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Federal Judge Neuters Arizona Immigration Law: What's Next?
(The Atlantic Wire)
The Atlantic Wire - The most controversial elements of Arizona's immigration law have been blocked
by a federal judge. Major provisions, such as one requiring authorities
to check the immigration status of individuals while enforcing other
laws, will not go into effect. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton also barred the state from requiring immigrants to carry their
papers at all times. While this isn't the last say on the Arizona law,
it's a major victory for the bill's opponents. Here's what observers are
looking at now and anticipating for the future:
Panel hits Rangel with 13 ethics charges
(AP)
AP - House investigators accused veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel of 13 violations of congressional ethics standards on Thursday, throwing a cloud over his four-decade political career and raising worries for fellow Democrats about the fall elections.
Share your story: How well is BP handling Gulf oil-spill claims?
(The Newsroom)
The Newsroom - In the three months since oil first spewed into the Gulf of Mexico, thousands of people throughout the coastal region have lost jobs or seen their incomes slashed. Many businesses are reeling too. BP has pledged to make good on all legitimate claims for damages. But how well is the process going?
When the Tax Hikes Are Coming
(U.S. News & World Report)
U.S. News & World Report - If you love class warfare, your moment has arrived. The next several weeks, leading up to the November elections, are sure to be filled with resounding political invective over who should pay for Washington's profligate spending over the last decade. Democrats will argue that the rich and near-rich should pony up, since they have the most money to start with. Republicans will point to the needy, arguing that they've been getting too much aid for too long. Tea Partiers will struggle to decide whose benefits should be cut in order to achieve the smaller government they envision. ...
Blagojevich Corruption Trial: Final Theatrics in Court
(Time.com)
Time.com - The closing arguments in the corruption trial of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich bring out over-the-top rhetoric, tears and an odd ethnic joke
GOP Gains Weren't Always Inevitable This Year
(CQPolitics.com)
CQPolitics.com - Sometimes, you can almost hear the conventional wisdom and expectations shift, even when they are based on faulty premises.
Democrats launch ‘Republican tea party contract on America’
(The Upshot)
The Upshot - The Democratic National Committee debuted today a major initiative it says will tie the Republican party to the tea party movement. The idea is to drive a wedge between the activist base of today's GOP and the more moderate and independent voters the party relies on in major elections to make up for the advantage [...]
Abortion advocates caught off guard
(Politico)
Politico - A ban on coverage for most elective abortions serves as warning for abortion rights advocates.
McMahon fires 'Jewish money' aide
(Politico)
Politico - He doesn't say if aide acted without his knowledge.
FBI access to e-mail and Web records raises fears
(AP)
AP - Invasion of privacy in the Internet age. Expanding the reach of law enforcement to snoop on e-mail traffic or on Web surfing. Those are among the criticisms being aimed at the FBI as it tries to update a key surveillance law.
WikiLeaks fallout: Tighter access to US secrets?
(AP)
AP - Call it the big information chill, looming across the military and intelligence communities. After the massive Afghan war data spill by WikiLeaks, some veteran intelligence officers and experts are calling for a tightening of access to information and more monitoring in the spy community's lower levels.
UK: Torture inquiry chief won't be replaced
(AP)
AP - Britain's government said Thursday it has dismissed a call to replace the head of an inquiry into allegations the U.K. colluded in the torture of terrorism suspects overseas.
Obama to sell auto bailout good news in Michigan
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama is going to the heart of the U.S. auto industry to push an important election-year claim: his administration's unpopular auto industry bailout has turned into an economic good-news story.
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS KEITH OLBERMANN?
(Ann Coulter)
Ann Coulter - While engaging in astonishing viciousness, vulgarity and violence toward Republicans, liberals accuse cheerful, law-abiding Tea Party activists of being violent racists.
Hope Exists for Immigration 'Down Payment'
(CQPolitics.com)
CQPolitics.com - There's not a prayer that comprehensive immigration reform will pass Congress this year, but there's a slim one that a smaller "down payment" measure might. And it should.
Senate panel grills former Arlington cemetery officials
(McClatchy Newspapers)
McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — Two former top officials of Arlington National Cemetery faced hostile questioning on Capitol Hill Thursday about years of negligence that led to unmarked and mismarked graves and mishandled remains.
Recess Lesson: 'There Is No Private' Anymore
(CQPolitics.com)
CQPolitics.com - These are things that strike fear in the hearts of Members of Congress hitting the campaign trail this August recess: angry voters, bad poll numbers, damaging political ads by opponents. But perhaps most of all, they fear the unflattering video clip.
House ethics panel charges Rangel on 13 counts
(McClatchy Newspapers)
McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — A special House of Representatives subcommittee on Thursday outlined 13 counts of ethics violations against Rep. Charles Rangel, the former chairman of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. The charges place his political career in jeopardy and could put Democrats on the defensive as November's elections approach.