — Bloch Used Private Company, — Geeks on Call, to Delete Files — On His Office Computer — WASHINGTON — The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Salon, The Newshoggers, The American Street, Wonkette, On Deadline, The Impolitic, Corrente, The Swamp, The Next Hurrah, Shakespeare's Sister, Prairie Weather, Think Progress and Suitably Flip

Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:
Today's Must Read

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Threat Level, Talking Points Memo and CANNONFIRE

Associated Press:

GOP will demand 'oath' of February primary voters — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — If you're planning to vote in Virginia's February Republican presidential primary, be prepared to sign an oath swearing your Republican loyalty. — The State Board of Elections on Monday approved a state Republican Party request …

Discussion: The Opinionator, The Democratic Daily, The Carpetbagger Report, The Newshoggers, Wonkette, Shakespeare's Sister and TPM Election Central

The Roanoke Times:
The GOP accepts no presidential dissent

Discussion: Salon

Faiz / Think Progress:

John Ashcroft: I'm Willing To Be Waterboarded — Last night, former Attorney General John Ashcroft delivered an address on national security at the University of Colorado. The event was marked by heated protests. About 20 student protesters wearing "shirts with 'shame' written on the backs …

Discussion: Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post, Wonkette, The Huffington Post, Firedoglake, NYT and Big Head DC

Sarah Lai Stirland / Wired News:

CNN-YouTube Debate Producer Doubts the Wisdom of the Crowd — As Republican presidential contenders brace for Wednesday's CNN-YouTube debate, the executive in charge of the event is unapologetic about his decision to put mainstream journalists in charge of deciding which user-contributed YouTube videos …

Discussion: CNN, Think Progress, The Huffington Post, Suitably Flip, Pajamas Media, michellemalkin.com, National Review, Middle Earth Journal, ScrappleFace, First Draft, Wall Street Journal, techPresident, TownHall Blog, TIME: Swampland and Say Anything

Garrett M. Graff / The Politico:
The GOP and 'the Internets'

Discussion: Personal Democracy Forum, Threat Level and Cheat Seeking Missiles

CNN:

Teacher charged in teddy bear case — KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) — A British teacher arrested in Sudan after allowing her class to name a teddy bear "Mohammed" has been charged by authorities with offending religion, British officials say. — Gillian Gibbons, 54, is being held by police …

Discussion: Fox News, FP Passport, The Impolitic, Daily Pundit and On Deadline

Munir Ahmad / Associated Press:

Tearful Musharraf retires as army chief — RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - A tearful Pervez Musharraf ended a four-decade military career Wednesday, giving up his army commander's ceremonial baton on the eve of taking an oath as the purely civilian president of Pakistan.

Arthur Keller / New York Times:
Caution: Taliban Crossing

Discussion: PrairiePundit and democracyarsenal.org

Reuters:

Venezuela Chavez: CNN may be instigating my murder — CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday CNN may have been instigating his murder when the U.S. TV network showed a photograph of him with a label underneath that read "Who killed him?"

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, NewsBusters.org, Assorted Babble, JammieWearingFool, Babalu Blog, michellemalkin.com and Hot Air

Logan Murphy / Crooks and Liars:

Turley: "It Is Rather Clear That What The President Ordered Was A Federal Crime" — The Bush administration has been using the "state secrets" defense in order to have federal law suits challenging their illegal eavesdropping programs thrown out of court. So far, they have been successful …

Discussion: The American Street

Greg Sargent / Horses Mouth:

WaPo Edit Page Says White House Outreach To Syria Might Work — After Blasting Pelosi For Same Thing — This is pretty striking, even by Fred Hiatt's ever plummeting standards. — As you may recall, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last spring …

Amanda Carpenter / Townhall.com:

Signs Hillary Will Tap Clark as VP — Hillary Clinton has been working closely with decorated anti-war retired Gen. Wesley Clark on foreign policy, fueling rumors he could be vice-president on a "Clinton-Clark" ticket in 2008. — In recent months Clark has joined Clinton several times …

WSET-TV:

Falwell Family Endorses Mike Huckabee for President — Lynchburg, VA - He's huge in Iowa, and making headlines everyday. Now a contender for the Republican presidential bid is in the Hill City. Governor Mike Huckabee spoke at Convocation at Liberty University (website) Wednesday morning.

Discussion: The Trail, Mike Huckabee for President, Stop The ACLU and National Review

pmw.org.il:

Palestinian Authority TV shows" Palestine" map erasing Israel — Just a day after Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the Annapolis peace conference pledged to negotiate a peace treaty by the end of 2008, Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority continues to paint a picture for its people of a world without Israel.