memeorandum: Bush Issues 14 Pardons and Commutes 2 Sentences (Eric Lichtblau/New York Times)

4:40 PM ET, November 25, 2008

Top Items:

Daniel Stone / Newsweek:

Even Dr. Doom Likes Them — Renowned economic pessimist Nouriel Roubini approves of Obama's picks, but they face grave challenges ahead. — President-elect Barack Obama's administration's reaction to the current economy would have to be, in his words, “swift and bold.”

Discussion: New York Times, Salon, DownWithTyranny!, Washington Post, Taylor Marsh, Real Time Economics, Guardian, The Reaction and Wall Street Journal

Andrew Ross Sorkin / New York Times:

Where Was Geithner in Turmoil? — President-elect Barack Obama unveiled on Monday an economic team with deep experience handling economic crises. But does the man at the center of this star-studded cast, Timothy F. Geithner, the nominee for Treasury secretary, have what is needed to take the nation in a new financial direction?

Discussion: Washington Post, Portfolio, The Washington Independent, naked capitalism, BuzzMachine, The New Republic, The Heretik, The Big Picture, NewsBusters.org and Kevin Drum

CNN:
Obama says he'll go through budget ‘line by line’

Discussion: The Daily Dish, Below The Beltway, Flopping Aces and Ben Smith's Blogs

Wall Street Journal:
New Facility Targets Consumer Lending

Discussion: Washington Post and Wonk Room

Chris Isidore / CNNMoney.com:
Fed bets $800 billion on consumers

Discussion: Donklephant

New York Times:
U.S. Unveils New Programs to Ease Credit

Discussion: The Baseline Scenario, Wonkette and Below The Beltway

Martin Kady II / The Politico:

Dems vs. Dems in new Congress — Forget the Republican filibuster and the race to 60. The real fight in the next Congress is Democrats vs. themselves. — With nearly complete control of Washington for the first time in three decades, Democrats are entering a treacherous power zone …

Discussion: Shopfloor, Riehl World View, Political Perceptions, Washington Wire and Don Surber

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

For Collins, forgiveness may be tough — The tactics used by Democrats to secure at least 58 Senate seats may have damaged their chances of winning vital support from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in key votes in the 111th Congress. — Collins told colleagues at a small Senate prayer breakfast meeting …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Booman Tribune, DownWithTyranny!, Obsidian Wings, QandO, Betsy's Page, www.redstate.com, Soccer Dad and Don Surber

Brian Faughnan / Weekly Standard:
Reid: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Will Come Early

Discussion: Detroit Free Press, The Caucus, CourierPostOnline.com, Kausfiles, Immigration Chronicles, Hot Air and QandO

Jonathan Allen / CQ Politics:
Schumer To Step Down from DSCC; Menendez To Take Over

Discussion: MyDD and The Politico

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

Exceptional news: John Brennan won't be CIA Director or DNI — (updated below) — This is really exceptional news on multiple levels — the best political news I've heard since the election: … Brennan's self-defense here is quite disingenuous. Whether he “was involved …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, TalkLeft, The Daily Dish and Spin Cycle

Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
BRENNAN WITHDRAWS NAME FOR TOP SPY

Discussion: Think Progress, ATTACKERMAN and The Washington Independent

Associated Press:
Brennan out of running for top intel post

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Democracy in America, The Washington Independent, McClatchy Washington Bureau and Reuters

Corey Boles / Wall Street Journal:

Obama Sets Budget Plan — WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama Tuesday named Congressional Budget Office chief Peter Orszag as Office of Management and Budget director, a key post in the incoming administration's drive to reform the federal budget. — Mr. Obama also tapped former …

Discussion: Washington Wire and Washington Monthly

Peter Orszag / Director's Blog:
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes: A final blog entry

Discussion: Lost in Transition and Real Time Economics

Frank James / The Swamp:
Obama: No business as usual on spending

Discussion: The Politico and New York Times

New York Post:

WE HEAR . . . WE HEAR — THAT although we didn't think it would be pos sible to silence Ann Coulter, the leggy reaction- ary broke her jaw and the mouth that roared has been wired shut . . . THAT the Tel Aviv Hilton was abuzz Saturday with the arrival of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock …

Discussion: Jezebel, The Huffington Post, American Street, The Washington Independent and Political Machine

Melinda Henneberger / Slate:

Obama's threat to Catholic hospitals and their very serious counterthreat. — When I saw the Catholic bishops had declared war on President-elect Obama at their semiannual meeting in Baltimore two weeks ago, my first reaction was pique: Gosh, guys, it isn't even parade day yet, and here you are, all dressed up and ready to rain on it.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Townhall.com, Hot Air, StephenBainbridge.com and Vox Popoli

Mark Preston / CNN:

Palin to hit campaign trail in Georgia — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will make multiple campaign appearances on behalf of Sen. Saxby Chambliss next week in Georgia, serving as the political closer for the GOP senator who is battling to win a second term.

