MONDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Deadly attack in Russia: “Female suicide bombers set off huge explosions in two subway stations in central Moscow during the Monday morning rush hour, Russian officials said, killing more than three dozen people and raising fears that the Muslim insurgency in southern Russia was once again being brought to the country’s heart.” As of this afternoon, 37 deaths were confirmed, along with more than 100 who were injured.
* Afghanistan’s Western-educated minister of finance reflected on his interactions yesterday with President Obama: “He asked very, very informed questions.” This is the latest in the “he isn’t Bush” chronicles.
* U.S. Marshals in Michigan have released mugshots of eight Hutaree militia members who were allegedly plotting an upcoming terrorist attack.
* The Obama administration’s efforts to find a permanent head of the Transportation Security Administration hit another stumbling block over the weekend when Maj. Gen. Robert A. Harding, a retired Army intelligence officer, withdrew from consideration.
* Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, not only endorsed the new nuclear arms treaty with Russia, but also called for its swift ratification.
* More Democratic lawmakers face death threats, while right-wing activists target Democratic offices in Michigan and Alaska with vandalism.
* Looks like Aetna CEO Ron Williams may have a problem with the truth.
* “Race to the Top” winners were announced today, with Delaware and Tennessee winning lucrative awards.
* Good editorial on Goodwin Liu, an Obama judicial nominee to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
* Fake-census forms distributed by the Republican National Committee are now illegal.
* I’m beginning to think Gen. James T. Conway, the commandant of the Marine Corps, hates gay people.
* Paul Krugman suggests it’s time to scratch Douglas Holtz-Eakin off the “shrinking list of reasonable, reasonably honest conservatives.”
* Fact checking the Sunday shows.
* Is job retraining worth it?
* In the wake of several new, disgraceful sex scandals, only Fox News would ask: “Is the Media Out to Get the Pope?”
* Dear Oklahoma state Senate, watch those typos.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
