Top Items:

Jack Abramoff's $10,000 Question — Lobbyist Jack Abramoff's Oct. 23, 2000, e-mail to his business partner Michael Scanlon was, as usual, not subtle. "Would 10K for NRCC from Suncruz for Ney help?" Scanlon shot back: "Yes, alot [sic]! But would have to give them a definate [sic] answer—and they need it this week ..."
RELATED ITEMS:

Getting the Story on Jack Abramoff — The Post's two-year investigation into lobbyist Jack Abramoff's dealings is one of the best and most explosive pieces of investigative journalism this town has seen in a long time. — The story has moved inexorably from Abramoff being a top dog lobbyist …

Lobbying: The Web Widens — Jan. 23, 2006 issue - Ohio Rep. Robert Ney personally lobbied the then Secretary of State Colin Powell to relax U.S. sanctions on Iran. Who asked him to? A convicted airplane broker who had just taken the congressman and a top aide on an expense-paid trip to London, NEWSWEEK has learned.

Wanker of the Day — Deborah Howell. — Ombudsing is hard.
Discussion:
Winds of Change.NET

Feinstein Warns Against Alito Filibuster — WASHINGTON - A Democrat who plans to vote against Samuel Alito sided on Sunday with a Republican colleague on the Senate Judiciary Committee in cautioning against a filibuster of the Supreme Court nominee. — "I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster …
RELATED ITEMS:

Remembering May, the 'gang of 14' and the vindication of various people — The New York Times surrendered this morning. On its front page we read the headline "Glum Democrats Can't See Halting Bush On Courts." The opening paragraphs say it all: … From altitude, the Democrats are losing …
Discussion:
Althouse, Power Line, PoliBlog, The Right Coast, Bark Bark Woof Woof and ProfessorBainbridge.com

Feinstein: Forget The Filibuster
Discussion:
A Chequer-Board of Nights …

Just fire the Democrats, please. All of them
Discussion:
firedoglake, The Washington Monthly, Simianbrain, PoliBlog, Middle Earth Journal, RedState, The Huffington Post, Bench Memos …, The Corner on National …, Daily Pundit, Factesque, rubber hose, Upper Left, Random Jottings, WTF Is It Now??, A Chequer-Board of Nights …, Link Mecca, Mark A. Kilmer, UNCoRRELATED and MyDD

Diplomacy and Force — Interview: The United Nations' top inspector is prepared to issue a report on Iran's nuclear program that will 'reverberate around the world.' — Jan. 23, 2006 issue - The man in the middle of the escalating tensions between Iran, Europe and the United States is Mohamed ElBaradei …
Discussion:
Guardian, AMERICAN FUTURE, NewsHog, american footprints, Clarity & Resolve and Link Mecca
RELATED ITEMS:

The origins of the Great War of 2007 - and how it could have been prevented

West is in dark ages, says Iran's President
Discussion:
Dr. Sanity, In the Bullpen, BrothersJudd Blog, A Blog For All, protein wisdom and Clarity & Resolve

The Rules Of Engagement — President Bush as Napoleon Bonaparte …
Discussion:
Think Progress, Independent, Brainster's Blog, khaleejtimes.com, AMERICAN FUTURE, The Reaction and Stop The ACLU

Bush job approval dips again to 39% New Zogby Survey shows Iraq a Partisan War — In the face of rising gas prices, partisan sniping over Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, and a resumption of insurgent violence in Iraq, President Bush's job approval rating has slipped into a post-holiday funk …

In Ga., Abramoff Scandal Threatens a Political Ascendancy — DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Ralph Reed, candidate for lieutenant governor, had just finished his opening statement to the Dawson County Republican Party when retired pulp paper executive Gary Pichon sprang from his seat with a question that cut to the chase:

Cronkite: Time for U.S. to Leave Iraq — Former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was unwinnable keenly influenced public opinion then, said Sunday he'd say the same thing today about Iraq. — "It's my belief that we should get out now," Cronkite said in a meeting with reporters.

Gonzales to testify on US domestic spying program — By Deborah Charles Fri Jan 13, 7:03 PM ET — WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on Friday he would testify in a Senate hearing to give the administration's legal justification for a secret domestic eavesdropping operation approved …
Discussion:
The Left Coaster
RELATED ITEM:

The myth that shapes Bush's world — THE PRESIDENT believes and often states, as if it were a self-evident truth, that "democracies are peaceful countries." This claim, which has been advanced in the past in regard to Christianity, socialism, Islam and ethical culture …

Anti-war activists take Pelosi to task Minority leader negotiates with lawmakers to her right — Her opposition to the Iraq war may have earned her a reputation as a radical lefty in Washington. — But when Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi came home to hold a town hall meeting …

What Is a Living Wage? — If It Happened in Baltimore, Maybe It Can Happen Anywhere — For a few weeks in the summer of 1995, Jen Kern spent her days at a table in the Library of Congress in Washington, poring over the fine print of state constitutions from around the country.

91,700 abortions in city — For every 100 babies born in New York City, women had 74 abortions in 2004, according to newly released figures that reaffirm the city as the abortion capital of the country. — And abortions for out-of-town women performed in the city increased from 57 to 70 …

Wishful Thinking — Von at Obsidian Wings has noble and timely sentiments about Iran: … Then he links to a Q-and-O post which sniffs indignantly at lefty bloggers who've done some prognosticating about how the Iran imbroglio will pan out. In a classic example of rhetorical dishonesty …
RELATED ITEM: