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The world has never seen such freezing heat — A surreal scientific blunder last week raised a huge question mark about the temperature records that underpin the worldwide alarm over global warming. On Monday, Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), which is run …
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JustOneMinute, Watts Up With That?, Hot Air, Soccer Dad, Fausta's Blog, TigerHawk, Tim Blair, Jules Crittenden, Neptunus Lex and Power Line


World Leaders Agree to Seek Major Reform — Group Pledges Cooperation to Restore Growth — World leaders holding an emergency meeting to combat the economic crisis agreed yesterday to a far-reaching action plan that, over the next 4 1/2 months, would begin to reshape international financial institutions …
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As Leaders Wrestle With Economy, Developing Nations Get Ringside Seats
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The Caucus


Across U.S., Big Rallies for Same-Sex Marriage — SAN FRANCISCO — In one of the nation's largest displays of support for gay rights, tens of thousands of people in cities across the country turned out in support of same-sex marriage on Saturday, lending their voices to an issue that many gay men …
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Exclusive: Gregory Craig to be White House counsel — Gregory B. Craig, a well-known Washington lawyer who quarterbacked President Bill Clinton's impeachment defense, has been chosen White House counsel by President-elect Barack Obama, according to Democratic officials.
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Associated Press, The Swamp, The Fix, RBO, JammieWearingFool, Emptywheel, Political Punch, Bob Cesca's Goddamn …, New York Times, Agence France Presse and Reuters

Barack Obama links Israel peace plan to 1967 borders deal — Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv and Sarah Baxter — Barack Obama is to pursue an ambitious peace plan in the Middle East involving the recognition of Israel by the Arab world in exchange for its withdrawal to pre-1967 borders …

BBC shies from fight with licence rebels — Public figures refusing to pay TV the fee are being let off to avoid making them heroes — The BBC is failing to prosecute viewers who refuse to pay the television licence on principle amid claims that the corporation fears creating a wave of “martyrs”.


Right-leaning media brace for shutout — Since the Weekly Standard launched in 1995, there's one scenario the conservative magazine hasn't yet faced: Democrats in control of both the White House and Congress. — But that's what lies ahead in just two months, leaving staffers …
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Washington Monthly


Say Goodbye to BlackBerry? Yes He Can, Maybe — WASHINGTON — Sorry, Mr. President. Please surrender your BlackBerry. — Those are seven words President-elect Barack Obama is dreading but expecting to hear, friends and advisers say, when he takes office in 65 days.

Don't Bail Out My State — South Carolina's governor says more debt isn't the answer. — I find myself in a lonely position. While many states and local governments are lining up for a bailout from Congress, I went to Washington recently to oppose such bailouts. I may be the only governor to do so.
Discussion:
The Volokh Conspiracy


WHY WE SHOULDN'T BAIL OUT THE BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS — That beeping sound you hear this week is the semi-truck being backed up to the Federal Treasury in Washington. After being filled with taxpayer billions, it's on its way to Detroit. — A heaping bailout for the Big Three automakers …
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Dr. Melissa Clouthier


Whose President Is He Anyway? — CHICAGO — It did not go unnoticed among the paisans that Barack Obama loves a four-star Italian restaurant on the Magnificent Mile near the lakefront. Not some pizza joint, but “the Ferrari of Italian cooking,” as Spiaggia's chef and co-owner, Tony Mantuano, puts it.


Obama's Lincoln — During the campaign, he pledged to be a unifying leader. Good thing for Obama there are other presidents whose experiences he can draw on, including one, in particular, from his home state. — From the magazine issue dated Nov 24, 2008 — It is the season to compare Barack Obama to Abraham Lincoln.
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