Monday November 13, 2006

The Final Word: “Life's Popularity Contest Edition”

(The media experiment in which we conjoin the headline and last paragraph of each bylined article in the A-section of today's New York Times.)

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Democrats Push for Troop Cuts Within Months:

"That didn't change overnight on November 7," Ms. Perino said.

Administration Opposes Democrats' Plan for Negotiating Medicare Drug Prices:

One potential obstacle to swift action is that some lawmakers, including Democrats, may want to hold hearings. Senator Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat poised to become chairman of the Finance Committee, voted in March against a proposal authorizing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Aides said that he wanted to give the program more time to work, but that he was willing to consider such proposals.

For Post-Election Congress, Extensive To-Do List Is Awaiting Action:

In the first test of the bipartisan spirit that followed the elections, the House on Monday is set to approve a trade deal with Vietnam that Mr. Bush would like to have in his pocket as he travels to Hanoi this week for a regional trade meeting. But senators in both parties have raised objections to the deal that the administration is trying to resolve, and the fate of the trade pact is uncertain.

With Changes on Capitol Hill, California Is Set to Assert New Clout:

"What we ought to do is get the fiscal house in order," Ms. Feinstein said in an interview. "This party has to show that they can be the fiscally prudent party."

Influence Rises but Base Frays for Iraqi Cleric:

"We find his arguments very true," said a Shiite lawmaker, Sami al-Askiri. "We agree with him."

Identity Thief Is Often Found in Family Photo:

She blamed herself for the way her son had turned out. "I don't know what went wrong, but in the end we have to say it's our fault, and that is terrible to live with," she said. "I can't think of anything worse for a parent."

In New Middle East, Tests for an Old Friendship:

Mr. Arens, the former defense minister, said of the Europeans: "They don't like us — what can we do? What else is new? We would like to be liked by everyone, of course, but it's the relationship with the United States that really matters."

Fresh Off the Farm in Montana, a Senator-to-Be:

"I haven't noticed a change yet," Mr. Graves said. "He's the same man. Got a real dry sense of humor. We talk about everything. And then he says, 'See you next time.' "

As Sonics Pack to Leave Town, Seattle Shrugs:

As a big basketball fan, Mr. Merrill says, he should come up with 200 million reasons why the city should pay for a $200 million arena: Where else can he buy a $7 pretzel? And, sure, that money could build housing for the homeless, but can homeless people dunk?

The real punch line, Mr. Merrill said, is that even he can think of only seven "reasons" to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

Leaving the City for the Schools, and Regretting It:

When it came time for Sabrina to begin school, Mrs. Ophir recalled, her husband told her, "I can't go through another year of kindergarten with you." So Sabrina enrolled at Hackley from the start.

Other News

Iraqi Prime Minister Promises Government Shake-Up:

One of the bombs exploded near the house of Sheik Abu Ali, who works for the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most revered Shiite cleric in Iraq, a police official said. Three of the sheik's children were killed in the blast, the official said.

A Decline in Foreign Students Is Reversed:

India continued to send the most students to the United States, though its number declined by 5 percent, to 76,503. China remained second, with 62,582 students studying in the United States last year. Korea, Japan and Canada were also in the top five, although Japan registered a decline of 8 percent. Countries showing strong growth included Korea, Mexico, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Ex-Chairman of Insurer May Bid for Tribune:

Over all, average daily circulation dropped by 2.8 percent during the six-month period ended Sept. 30, compared with the period last year, according to an industry analysis of data released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Circulation for Sunday papers fell by 3.4 percent.

Crash Memorial Evokes Peace and Home:

Brad States, 15, who was in the fifth grade when his father, Edward A. States, the captain on Flight 587, died, recalled that his father would visit his school on Math and Science Day and give out plastic wings to the students. Yesterday, he brought a pair of American Airlines wings with him, to place beside his father's name.

International

Tension Rises in Somalia as Islamists Expand Reach:

On Saturday, Kenyan authorities banned all scheduled flights in and out of Somalia, citing security risks. The United States recently issued a warning that said suicide bombers from Somalia might be plotting attacks in Kenya and Ethiopia.

U.N. Envoy Meets With Ugandan Rebel:

Mr. Egeland's response: "I shook his hand but I didn't smile," he said. "I know what Joseph Kony is responsible for."

Ambrus Journal: Hounding of Gypsies Contradicts Slovenia's Image:

Mr. Hanzek has in turn been accused by Janez Jansa, Slovenia's prime minister, of "denigrating Slovenia's name" by raising the issue with the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner.

After a Century, Public Polygamy Is Re-emerging in Tajikistan:

"This is a matter of women being educated and being financially independent," said Rokhshona Nazhmidinova, 26, an outreach coordinator at a nonprofit organization here. "It's a sign that society is heading down. Just look at the countries that allow multiple wives. I wouldn't want to live in them."

As Hezbollah Seeks Power, Lebanon Is Feeling Edgy:

"I never expect anything from the government of our country," he said. "I have five kids and I support three families. Hezbollah is in my blood."

Iran Criticizes Security Council Over Threat of Sanctions:

Mr. Larijani said Friday in Moscow that Iran would not halt its program and that sanctions would not harm it, the ISNA news agency reported. He also said, commenting on the results of the American elections, that he believed that the Democrats would adopt a softer approach toward Iran over its nuclear program to avoid more tension.

National Report

American Album: Step Right Up, Ladies and Gents, to See the End of an Oddity:

Poobah does so for the umpteenth time today.

Two Democrats Struggle as Georgia Bucks a Trend:

"Politics is certainly a fickle thing," said Mr. Barber, who owns the business with his brother. "Had it been two weeks earlier or two weeks later, it might have had a different outcome."

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