Top Items:
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Gates agrees to stay on under Obama — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has agreed to stay on under President-elect Obama, according to officials in both parties. Obama plans to announce a national-security team early next week that includes Gates at the Pentagon and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton …
Discussion:
Associated Press, TalkLeft, Danger Room, TIME.com, Political Machine, Jules Crittenden, Sister Toldjah, On Deadline, LT Nixon Rants and Wonkette
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Huma Khan / Political Punch:
Gates a ‘Done Deal’ — 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:
The Caucus, Ben Smith's Blogs, FP Passport, Hot Air, Think Progress, Salon, TPM Election Central and Defense Tech
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.
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Exceptional news: John Brennan won't be CIA Director or DNI — (updated below - Update II - Update III) — 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.
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Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
BRENNAN WITHDRAWS NAME FOR TOP SPY — From NBC's Robert Windrem — In a letter to President-elect Obama, John Brennan has asked that his name be withdrawn from consideration as CIA director. … Brennan was thought to be the leading candidate for the job.
Associated Press:
Brennan out of running for top intel post — WASHINGTON: John Brennan, President-elect Barack Obama's top adviser on intelligence, took his name out of the running Tuesday for any intelligence position in the new administration. — Brennan wrote in a Nov. 25 letter to Obama that he did not want to be a distraction.
Michael Scherer / Time:
The Anti-Obama Ad Campaign That Never Happened — What if the McCain campaign had run ads using footage of Barack Obama dancing with Ellen DeGeneres to show his coziness with celebrity? Or followed up on its Paris Hilton ad with others featuring Donald Trump and Jessica Simpson?
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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) …
Erika Lovley / The Politico:
Scientists urge caution on global warming — Climate change skeptics on Capitol Hill are quietly watching a growing accumulation of global cooling science and other findings that could signal that the science behind global warming may still be too shaky to warrant cap-and-trade legislation.
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David Roberts / Gristmill:
Politico's journalist malpractice — Today brings two of the most jaw-droppingly moronic stories I've ever seen, both in Politico, both written by Erika Lovley, who one can only assume is either the most dimwitted, gullible reporter in D.C. or ... um, I can't think of another explanation.
Discussion:
American Prospect, Matthew Yglesias, The Politico, Washington Monthly, The Huffington Post and Wonk Room
Peter Orszag / Director's Blog:
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes: A final blog entry — Today President-elect Obama announced his intention to nominate me as director of the Office of Management and Budget. I am therefore resigning as director of CBO and this will be my final blog entry. — I have absolutely loved my time at CBO.
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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 …
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.
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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:
Buck Naked Politics, The Moderate Voice, Hot Air, Townhall.com and StephenBainbridge.com
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 …
RELATED:
Galrahn / Information Dissemination:Are Pirates the Problem, or the Solution?
Discussion:
War Is Boring
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
CLAIMING A MANDATE.... In the immediate aftermath of the elections, there were a handful of Republicans who wanted to debate the meaning of the word “mandate.” Apparently, Barack Obama's impressive victory — the highest popular vote margin for a non-incumbent in a half-century …
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Josh Kraushaar / The Politico:
Missing ballots concern Franken camp — Things are getting even dicier in the Minnesota Senate recount. — Al Franken's campaign is contending that Minnesota election officials may have lost several dozen ballots across the state. Their basis for the charge is that the number …
Discussion:
Full Comment
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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 Swamp, The Moderate Voice, www.redstate.com, Pajamas Media, American Street and Daily Pundit
Matthew Berger / Marc Ambinder:
Is Clinton barred from State job? — Pete Williams of NBC raised the question on MSNBC this afternoon: Is Hillary Clinton barred by the Constitution from accepting the post of secretary of state? — Article One, Section Six of the U.S. Constitution says:
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.”
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:
Hot Air, Detroit Free Press, Shopfloor, Riehl World View, Political Perceptions and Washington Wire
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