Top Items:
CBS News:
“Pledge to America” Unveiled by Republicans (Full Text) — CBS News has obtained a final draft of House Republicans' legislative agenda for the next Congress, a 21-page “Pledge to America” that they will formally unveil Thursday morning at a Virginia hardware store.
Discussion:
Think Progress, Firedoglake, Michelle Malkin, RedState, Weekly Standard, AmSpecBlog, The Hill, The Politico, Club for Growth, Shakesville, Speakeasy, Scared Monkeys, The Gavel, GayPatriot, Liberal Values, JOSHUAPUNDIT, Political Byline, Politics Daily, NewsBusters.org, The Democratic Daily, Don Surber, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Pam's House Blend, Gateway Pundit, The Atlantic Online, Daily Kos and AMERICAblog News
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Erick Erickson / RedState:
Perhaps the Most Ridiculous Thing to Come Out of Washington Since George McClellan — The House Republicans' “Pledge to America” is out. A thrill will run up the leg of a few Chris Matthews' types on the right. As Dan noted on Twitter, the Contract with America was 869 words and this is 21 pages.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, Washington Monthly, The Hill, National Review, Washington Wire, Weekly Standard, Right Wing News, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Hill, The Politico, The Caucus, Taegan Goddard's …, Hot Air, Liberty Pundits Blog, NewsBusters.org, Erick's blog, FrumForum, Left Coast Rebel, CNN and Daily Kos
Ezra Klein:
The GOP's bad idea — “America is more than a country,” begins the GOP's ‘Pledge to America.’ America, it turns out, is an “idea,” an “inspiration,” and a “belief.” And the GOP wants to govern it. — Their policy agenda is detailed and specific — a decision they will almost certainly come to regret.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Economist's View and TPMDC
The Huffington Post:
GOP ‘Pledge For America’ Director Lobbied For AIG, Exxon, Pfizer, Chamber — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — The Republican Party's 21-page blueprint, “Pledge to America,” was put together with oversight by a House staffer who, up till April 2010, served as a lobbyist for some of the nation's most powerful oil …
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias, Think Progress, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, Wonk Room, Taylor Marsh, Oliver Willis, Politerati and First Draft
National Review:
We'll Take the Pledge — All year long, conservatives have been pressuring Republicans to release a Contract with America for 2010 — an updated version of the campaign platform that the party unveiled before its 1994 sweep of Congress. Thursday morning, Republican congressmen are responding …
Directorblue / Doug Ross:
A Critique of the GOP's New ‘Pledge to America’: Dudes. …
A Critique of the GOP's New ‘Pledge to America’: Dudes. …
Discussion:
iOwnTheWorld.com and No More Mister Nice Blog
Marc Ambinder / The Atlantic Online:
Why Republicans Don't Need a ‘Pledge’
Why Republicans Don't Need a ‘Pledge’
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, The Washington Independent and Club for Growth
Jake Sherman / The Politico:
White House quickly attacks GOP ‘Pledge’
White House quickly attacks GOP ‘Pledge’
Discussion:
Human Events, Weasel Zippers, Political Punch, Michelle Malkin, The Note and ABCNEWS
David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
G.O.P. Cites Tax Cuts and Health Care as Main Focus
G.O.P. Cites Tax Cuts and Health Care as Main Focus
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Monthly, The Hill, The Caucus, Outside the Beltway, TPMDC and CNN
Dan Pfeiffer / White House.gov Blog Feed:
The Congressional Republican Pledge to Special Interests
The Congressional Republican Pledge to Special Interests
Discussion:
The Hill, The Fix, Sweetness & Light and Firedoglake
Quinnipiac University:
Little-Known New York Attorney General Candidates Tied, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Gillibrand Up By Only 6 Points — Two little-known candidates for New York State Attorney General, Democratic State Sen. Eric Schneiderman and Republican Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan …
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Jordan Fabian / Ballot Box:
Poll shows Sen. Gillibrand in close race
Athan Kompos / WGRZ-TV:
Poll Shows NY Governors Race Tighter Between Cuomo And Paladino
Poll Shows NY Governors Race Tighter Between Cuomo And Paladino
Discussion:
Libertarian Republican, No More Mister Nice Blog, National Review, Ruby Slippers, RedState, USA Today, Salon, ABCNEWS, Washington Wire and TPMDC
Washington Post:
Two of Obama's closest advisers among those likely to leave in White House shuffle — In his nearly two years in office, President Obama has relied on a very small clique of advisers that serves as his most trusted sounding board on politics and policy. — Members of his staff describe Obama …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, The Confluence, AMERICAblog News, Politerati, Prairie Weather and The Page
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Bill Plante / CBS News:
Axelrod Leaving WH; Emmanuel Likely Next — Sources say President's 2 Closest Advisors Heading for Other Pursuits in Latest News on Pending D.C. Shakeup — (CBS) President Obama's inner circle will likely be losing some key players. CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports …
Discussion:
Sweetness & Light
David Rogers / The Politico:
Democrats may back off tax vote
Democrats may back off tax vote
Discussion:
The Political Carnival and Sweetness & Light
Wcbsmark / CBS New York:
