Top Items:
New York Times:
Obama's Effort on Ethics Bill Had Role in Governor's Fall — In a sequence of events that neatly captures the contradictions of Barack Obama's rise through Illinois politics, a phone call he made three months ago to urge passage of a state ethics bill indirectly contributed to the downfall …
Discussion:
Marc Ambinder, Washington Post, protein wisdom, The Swamp, Ben Smith's Blogs, NewsBusters.org, Slate, New York Times, Whiskey Fire, Chicago Business, The Hill, Sweetness & Light, Washington Monthly, Right Wing Nut House, Gawker, The Politico, Weekly Standard, The Gun Toting Liberal, Portfolio, On Deadline, Becoming 44, The Note, Philly.com, Political Machine, Jules Crittenden, National Review, Brilliant at Breakfast, Fausta's Blog, George's Bottom Line, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Prairie Weather, The Caucus, Commentary, Gateway Pundit and Firedoglake
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The Politico:
In scandal, risks for Obama — At first blush, Barack Obama comes out of the Rod Blagojevich scandal smelling like a rose. The prosecutor at a news conference seemed to give the president-elect a seal of approval, and the Illinois governor himself was caught on tape complaining that Obama was not interested in crooked schemes.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Caucus, Cold Fury, New York Times, TPM Election Central, Comments from Left Field and Associated Press
Chicago Tribune:
Barack Obama plans to reach out to Muslim world — In exclusive interview, he says he plans to be sworn in like every other president, using his full name: Barack Hussein Obama — Barack Obama says his heart will remain in Chicago, even as he moves to Washington. (Alex Garcia / Tribune / December 9, 2008)
Discussion:
Townhall.com, Los Angeles Times, The Swamp, Soccer Dad, The Hill, TPM Election Central, TIME.com, Fausta's Blog, Riehl World View and JammieWearingFool
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Text of Obama's first newspaper interview as president-elect — In his first post-election newspaper interview, President-elect Barack Obama doesn't spill all the beans about his intentions upon taking office on Jan. 20. — But he does reveal some interesting details.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, Marc Ambinder, The Campaign Spot, Political Punch and Real Clear Politics
Susan Saulny / New York Times:
Portrait of a Politician: Vengeful and Profane — CHICAGO — Little in Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's background prepared the people of Illinois for the man who was revealed in the criminal complaint that dropped like a bombshell here on Tuesday. Delusional, narcissistic, vengeful and profane …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, JustOneMinute, protein wisdom, Likelihood of Success, The Volokh Conspiracy, marbury and Slate
Stacy St. Clair / Chicago Tribune:
Governor's wife supported his pay-to-play Senate scheme, complaint alleges — Patricia Blagojevich uncharged but allegedly recorded urging Tribune firings — An unflattering portrait depicting Illinois First Lady Patricia Blagojevich as a modern-day Lady Macbeth who plotted …
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Minority Report, BuzzFlash.org, TIME.com and Chicago Breaking News
The Politico:Blagojevich scandal will test Obama
Discussion:
Associated Press, MSNBC, Democrats.com, TIME.com, Time, George's Bottom Line, marbury and Political Punch
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
$73 an Hour: Adding It Up — Seventy-three dollars an hour. — That figure — repeated on television and in newspapers as the average pay of a Big Three autoworker — has become a big symbol in the fight over what should happen to Detroit. To critics, it is a neat encapsulation …
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Jesse McKinley / New York Times:
Gay Marriage Ban Inspires New Wave of Activists — SAN FRANCISCO — They're calling it Stonewall 2.0. — Outraged by California voters' ban on same-sex marriage, a new wave of advocates, shaken out of a generational apathy, have pushed to the forefront of the gay rights movement …
Discussion:
Bark Bark Woof Woof
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Dave Orrick / TwinCities.com:
FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman ally, source says — Source: Inquiry involves alleged attempt to steer money toward senator — Federal investigators are looking into allegations that a longtime friend and benefactor tried to steer money to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, the Pioneer Press has learned.
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
THE INEVITABLE PUSH.... It's only been 24 hours, and it's pretty obvious that reports like this one, from the AP's Liz Sidoti, are going to quickly become mind-numbing. … There's just no reason for reporting like this. Is Obama connected to Blagojevich's scandal? No, but the scandal is “threatening to dog him.”
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Liz Sidoti / Associated Press:Analysis: Scandal threatens to dog Obama
Discussion:
New York Post, Washington Post, Gateway Pundit, Hot Air, The Politico and Jules Crittenden
Joseph E. Stiglitz / Vanity Fair:
Capitalist Fools — Behind the debate over remaking U.S. financial policy will be a debate over who's to blame. It's crucial to get the history right, writes a Nobel-laureate economist, identifying five key mistakes—under Reagan, Clinton, and Bush II—and one national delusion.
Agence France Presse:
Obama plans major address in Islamic capital: interview — Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition — WASHINGTON, (AFP) - President-elect Barack Obama plans to give “a major address” in an Islamic capital soon after taking office as he seeks to mend America's image in the Muslim world …
Josh Israel / The Center for Public Integrity:
OUR BROKEN GOVERNMENT — The 2008 presidential race produced its share of philosophical and political disputes, but one broad area of agreement underlined the campaigns of both nominees: The federal government is not functioning as it should. A McCain ad began, “Washington's broken.
Los Angeles Times:
Obama speaks out in his first newspaper interview — The president-elect discusses Gov. Blagojevich, the economy, Islam and civil rights, among other topics. … Have you ever spoken to [ Illinois] Gov. [ Rod R.] Blagojevich about the Senate seat? — I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time.
Washington Post:
Pakistan Detains Extremist Leader — U.S., India Question Effort's Seriousness — For the second time in a decade, suspected Pakistani terrorist leader Masood Azhar was placed under house arrest yesterday after being linked to attacks in India. His detention, announced by Pakistan's Defense Ministry …
Daniel Engber / Slate:
Why Is Chicago So Corrupt? — And how do you measure corruption, anyway? … Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan received a sentence of six and a half years in prison on Wednesday, after being convicted on charges of racketeering, mail fraud, filing false tax returns, and lying to investigators.
Chicago Sun Times:
Madigan may take him to high court — SPRINGFIELD — If Gov. Blagojevich refuses to relinquish power and avoids impeachment, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is prepared to force his hand, aides said Tuesday. — The state's chief law enforcement officer is prepared to invoke …
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