Top Items:
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Senate Passes Health Care Overhaul Bill — WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to reinvent the nation's health care system, passing a bill to guarantee access to health insurance for tens of millions of Americans and to rein in health costs as proposed by President Obama.
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Ezra Klein:
Winning ugly, but winning — On Dec. 24, in an early morning vote, the United States Senate passed health-care reform. It was the first time the body had been in session on Christmas Eve since 1963. That's fitting, as it's arguably the most important piece of legislation the body has passed since 1963.
David S. Broder / Washington Post:
A health-care victory that stinks — The health-care reform bill coming out of the Senate presents a real dilemma for spectators: How do you applaud while holding your nose? — There is so much that is wrong with it — and the way it was made — and, at the same time …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Atlantic Politics Channel, Opinionator, Firedoglake, Daily Kos, Politics Daily, MyDD and CNN
Jeffrey Young / The Hill:
Senate passes historic healthcare reform legislation in 60-39 vote — The Senate approved sweeping healthcare reform legislation by the narrowest of partisan margins early Christmas Eve morning, placing President Barack Obama closer than ever to signing a longtime Democratic priority into law.
Wall Street Journal:
Senate Passes Landmark Health Bill — 60-39 Vote Is Landmark in Effort to Expand Insurance Coverage — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, answered questions outside of the Senate chambers on Capitol Hill. — WASHINGTON — The Senate approved sweeping health-overhaul legislation …
David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
In Senate Health Care Vote, New Partisan Vitriol — WASHINGTON — The vote on Monday, in the dead of night, was 60 to 40. The vote on Tuesday, just after daybreak, was 60 to 39. And the vote on Wednesday afternoon, at a civil hour but after less-than-civil debate, was 60 to 39 again …
Reuters:
Yemen says Fort Hood-linked imam may be dead — SANAA (Reuters) - The leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and a Muslim preacher linked by U.S. intelligence to deaths at a U.S. army base are believed to have died in a Yemen air strike, a security official said on Thursday.
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Sudarsan Raghavan / Washington Post:
Yemeni air strike kills 30, targets home of cleric linked to Ft. Hood attack
Yemeni air strike kills 30, targets home of cleric linked to Ft. Hood attack
Discussion:
Weekly Standard, Politics Daily, The Jawa Report, The Long War Journal, BBC and The Majlis
U.S. Census Bureau News:
Census Bureau: Texas Gains the Most in Population — Texas gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009 (478,000), followed by California (381,000), North Carolina (134,000), Georgia (131,000) and Florida (114,000), according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates
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David Sessions / Politics Daily:
Texas Leads U.S. in Population Growth Since Recession Began
Texas Leads U.S. in Population Growth Since Recession Began
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Weasel Zippers
New York Times:
Banks Bundled Bad Debt, Bet Against It and Won — In late October 2007, as the financial markets were starting to come unglued, a Goldman Sachs trader, Jonathan M. Egol, received very good news. At 37, he was named a managing director at the firm. — Mr. Egol, a Princeton graduate …
Alan J. Kuperman / New York Times:
There's Only One Way to Stop Iran — PRESIDENT OBAMA should not lament but sigh in relief that Iran has rejected his nuclear deal, which was ill conceived from the start. Under the deal, which was formally offered through the United Nations, Iran was to surrender some 2,600 pounds …
Discussion:
Power Line, Wonk Room, Swampland, Enduring America, Outside The Beltway and Media Blog on National …
Charlotte Triggs / People.com:
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Split — One of Hollywood's most enduring relationships has ended - Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have broken up after more than two decades together, PEOPLE has learned exclusively. — “Actress Susan Sarandon and her partner of 23 years …
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Health Care Woo — The health care bill passed! As you know, my view is this: For all its flaws, if signed into law this bill would be the greatest progressive social policy achievement in over forty years. It's fine not to be satisfied with this legislation, but it's perverse not to be happy about it.
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Jay Solomon / Wall Street Journal:
Kerry Floats Plan to Visit Tehran — White House Wouldn't Oppose Trip, First by Top U.S. Official in 30 Years, to Chagrin of Iran's Opposition — WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry has suggested becoming the first high-level U.S. emissary to make a public visit to Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution …
Jim Hoft / Gateway Pundit:
Michelle Malkin & Mark Steyn Report on the National Joker Outbreak (Video) — Mark Steyn and Michelle Malkin talked tonight on Hannity about the growing backlash against the crappy Obamacare bill. Michelle also mentioned the “Obama's joker” signs that are popping up across the country this week.
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Pennsylvania House Democrat resists party-switching entreaties — Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Carney (D) announced tonight that he would not switch to the Republican party despite a personal phone call today from Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) urging him to do so. — “I am flattered by the overtures of Sen …
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Nancy Scola / American Prospect:
Lowering Commercial Volume. — My holiday gift to you is a topic of dinner table conversation that, if my experience is any guide, can bring about a rare moment of unanimity regardless of the politics of your assorted relatives. I happened to casually mention during a holiday get together …