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EXCLUSIVE: Dems ‘Almost Certain’ to Bypass Conference — Now that both the House and Senate have passed health care reform bills, all Democrats have to do is work out a compromise between the two versions. And it appears they're not about to let the Republicans gum up the works again.
Discussion:
Ezra Klein, Michelle Malkin, The Foundry, TalkLeft, AmSpecBlog, Hot Air, TPMDC, Dr. Melissa Clouthier, Bloomberg, msnbc.com, Guardian, Hotline On Call, Washington Monthly and The Page
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House-Senate Health Care “Conference” Begins; PhRMA Deal Targeted — Rep. Waxman not yet willing to swallow the bitter ones? (photo: nvinacco) — Henry Waxman, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced at a constituent meeting Sunday that he was headed to Washington today …

Inside Obama's War on Terrorism — The evening before he was sworn into office, Barack Obama stepped out of Blair House, the government residence where he was staying across from the White House, and climbed into an armored limousine for the ride to a bipartisan dinner.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Michael Calderone's Blog, Ben Smith's Blog, Brookings Institute, Think Progress, Associated Press, National Review Online, ATTACKERMAN, The Strata-Sphere, Mediaite, The New Republic, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Washington Independent, The Page, ABCNEWS and The Politico
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Former Bush Officials Refusing to Endorse Policies They Support Out of Pique — Peter Baker's article on John Brennan and Obama-era counterterrorism is pretty conventional “friendly profile of important government official” stuff. But this is a good break with convention that more reporters should engage in:

White House: No matter what, we're sending Gitmo prisoners back to Yemen — As Susan notes below, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Obama White House not to go forward with plans to send a number of Yemeni terrorists now being held in the Guantanamo Bay detention facility back to their home country.

BRIT HUME SAID WHAT?.... As regular readers know, I've made no mention of Tiger Woods on this blog. I don't care about golf; I don't care about golfers' private lives; I don't care about any aspect of this “story” at any level. — But I was taken aback when I saw that Fox News' Brit Hume …
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That 1937 Feeling — Here's what's coming in economic news: The next employment report could show the economy adding jobs for the first time in two years. The next G.D.P. report is likely to show solid growth in late 2009. There will be lots of bullish commentary …

Staff walks out on party-switcher Griffith — Rep. Parker Griffith's (Ala.) staff has resigned en masse after his recent decision to switch parties and become a Republican. — In a sternly worded statement, Griffith Chief of Staff Sharon Wheeler announced the exit of herself …
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Brown will not seek re-election — CONGRESSMAN TO RETIRE AFTER 5TH TERM IN OFFICE — Republican Congressman Henry Brown, who has served South Carolina in the U.S. House since 2001, will retire at the end of his term, sources tell The Palmetto Scoop. — Brown will announce his intention …
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Republican retirements mount in House — The decision by South Carolina Rep. Henry Brown to retire brings Republican retirements to 14, a number that, if it continues to rise in the coming months, could curtail the expected GOP gains in the House in November.


U.S. Evangelicals' Role Seen in Uganda Anti-Gay Push — KAMPALA, Uganda — Last March, three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” homosexuals have been widely discredited in the United States, arrived here in Uganda's capital to give a series of talks.


Embassies in Yemen Remain Closed — SANA, Yemen — Yemeni government forces killed two suspected Qaeda militants on Monday and wounded others in a firefight 25 miles north of the capital, Yemeni officials said, tying the militants to the continuing threats directed against the United States and British Embassies here.
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Jordanian double-agent killed CIA officers — Officials: Perpetrator of Afghan attack was supposed to infiltrate al-Qaida — The suicide bombing on a CIA base in Afghanistan last week was carried out by a Jordanian doctor who was an al-Qaida double agent, Western intelligence officials told NBC News.
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Stimulus Funds Went to Nonexistent Zip Code Areas [Updated] — First it was phantom Congressional districts. Now it's phantom zip codes. — Last month, we reported on federal stimulus money credited with creating jobs in nonexistent New Mexico Congressional districts.
Discussion:
Hot Air, YID With LID, Political Byline, protein wisdom, Sister Toldjah, QandO, Gateway Pundit and Wake up America

U.S. Intensifies Screening for Travelers From 14 Nations — WASHINGTON — Citizens of 14 nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, who are flying to the United States will be subjected indefinitely to the intense screening at airports worldwide that was imposed after the Christmas …


Effigy of Obama hanged in US town — The US Secret Service says it is investigating after an effigy of Barack Obama was found hanging in the home town of former President Jimmy Carter. — TV footage showed the doll hanging by a noose in front of a red, white and blue sign that reads “Plains, Georgia.
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Obama's effigy in Pres. Carter's hometown
Discussion:
Think Progress, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mediaite, TPM LiveWire and Shot in the Dark

Rep. King rethinking Senate run — Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) signaled Monday that he is reconsidering his decision not to run for Senate in 2010. — King said he's actively looking at a run for statewide office this year after he'd ruled out such a campaign last summer.
Discussion:
TPM LiveWire

Israel's Worst Mistake: The Siege of Gaza — Bradley Burston calls the siege of Gaza the worst mistake Israel has made in a decade: … He lists nine more very compelling reasons why the siege is a miserable mistake. For my money, the worst mistake Israel made was the mistake that led …
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias


Marshals shot in downtown federal courthouse; suspect dead — Nearby school put on lockdown, Las Vegas Boulevard closed — Authorities are investigating shootings that occurred Monday morning at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. — By Sun Staff (contact)
Discussion:
Las Vegas Review-Journal, Little Green Footballs, Michelle Malkin and ABA Journal Daily News

The Obama Disconnect: What Could Have Been? — One question that a number of people have raised in response to my post on The Obama Disconnect is essentially, “What's your alternative? What should the Obama team have done to keep the new political movement it had spawned going as a force for change?


No Good Deed Goes Unpunished as Banks Seek Profits From Bailout — Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) — To understand the meaning of no good deed goes unpunished, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner can look no further than Wall Street where the banks that received the biggest taxpayer bailouts are seeking …
Discussion:
Wonk Room

Ten campaign themes to watch — Important themes are emerging as party leaders move into full “campaign mode” ten months ahead of the 2010 midterms. — The Hill looks at 10 to keep an eye on as we say goodbye to 2009. — 1. How real is the tea party effect?


Surge in casualties predicted in Afghanistan — Americans should prepare to accept hundreds of U.S. casualties each month in Afghanistan during spring offensives with enemy forces. — The dire forecast was made by retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, an adjunct professor of international affairs …
Discussion:
Think Progress


Choudary compares British troops to Nazi stormtroopers as 200,000 sign Facebook bid to stop his Islamic extremist march — The hate preacher organising a march of Islamic extremists through the streets of Wootton Bassett sparked outrage today by comparing British troops fighting in Afghanistan to Nazi stormtroopers.