Top Items:
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:
Tammy Bruce, BLACKFIVE, Wall Street Journal, Israel Matzav, Sadly, No!, Israpundit, Soccer Dad, Don Surber and Atlas Shrugs
Pajamas Media:
Is Iran in Trouble? — After years of refusing to see Iran's aggressive intentions, most sensible observers of things Middle Eastern now recognize that the most important terrorist organizations, from Islamic Jihad to Hezbollah and Hamas, are essentially Iranian proxies.
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.
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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.
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 …
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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 …
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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.
Change.gov:
President-elect Obama announces key Department of Justice posts — WASHINGTON—Today, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he intends to nominate the following individuals for key posts at the United States Department of Justice: David Ogden, Deputy Attorney General; Elena Kagan …
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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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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Team pressed Richardson, got nothing
Team pressed Richardson, got nothing
Discussion:
The Opinionator, TIME.com, The Sundries Shack, TalkLeft, Associated Press, The Swamp, Buck Naked Politics, Political Machine, Liberal Values, Washington Monthly, MSNBC, Democracy in America, theheretik.us, RBO, Commentary, George's Bottom Line, Top of the Ticket, New York Times and Washington Post
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:
Newshoggers.com
Fares Akram / The Independent:
Gaza: The death and life of my father — For Fares Akram, The Independent's reporter in Gaza, the Israeli invasion became a personal tragedy when he discovered his father was one of the first casualties of the ground war — The phone call came at around 4.20pm on Saturday.
Discussion:
Mondoweiss
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Chicago Sun Times:
Secretary of the Senate rejects Burris' appointment — Judge also grants prosecutors 90-day extension to indict Blagojevich, former chief of staff — Firing the first shot in Washington in the fight over the appointment of Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate, Gov. Blagojevich's acting chief …
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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 …
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.
Kathryn Jean Lopez / The Corner:
‘Like Son Jeb as President’ — Former President Bush (there's currently only one of those!) has endorsed his other governor-son for president. As we await David Paterson's Caroline Kennedy Senate appointment, I have to think that Jeb for President is not the craziest idea.
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.
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Fox Business's ‘Bell’ Sounds A New Start For Liz Claman — NEW YORK — When Liz Claman made the jump from local television to business news a decade ago, she had never heard of Warren Buffett. — Last month, the Fox Business Network anchor aired an hour-long special with the legendary investor …
Discussion:
The New Republic
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Washington Post's Managing Editor to Step Down — Philip Bennett, The Washington Post's managing editor, said today he is stepping down after four years as the paper's second-ranking news executive. — Bennett, 49, said he had “a feeling that I'd been running for a long time as fast as I could go …
Discussion:
FishBowlDC
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 …
Kara Scannell / Wall Street Journal:
Madoff Chasers Dug for Years, to No Avail — Regulators Probed at Least 8 Times Over 16 Years; Congress Starts Review of SEC Today — Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC was examined at least eight times in 16 years by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators, who often came armed with suspicions.