Liberal Revolt on Health Care Stings White House  —  WASHINGTON — In the great health care debate of 2009, President Obama has cast himself as a cold-eyed pragmatist, willing to compromise in exchange for votes.  Now ideology — an uprising on the Democratic left — is smacking the pragmatic president in the face.

Obama: ‘Time for talk is over’  —  COPENHAGEN — A visibly angry Barack Obama threw down the gauntlet at China and other developing nations Friday, declaring that the time has come to “not to talk but to act” on climate change.  —  Emerging from a multinational meeting boycotted …

The Hardest Call  —  The first reason to support the Senate health care bill is that it would provide insurance to 30 million more Americans.  —  The second reason to support the bill is that its authors took the deficit issue seriously.  Compared with, say, the prescription drug benefit …

Pass the Bill  —  A message to progressives: By all means, hang Senator Joe Lieberman in effigy.  Declare that you're disappointed in and/or disgusted with President Obama.  Demand a change in Senate rules that, combined with the Republican strategy of total obstructionism, are in the process of making America ungovernable.

Franken's little snit fit against Lieberman; Reid moves to adjourn Senate until 12:01am; cloture vote on defense authorization to follow; McConnell: Demcare is a “literal political nightmare”  —  “As the Senator from Minnesota, I object.”  —  Sen. Joe Lieberman is on board with Demcare now …

Is the European police state going global?  —  From The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley in Copenhagen  —  Today the gloves came off and the true purpose of the “global warming” scare became nakedly visible.  Ugo Chavez, the Socialist president of Venezuela, blamed “global warming” …

Axelrod Walks Back Insanity Defense on WH Blogger Call BY ARI MELBER  —  The White House swiftly organized a blogger conference call on Thursday evening to rally support for health care reform, in a bid to stem fallout from progressives over recent compromises in the Senate.

Specter, Toomey Deadlocked In Pennsylvania Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama Gets Good Score On War, Bad Marks For Health Care  —  Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter and Republican challenger Pat Toomey are deadlocked 44 - 44 percent in Pennsylvania's marquee 2010 U.S. Senate race …

Palin cuts vacation short  —  Sarah Palin announced Thursday night that she ended a Hawaii vacation early because of the ruckus raised after she blacked out “McCain” on her sun visor in an effort to elude paparazzi.  —  After the former Alaska governor was photographed on the beach earlier this week …

Harvard Swaps Are So Toxic Even Summers Won't Explain  —  Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) — Anne Phillips Ogilby, a bond attorney at one of Boston's oldest law firms, on Oct. 31 last year relayed an urgent message from Harvard University, her client and alma mater, to the head of a Massachusetts state agency that sells bonds.

Webb under fire on health care  —  U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) is getting banged up by Republicans over what they expect is his impending vote for a Senate version of health reform.  —  Webb hasn't even voted yet, but already he's being accused of flip-flopping in a video and in media interviews by state and national Republicans.

Schumer in ‘bitch’ & moan  —  Air rager sorry after slur on stewardess  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Schumer apologized yesterday after word got out that he called a flight attendant a “bitch” for ordering him to follow the rules and turn off his cellphone before take-off.