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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Cheat Sheet - Spies’ Secret Revolt Against Obama


May 21, 2014
Explosive
In 2012, the Obama administration reached a secret, surprising conclusion: Al Qaeda was no longer a direct threat to America. That assessment was in keeping with the message coming from the White House as President Obama rode to reelection in 2012. However, reports Eli Lake, the effort to scale back the war on al Qaeda has come over rising objections from intel officials.
PARTY FOUL
With Senator Mitch McConnell holding on to his party's nomination in Kentucky, Idaho Representative Mike Simpson beating off his Club for Growth-backed primary opponent, and establishment candidates winning all over, the Tea Party got shut out Tuesday night. But those defeats, writes Ben Jacobs, only tell half the story. The Tea Party's real success has been to change the very DNA of the GOP.
CLOSE CALL

The execution of a Missouri prisoner scheduled for Tuesday night was halted by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The justice didn't explain why he suspended the planned execution of Russell Bucklew, but it came after the full Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay that was issued hours earlier by a three-judge panel within the same court. Bucklew's attorney argued that tumors in the convicted murderer's head may complicate the administration of lethal drugs, leading to an "excruciating, even torturous pain." This week, Bucklew said: "I'm sick about it not working on me. I'm afraid that it's going to turn me into a vegetable, that I'd be brain-dead. You saw what happened down in Oklahoma."

secret's out

The Pentagon probably just ran out of redaction tape. The Obama administration will reveal a much-speculated-about secret memo that explains the legal justification for using drones to target and kill American citizens abroad. Such strikes have been used to kill suspected terrorists like Anwar Al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born al Qaeda leader. The Justice Department will not appeal a court order that requires disclosure of the memo's redacted version after the ACLU and New York Times filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act.

ON A ROLL
The cascade of same-sex marriage rulings is now a torrent, with judges in Oregon and Pennsylvania both tossing out bans this week. With those two rulings, same-sex marriage supporters are now 12-0 in federal courts across the country. But, asks Jay Michaelson, what about when one of these cases ends up in Supreme Court?

HE SAID WHAT?!
Berlusconi: Merkel Isn't a 'Lard-arse'
Claims she got along with him.
ROYAL PREROGATIVE?
Prince Charles Compares Putin to Hitler
According to woman at museum he visited.
JAILED
Mubarak Sentenced to 3 Years
Former dictator found guilty of corruption.
LUCKY
Cleveland Cavaliers Get No. 1 Pick
Third time in four years.
DOUBLE BOGEY
Rory McIlroy Cancels Wedding
After wedding invitations are sent out.
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