Today’s edition of quick hits. <\/p>\n
* CNN<\/a>: “Sen. Edward Kennedy underwent ‘successful’ surgery for a brain tumor at Duke University Medical Center, his doctors said Monday. Doctors said Kennedy was awake during the surgery, which lasted roughly three and a half hours. Dr. Allan Friedman said Kennedy should suffer ‘no permanent neurological effects’ and he hoped the senator would have ‘an uneventful and robust recovery.'”<\/p>\n * The Abramoff scandal isn’t quite done yet<\/a>: “A former chief of staff for an Oklahoma congressman is the latest figure caught up in prosecution of Jack Abramoff’s lobbying ring. John Albaugh, the former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK), has been charged with a conspiracy to defraud the House of Representatives, taking perks and doling out official favors.”<\/p>\n * It’s probably best not to read too much into this<\/a>: “Obama campaign spokesperson Bill Burton confirms to me that Obama and Hillary spoke privately on Sunday night — but those looking to read their conversation for clues to how or whether the race will end tomorrow may be disappointed. ‘They did speak,’ Burton tells me via instant message. Asked if they had discussed anything relating to post-primary activities, Burton said: ‘He called to congratulate her on her victory in Puerto Rico, that’s it.'”<\/p>\n * Ugh<\/a>: “Karl Rove is facing contempt citations for his refusal to answer subpoenas to testify before congress. But lucky for him, he’s gotten himself a friendly judge in Bush appointee John Bates.” Bates is, of course, a former deputy to Ken Starr. Great.<\/p>\n * Remember the Coalition of the Willing? Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, fulfilling a campaign promise, ended his country’s combat missions<\/a> in Iraq over the weekend.<\/p>\n * Retired Air Force Gen. Merrill A. McPeak, was a Republican, a former chief of staff of the Air Force, a former fighter pilot who flew 285 combat missions, and a veteran who campaigned for Dole in ’96 and Bush in ’00. This year, he’s supporting Obama — and isn’t at all impressed with McCain<\/a>. “It doesn’t take very long to uncover national security issues that McCain is weak on,” McPeak said. “For McCain to think he has a monopoly on virtue in the national security issue is going to be shown a pretty flimsy idea very quickly.” * Crazy<\/a>: “Arthur Mkoyan’s 4.0 grade-point average has made him a valedictorian at Bullard High School in Fresno and qualified him to enter one of the state’s top universities. But while his classmates look forward to dorm food and college courses this fall, Arthur Mkoyan may not make it. He is being deported.”<\/p>\n * Details are sketchy, but if Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) told a “joke” at a Republican event about Hillary Clinton dying<\/a>, it’s outrageous and demands, at a minimum, a public apology.<\/p>\n * Our very own “Prup” has another great piece<\/a> at Mark Kleiman’s place about John McCain’s “religious cluelessness.”<\/p>\n * On a related note, I wonder what more it would take<\/a> for Joe Lieberman to disassociate himself from John Hagee.<\/p>\n * It’s a good thing we have David Brooks to tell us which issues we’re going to care about<\/a>.<\/p>\n * Why is Bill Kristol<\/a> borrowing ideas from far-right blogs?<\/p>\n * Why can’t Bush administration officials turned media personalities get their facts straight<\/a> on the Plame scandal?<\/p>\n * I’m really disappointed that Sam Seder is unlikely to return<\/a> to the Air America Radio schedule. He’s one of the greats. (Full disclosure: I’ve been on Sam’s show several times as a guest.)<\/p>\n
\n
\n* The latest on the Siegleman controversy<\/a>: “A bipartisan group of 54 former state attorneys general from across the country has filed a federal appeals brief supporting former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman\u2019s bid to overturn his criminal conviction. Saying the prosecution and sentencing of Siegelman ‘raised serious First Amendment concerns,’ the brief asks the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Siegelman\u2019s conviction.”<\/p>\n