Cuomo Caught Lying About Voting For Bloomberg? — NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There has been a dramatic development in the race for New York governor. — A new poll has Republican Carl Paladino within striking distance of Democrat Andrew Cuomo as voters say they want to elect someone who will stop the circus in Albany.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, NewsBusters.org, Moe Lane, Liberty Pundits Blog and Babalú Blog
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E.J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
The Tea Party: Tempest in a very small teapot — Is the Tea Party one of the most successful scams in American political history? — Before you dismiss the question, note that word “successful.” Judge the Tea Party purely on the grounds of effectiveness and you have to admire …
Discussion:
Prairie Weather, Daily Kos, New York Observer, The Huffington Post and New York Times
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delawareonline:
(2 of 2) — Asked for reasons he was weighing against running …
(2 of 2) — Asked for reasons he was weighing against running …
Discussion:
Ballot Box and TPMDC
The Politico:
Castle won't write off write-in bid
Castle won't write off write-in bid
Discussion:
Hot Air, CNN, The Greenroom and National Review
Kevin Sack / New York Times:
For Many, Health Care Relief Begins Today — Sometimes lost in the partisan clamor about the new health care law is the profound relief it is expected to bring to hundreds of thousands of Americans who have been stricken first by disease and then by a Darwinian insurance system.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Wonk Room, Washington Post, Time, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/* and TalkLeft
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Larry O'Connor / Breitbart.tv:
Race-Baiting Dem Congresswoman Pits Latinos Against Asians on Spanish-Language TV — Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez appeared on Spanish-Language Univision to tell Latino voters that their Congressional seat was being taken by the Vietnamese. — Rep. Sanchez is in a hotly contested race …
RELATED:
John / Power Line:
Another Democrat's Shameful Racism
Another Democrat's Shameful Racism
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog, protein wisdom and Big Journalism
Keith Bradsher / New York Times:
Amid Tension, China Blocks Vital Exports to Japan — HONG KONG — Sharply raising the stakes in a dispute over Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing trawler captain, the Chinese government has blocked exports to Japan of a crucial category of minerals used in products like hybrid cars, wind turbines and guided missiles.
Discussion:
Daniel W. Drezner, FP Passport, The Oil Drum, Angry Bear, Telegraph, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Washington Post and naked capitalism
David Bernstein / The Volokh Conspiracy:
Dahlia Lithwick: It's “Weird” for a Senator to Consider the Constitutionality of Legislation — Lithwick in Slate: … Short answer: Senators swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. Of course they are obligated to determine whether a bill they are considering is constitutional.
Discussion:
The Other McCain
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Timothy P. Carney / Washington Examiner:
Tea Partiers oppose abortion, not just deficits — The economy, taxes, spending, health care, and bailouts dominate the headlines and Tea Party rallies this year. But just beneath the surface, another issue is helping shape the midterm elections: abortion.
Discussion:
protein wisdom
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Timothy P. Carney / Beltway Confidential:
Party unity is for the wing nuts
Party unity is for the wing nuts
Discussion:
The Politico and Betsy's Page
Bruce Horovitz / USA Today:
KFC pays college women for ad space on buns — KFC wants folks to watch its backside. — Or, more precisely, the backsides of female college students it's recruiting to promote its hot new bunless Double Down sandwiches. — Women on college campuses are being paid $500 each to hand …
William Bender / Philly.com:
In Bucks County, a bitter poll for Murphy to swallow — U.S. REP. Patrick Murphy's “uh-oh” moment came last month, when his polling firm reported that Republican Mike Fitzpatrick was within striking distance of recapturing his 8th District seat in Bucks County. — This is his “oh, no” moment:
Discussion:
Ballot Box, Capitol Ideas … and CNN
Justin Elliott / Salon:
The militias' man in the Senate? — Joe Miller's supporters have been known to carry assault rifles in public — and he's favored to win a Senate seat — Back in July, before Joe Miller won a stunning upset over Lisa Murkowski in Alaska's GOP Senate primary, national attention briefly focused …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog and Talking Points Memo
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Senate Forecast: Republican Takeover Chances Improved, but Democrats Are Building Pacific Firewall — Polls show the Republican candidate having gained ground in a key Senate race, Wisconsin — and Republicans have put another Senate race, in West Virginia, squarely into play.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Political Insider, Raw Story, Don Surber, Public Policy Polling and The Hill
James C. McKinley Jr / New York Times:
A Claim of Pro-Islam Bias in Textbooks — HOUSTON — Some conservative members of the Texas Board of Education assert that the history books used in this state have a pro-Islamic bias, and they are upset about it. — Never shy about wading into the culture wars, they are planning …
Discussion:
Gawker, Wonkette, msnbc.com, Jihad Watch and Ò"