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11:30 PM ET, January 1, 2009

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Ben Protess— Propublica / The Politico:
Burris sought death for innocent man  —  Former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, is no stranger to controversy.  —  Public fury over the governor's alleged misconduct has masked the once lively debate …
RELATED:
Ian Welsh / Firedoglake:
Harry Reid's Doing the Right Thing  —  digg it  —  I've had my problems with Reid over the years, but he's not in the wrong on Blagojevich and Burris.  This is not a racial issue.  Long before Burris, a black man, was appointed by a corrupt governor, Reid said he wouldn't allow anyone, anyone, appointed by Blagojevich, to be seated.
Chicago Tribune:
Roland Burris battles roadblocks to U.S. Senate; stall tactics likely by others  —  Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to replace Barack Obama vows to avoid scene in Washington  —  WASHINGTON — As U.S. Senate leadership developed an elaborate set of contingency plans Wednesday to keep Roland Burris …
Slate:
How the Senate Can Stop Blagojevich  —  It easily has the power to block the governor's appointment of Roland Burris.  —  Does the Constitution allow the Senate to refuse to seat Roland Burris, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's surprise appointee?  In a word, yes.  Here's why.
Bmaz / Emptywheel:
The Ugly Legal Optics Of Harry Reid's Burris Battle  —  Earlier this morning, Jane wrote a fantastic post, “Burris and Blago: What Happens Now?”, that lays out most all of the concerns with the obstreperous position taken by Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership.
Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
AN OCCUPIED NATION AND A THREATENED ONE.  —  This blog is on a light schedule today and tomorrow due to various New Years related program activities, but it's worth quickly responding to Jonathan Chait's post on Israel and Palestine.  Chait makes a common claim, which is that all analysis …
RELATED:
Oliver Kay / Times of London:
Gaza rockets put Israel's nuclear plant in battle zone  —  Growing concern over Hamas's new arsenal  —  There were growing fears in Israel last night that Hamas missiles could threaten its top-secret nuclear facility at Dimona.  —  Rocket attacks from Gaza have forced Israelis to flee …
Rosa Brooks / Los Angeles Times:
Israel can't bomb its way to peace  —  The assault on Gaza has more to do with internal politics than its national security.  The U.S. needs to reengage forcefully in a Mideast peace process.  —  It's a new year in an old and bloody world.  —  In Israel, politicians jockeying for power …
Discussion: Soccer Dad
Rasmussen Reports:
Americans Closely Divided Over Israel's Gaza Attacks
Discussion: Israel Matzav and Daled Amos
The Politico:
Obama's paparazzi presidency  —  ABC's Jake Tapper predicted this week that Barack Obama will be “the Britney Spears of 2009.”  —  Considering that Obama was deemed by some to be the Britney Spears of 2008, it wasn't much of a leap.  —  But a funny thing happened on the way to the cover of Us Weekly.
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
A Caretaker for New York  —  Looks like David Patterson may just kick the can down the road: … That's probably a decent idea.  But I have to say that in my view both the Illinois situation, the Delaware situation, and the New York situation all basically serve to illustrate the over-arching point …
RELATED:
James Randerson / Guardian:
Nasa's James Hansen warns Barack Obama on climate change  —  Current approaches to deal with climate change are ineffectual, one of the world's top climate scientists said today in a personal new year appeal to Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on the urgent need to tackle global warming.
New York Times:
Donald E. Westlake, Mystery Writer, Is Dead at 75  —  Donald E. Westlake, a prolific, award-winning mystery novelist who pounded out more than 100 books and five screenplays on manual typewriters during his half-century career, died Wednesday night.  He was 75.
Discussion: Amygdala, The Corner and Crooked Timber
Patrick Healy / MSNBC:
Calif. Taxpayers Due Refunds May Get IOUs  —  If you expect you'll be getting a refund from California when you file your 2008 state income tax return, be prepared: you may instead receive a “registered warrant.”  Translation: an IOU.  —  California is rapidly running out of money.
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
On Fast Track for Clemency, via the Oval Office  —  WASHINGTON — In December 2007, the names of about 700 federal prisoners seeking commutations reached President Bush's desk.  He rejected all but one.  Among the disappointed petitioners was Reed R. Prior, an Iowa man serving a life sentence …
Discussion: Washington Monthly and Spin Cycle
Ernesto Londoño / Washington Post:
At Midnight, U.S. Leaves Republican Palace, Green Zone to Iraqis  —  The walls of the majestic Republican Palace in Baghdad's Green Zone have been stripped bare.  The vaults that secured American cash and classified documents are gone, and the cement blast walls that protected the front entrance were taken down this week.
RELATED:
Phil Nourie / PR Newswire:
Poll: 77% of Americans Blame Media for Making Economic Crisis Worse  — New Poll Conducted by Opinion Research Corporation -  —  Seventy-seven percent of Americans believe that the U.S. media is making the economic situation worse by projecting fear into people's minds.
Discussion: RedState and NewsBusters.org
Swaraaj Chauhan / The Moderate Voice:
Australia: To Bare Or Not To Bare  —  Sydney's Bondy Beach is among a few designated beaches in Australia where top-less bathers are permitted to enjoy the sun, sand and the sea.  In fact such beaches are a major draw for tourists too!!!  But as Australians begin their long summer holidays this year …
 
 
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 More Items: 
Patterico's Pontifications:
Patterico's Los Angeles Dog Trainer Year in Review 2008
Discussion: JOSHUAPUNDIT and Reuters
Esther / Islam in Europe:
Odense: Danish-Arab arrested for shooting attack
Discussion: Associated Press
Little Green Footballs:
Report on Palestinian Rocket and Mortar Attacks
Discussion: NewsBusters.org
John E. Mulligan / Providence Journal:
Former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, 90, dies
Discussion: Daily Kos and Wonkette
Damien Cave / New York Times:
Grief Marks Anniversary of Triumph of Castro
Discussion: Power Line
 Earlier Items: 
Michelle Malkin:
First hate mail of 2009  —  Someone told me about your blog today (michellemalkin.com).
Discussion: The Sundries Shack
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
The Champions Of 2008  —  Your pick for best Mental Health Break …
Front Page Magazine:
Man of the Year: Geert Wilders
Discussion: Jihad Watch and Atlas Shrugs