CQ Politics' Web Picks

Daily Beast: Even Blago Is Presumed Innocent

Scott Turow, Chicago's preeminent crime novelist, on how the Illinois governor can defend himself--and why bribery cases are so hard to prove.

New York Times: For Now, Obama Proves to Be Elusive Target for G.O.P.

Two months after Barack Obama's election, Republicans are struggling to figure out how -- or even whether -- to challenge or criticize him as he prepares to assume the presidency. The president-elect is proving to be an elusive and frustrating target. He has defied attempts to be framed ideologically.

Slate: Open and Shut Cases

In an ever-escalating game of chicken between the executive branch and the rest of the world, Vice President Dick Cheney wants you to understand that he has done nothing wrong over the past eight years. In fact, to hear him tell it to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday yesterday, we are all safer for his infallibility in the face of our own complacency.

Mental Floss: 5 Vastly Overrated Historical Events

Many events live on in history for their greatness and significance. And some of those events, quite frankly, don't deserve all the fuss. When writing the book Busted! The 50 Most Overrated Things in History, I discovered a few such events. Here are five of my favorites.

Weekly Standard: Lincoln, Obama, and Bush

Long before the recent election, Barack Obama often liked to compare himself to Abraham Lincoln. An adoring press followed suit. Googling "Obama and Lincoln," results in over 14 million hits. Now many are of these are redundant and many have nothing to do with either Obama or Lincoln. But it is obvious that the idea of Obama as the reincarnation of Lincoln resonates with a great many folks, especially in the mainstream media. But the comparison is superficial.

NPR: Hopes Run High In Middle East For Obama

The Middle East will likely be a major foreign policy priority for the administration of Barack Obama. His election has generated high expectations -- some say too high -- that he can restore the image of the United States in the Arab world and that changes in Mideast policy are imminent.

Wall Street Journal: Bush and Scooter Libby

Rarely can Presidents improve their legacy in an Administration's twilight days. But President Bush now has that opportunity, by undoing a measure of the injustice inflicted on I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. The Bush Administration is mythologized as one in which loyalty is a defining virtue, especially on the part of the President himself. In this dark episode, an honest man became the fall guy in a larger political war over the war. Mr. Libby deserved better -- and Mr. Bush owes it to Mr. Libby, and to future occupants of the White House, to give him a full pardon.