memeorandum: Lost Illusions — It's been fascinating, but also disheartening … (Arthur Herman/National Review)

10:40 AM ET, December 2, 2008

Top Items:

Report Sounds Alarm on Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction — The odds that terrorists will soon strike a major city with weapons of mass destruction are now better than even, a bipartisan congressionally mandated task force concludes in a draft study that warns of growing threats from rogue states …

Discussion: Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, The Swamp, Think Progress, PoliBlog (TM), FP Passport and New York Times

Rich Noyes / NewsBusters.org:

MSNBC Anchor Frets: Why Hasn't Obama's Election Ended Terrorism? — File this one under “Deluded Expectations.” During MSNBC's coverage of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, daytime anchor Alex Witt seemed frustrated that the election of Barack Obama 23 days earlier …

Discussion: Simply Left Behind, The Jawa Report, Moonbattery and Ed Driscoll.com

Jeanne Cummings / The Politico:

Obama, the billion-dollar man — CHICAGO — Nearly two years ago, Barack Obama muscled his way into the top tier of presidential contenders by breaking fundraising records. — When the 2008 campaign books are closed, the Democratic president-elect will shatter another record by coming close to …

Mike Allen / The Politico:

49 days to Inauguration — Obama offers ‘hand of friendship and cooperation’ to Republican governors — David Gregory to be named moderator of ‘Meet the Press’ — The billion-dollar man: Team Obama has helped raise more than $900m — Nancy Cordes will be CBS News congressional correspondent - Anniversary today: Autumn and Jim VandeHei

Mike Allen / The Politico:

Gregory to host ‘Meet the Press’ — NBC News plans to name David Gregory as moderator of “Meet the Press,” infusing one of television's most prized franchises with a sharp edge leavened by a youthful style and versatility, according to network executives. — Gregory, 38, celebrated …

Discussion: NewsBusters.org

The Huffington Post:
David Gregory To Moderate “Meet The Press”

Discussion: TV Decoder, FishBowlDC, Rising Hegemon, Top of the Ticket, Outside The Beltway, The Politico, New York Observer, MyDD, Brilliant at Breakfast, Taylor Marsh, Gawker and Donklephant

New York Times:

Pardon Is Back in Focus for the Justice Nominee — WASHINGTON — In the much praised career of Eric H. Holder Jr., President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be attorney general, there is one notable blemish: Mr. Holder's complicated role in the 2001 pardon of Marc Rich, a billionaire financier …

Discussion: MSNBC, Spin Cycle, Commentary, The Caucus, Washington Post, The Politico, TIME.com, Brilliant at Breakfast, Prairie Weather and The RBC

The Politico: Will Bush pardon Stevens?

Robert Kagan / Washington Post:

The Sovereignty Dodge — What Pakistan Won't Do, the World Should — “We don't think the world's great nations and countries can be held hostage by non-state actors,” Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said yesterday. Fair enough. But what is the world to do when those non-state actors operate …

Discussion: McClatchy Washington Bureau, New York Times, Outside The Beltway, Weekly Standard, Moon of Alabama and Firedoglake

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

Lieberman now praising Obama — Sen. Joe Lieberman, the maverick lawmaker from Connecticut, has praised President-elect Barack Obama's national security team after criticizing Obama's ability to lead during wartime earlier this year. — Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-independent …

Change.gov:
The National Security Team

Discussion: Jack & Jill Politics and Campaign 2008

Times of India:
India has right to protect itself: Obama

Discussion: PoliGazette, Associated Press, ThreatsWatch, Jules Crittenden, Firedoglake, TigerHawk, FP Passport and Boston Globe

Manu Raju / The Politico:

Murkowski to Palin: Leave my seat alone — Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has some Republican-to-Republican advice for Gov. Sarah Palin: If you want to make a run at the White House, keep your hands off my Senate seat. — Murkowski, up for reelection in 2010, is nervously awaiting word …

Discussion: TIME.com and Salon

Keith B. Richburg / Washington Post:

A Rush for Clinton's Senate Seat — N.Y. Governor Is Silent for Now About Any Early Favorites — The nomination of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of state in the Obama administration has set off an intense political scramble in New York for a cherished prize: her soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat.

