Top Items:
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Fighting Off Depression — “If we don't act swiftly and boldly,” declared President-elect Barack Obama in his latest weekly address, “we could see a much deeper economic downturn that could lead to double-digit unemployment.” If you ask me, he was understating the case.
Discussion:
Buck Naked Politics, Angry Bear, theheretik.us, Connecting.the.Dots, Prairie Weather, Kevin Drum and Bark Bark Woof Woof
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Paul Krugman:
Is Obama relying too much on tax cuts? — I don't know yet. But news reports this morning certainly raise questions. — Let's lay out the basics here. Other things equal, public investment is a much better way to provide economic stimulus than tax cuts, for two reasons.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Facing South, The Agonist, Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!, TIME.com and Corrente
William Kristol / New York Times:
Why Israel Fights — The Israeli assault on Hamas in Gaza is going to be a replay, we're told, of the attempt to subdue Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006. And the outcome, it's asserted, will be the same: lots of death and destruction, no strategic victory for Israel …
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John R. Bolton / Washington Post:
The Three-State Option — War in the Gaza Strip demonstrates yet again that the current governance paradigm for the Palestinian people has failed. Terrorists financed and supplied by Iran control Gaza; the Palestinian Authority is broken, probably irretrievably; and economic development is stalled in Gaza and the West Bank.
Discussion:
Israel Matzav, Wall Street Journal, Soccer Dad, Don Surber, Atlas Shrugs, Sadly, No! and Israpundit
Amy Forliti / Associated Press:
Minnesota canvassing board expected to say that Democrat Al Franken is winner in Senate race — MINNEAPOLIS - The state Canvassing Board was posed to certify the results of the recount in Minnesota's grueling Senate election in Al Franken's favor — but that doesn't mean the race is definitely over.
Discussion:
Associated Press, PoliPundit.com, TPM Election Central, Hot Air, TIME.com, MSNBC, MyDD, Yahoo! News, Pharyngula and The Politico
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Wall Street Journal:
Funny Business in Minnesota — In which every dubious ruling seems to help Al Franken. — Strange things keep happening in Minnesota, where the disputed recount in the Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken may be nearing a dubious outcome. Thanks to the machinations …
Chris Welch / CNN:
Panel to declare Franken winner of Senate race
Panel to declare Franken winner of Senate race
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Wonkette, TPM Election Central, Vox Popoli, FiveThirtyEight.com and The Sundries Shack
Marc Ambinder:
Top Of The Morning — Countercyclical spending: Obama plans payroll tax relief for those receiving the earned income tax credit — that's a direct stimulus jolt for lower middle class Americans. A second part would give cash to struggling businesses by allowing them to write off …
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Right Wing News:
The 7th Annual “20 Most Annoying Liberals Of 2008” — Honorable Mentions: Bill Ayers, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Juan Cole, Kent Conrad, The Daily Kos, Bill Delahunt, Glenn Greenwald, Alcee Hastings, Christopher Hitchens, The Huffington Post, Jesse Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr. Caroline Kennedy …
Discussion:
Jules Crittenden
New York Times:
Restore the Senate's Treaty Power — THE Constitution's Treaty Clause has long been seen, rightly, as a bulwark against presidential inclinations to lock the United States into unwise foreign commitments. The clause will likely be tested by Barack Obama's administration …
Discussion:
The Volokh Conspiracy, Washington Monthly, PoliBlog, The Impolitic, Daniel W. Drezner and theheretik.us
Richard Pérez-Peña / New York Times:
The Times to Sell Display Ads on the Front Page — In its latest concession to the worst revenue slide since the Depression, The New York Times has begun selling display advertising on its front page, a step that has become increasingly common across the newspaper industry.
Discussion:
Michael Calderone's Blogs
Maria Recio / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Bush first ex-prez to face limit on Secret Service protection — WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush's “after-life,” as Laura Bush calls the post-presidency, is shaping up to be pretty comfortable, with a Dallas office, staffers, Secret Service protection, a travel budget …
Donna Cassata / Associated Press:
Scribner to publish first lady Laura Bush's memoir — WASHINGTON (AP) - First lady Laura Bush has sealed a deal worth millions with Scribner to publish a memoir that will encompass her recollections of personal and historical moments, including her eight years in the White House.
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George Selgin / Wall Street Journal:
Argentina Is Short of Cash - Literally — Spare some change? — Suppose you want to ride the bus or feed a parking meter without exact change. Or suppose you just want to drop a few cents in a street musician's hat. Nothing easier, right? Not if you live in Argentina.
Debora Spar / Washington Post:
One Gender's Crash — Let me begin with the caveats: I like men. My husband is one, as are my two sons. I have spent most of my career surrounded by men, and I have no major complaints. But as the financial debacle unfolds, I can't help noticing that all the perpetrators …
Willem Buiter's Maverecon:
Can the US economy afford a Keynesian stimulus? — Economic policy is based on a collection of half-truths. The nature of these half-truths changes occasionally. Economics as a scholarly discipline consists in the periodic rediscovery and refinement of old half-truths.
Donald R. Winslow / nppa.org:
Pete Souza Named Obama's White House Photographer — Photojournalist and NPPA member Pete Souza has accepted the position of official White House photographer for President-elect Barack Obama, he told News Photographer magazine tonight. — Souza received the offer for the position from Robert Gibbs …
Debbi Wilgoren / Washington Post:
Obama Girls Start School at Sidwell — It remains awfully difficult to catch a glimpse of First Kids-to-Be Malia and Sasha Obama, but at least we can say for certain where they are this morning: getting to know their new classmates at the Sidwell Friends campuses in upper Northwest Washington and Bethesda.
Discussion:
TIME.com
New York Times:
Senate Appointee in Illinois Vows to Fight On — CHICAGO — In a raucous sendoff at a church on this city's South Side, Roland W. Burris, the contested appointee for the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, vowing on Sunday night to cordially but aggressively fight efforts …
Pajamas Media:
Some Differences Between Hamas and the Nazi Party — I find the current situation deeply sorrowful, harrowing. There is one aspect of it that I think needs clarification, a clarification that will help thinking about the situation as a whole, and that is the analogies between Hitler, the Nazis and Hamas.