Discussion: The Politico, The Opinionator, Taylor Marsh, Hot Air, Donklephant, PoliBlog (TM) and Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis

Thom Shanker / The Caucus:

Pentagon Cancels Big Holiday Gala — WASHINGTON - Adm. Mike Mullen has taken the unusual step of canceling the large holiday reception held annually by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, citing “these trying financial times.” — Instead, the admiral and his wife will host …

Discussion: TIME.com

Paul Bedard / US News:
Pentagon Cancels Pricey Holiday Party Because of Recession

Discussion: Think Progress and Wonkette

David Zucchino / Los Angeles Times:

Injured veterans engaged in new combat — In a little-noticed regulation change, the Pentagon's definition of combat-related disabilities is narrowed, costing some wounded veterans thousands of dollars in lost benefits. — Marine Cpl. James Dixon was wounded twice in Iraq — by a roadside bomb and a land mine.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Balloon Juice, Washington Post, BLACKFIVE, Think Progress, Jules Crittenden and Whiskey Fire

Associated Press:

Karzai: Fixed end date needed for Afghan war — President says world leaders must set a time limit for Taliban's defeat — KABUL, Afghanistan - President Hamid Karzai told a visiting U.N. Security Council delegation Tuesday that the international community should set a timeline to end the war in Afghanistan.

Discussion: Newshoggers.com

Spencer Ackerman / The Washington Independent:
Karzai — Whoa! — Calls for a Timetable to End the Afghanistan War

Discussion: Brian Beutler

John McCain / Nielsen Wire:

How Obama's Local Buys Added Up — Nielsen's final look at ad buys by the 2008 Presidential candidates proved one famous mantra: politics really are local. — President-elect Barack Obama placed 155% more spot TV ads than John McCain during the general election season (6/08 to 11/08) …

Discussion: The Swamp, The Fix, Outside The Beltway and Boston Globe

Ezra Klein / American Prospect:

THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST. — “Isn't it amazing,” asks Krugman, “just how impressive the people being named to key positions in the Obama administration seem? Bye-bye hacks and cronies, hello people who actually know what they're doing. For a bunch of people who were written off …

Discussion: Megan McArdle, The Mahablog, The Atlanticist and The Debatable Land

Seema Mehta / Los Angeles Times:

Claremont parents clash over kindergarten Thanksgiving costumes — Some say having students dress up as pilgrims and Native Americans is ‘demeaning.’ Their opponents say they are elitists injecting politics into a simple children's celebration. — For decades, Claremont kindergartners …

Discussion: Political Machine, Classical Values, Michelle Malkin, American Power, JammieWearingFool, Don Surber, The Anchoress and INSTAPUTZ

Drudge Report:

RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA — A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts. — Professor Igor Panarin …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Daily Pundit, Pajamas Media, Neptunus Lex and Wonkette

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

DISGUSTING WHINING — You've probably noticed Mark Halperin's claim that the level of pro-Obama bias in the election coverage this year was so bad it was “disgusting.” I'll leave it to others to analyze what “disgusting” means when deployed by someone who takes his journalistic cues from Matt Drudge.

Discussion: TalkLeft and Political Machine

Wall Street Journal:

Why Don't We Hang Pirates Anymore? — It's a safe bet, dear reader, that the title of this column has caused you to either (a) roll your eyes and wonder, What century do you think we're living in? or (b) scratch your head and ask, Yes, why don't we? Wherever you come down …

Discussion: Betsy's Page

Cornelia Dean / New York Times:

A Soldier, Taking Orders From Its Ethical Judgment Center — ATLANTA — In the heat of battle, their minds clouded by fear, anger or vengefulness, even the best-trained soldiers can act in ways that violate the Geneva Conventions or battlefield rules of engagement. Now some researchers suggest that robots could do better.

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Wonkette

Nitya / Political Radar:

Gates Cabinet Appointment ‘A Done Deal’ — ABC News' Martha Raddatz and Jake Tapper Report: Sources tell ABC News that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will be staying on in the top Pentagon job, for at least the first year of the Obama administration. “It is a done deal” a source close to the process tells ABC News.

Discussion: TIME.com