Discussion: MSNBC and NewsBusters.org

Wall Street Journal:

Ford Will Speed Green-Car Launches — CEOs of Ford, GM Will Accept $1 Salaries in U.S. Bailout; UAW Leaders to Meet to Discuss Labor Pacts — The Big Three auto makers will submit recovery plans to Congress on Tuesday that emphasize cost-cutting, downsizing and renewed emphasis …

Discussion: Guardian, Environmental Capital and Talking Points Memo

Frank James / The Swamp:
Automakers' plans due today

Discussion: Associated Press

Neil Irwin / Washington Post:

Economic Signs Point to Longer, Deeper Recession — Decline Began a Year Ago, Experts Declare; Wall Street Reacts With Huge Sell-Off — The U.S. economy entered a recession one year ago, a group of the nation's leading economists said yesterday, and new evidence that the downturn will be deep …

Discussion: Firedoglake and New York Times

Joshua Zumbrun / Forbes:
Congratulations, It's A Recession

Discussion: LT Nixon Rants and CANNONFIRE

Ann Scott Tyson / Washington Post:

Gates's Top Deputies May Leave — Major Shifts at Pentagon Anticipated in Obama Administration — Although President-elect Barack Obama's decision to keep Robert M. Gates at the helm of the Pentagon will provide a measure of continuity for a military fighting two wars …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, TIME.com and The Reaction

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Palin Does Georgia: What Does It Mean? — PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — As the Fix prepared to head back east to the frigid and snowy east (booo!) yesterday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was barnstorming the state of Georgia on behalf of Sen. Saxby Chambliss, whose political fate hangs in the balance of today's runoff.

Discussion: Washington Post, Truthdig, Political Machine and Townhall.com

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Georgia Runoff Results: Chambliss still leads

Discussion: Open Left, Swing State Project and The Other McCain

Chairman Ben S. Bernanke / Board of Governors …:

Federal Reserve Policies in the Financial Crisis — It is a privilege for me to be here in Texas, and I would like to thank the Austin Chamber for hosting this luncheon. The Texas economy is strong and diversified, accounting for more than a trillion dollars of output last year.

Discussion: The Agonist and Economist's View

Edmund L. Andrews / New York Times:
Recession Began Last December, Economists Say

Discussion: MSNBC and The Agonist

Michael R. Gordon / New York Times:

Afghan Strategy Poses Stiff Challenge for Obama — WASHINGTON — One of the most difficult challenges President-elect Barack Obama's national security team faces is Mr. Obama's vow to send thousands of American troops to help defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Matthew Yglesias, Stephen C. Rose and Reuters

Greg Mankiw / Greg Mankiw's Blog:

Fiscal Policy Puzzles — As a student of Alan Blinder, Larry Summers, and Stanley Fischer, I was trained to view the short-run effects of fiscal policy through the lens of Keynesian macroeconomic theory. I am sure that many of the economists in the new Obama administration share that intellectual framework.

Discussion: EconLog, Marginal Revolution and Cafe Hayek

CNN:

Limbaugh calls Obama's selection of Clinton ‘a brilliant stroke’ — (CNN) — Rush Limbaugh seems to have given Hillary Clinton his stamp of approval for the second time this year. — The conservative talk show host — who urged supporters during the primary season to back Clinton in an effort …

Discussion: Commentary, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Sister Toldjah and New York Times

Michael O'Brien / The Hill:

Franken May Ask Senate to Intervene in Minn. Recount — Democrat Al Franken's campaign said Monday that as many as 1,000 absentee ballots were improperly disqualified in Minnesota's Senate race, and that it may appeal to courts or the U.S. Senate to order that those ballots be counted.

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, www.redstate.com, Buck Naked Politics, TIME.com, Truthdig, Sister Toldjah and Spin Cycle

Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Franken may seek Senate's help to win race

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Power Line, The Foundry, Braublog, www.redstate.com, Betsy's Page and ABCNEWS

David G. Savage / Los Angeles Times:

Broader medical refusal rule may go far beyond abortion — The Bush administration plans a new ‘right of conscience’ rule that would allow more workers to refuse more procedures. Critics say it could apply to artificial insemination and birth control. — Reporting from Washington …

Discussion: TIME.com and Donklephant

Conservative Party of Canada:

NO MANDATE FOR LIBERAL-NDP-SEPARATIST BACKROOM COALITION — On October 14, 2008 Canadians rendered a clear judgment in the Federal Election. — Stephen Harper and the Conservatives promised strong, certain leadership to protect Canada's future in a time of unprecedented turmoil.

Discussion: Vote For Environment and The Huffington Post