Top Items:
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Drudge wins — The weekend collapse of the Administration's airline screening policy is hard to understand as a matter of messaging, with Clinton undermining the TSA's screening regime and the relevant official sending a hazy mixed message on the subject, even as the screening policy remains in place.
Discussion:
Gawker, No More Mister Nice Blog, Mother Jones, The Huffington Post and Venice For Change
RELATED:
Marc Ambinder / NationalJournal.com:
White House Fights Pat-Down Backlash — The administration is quietly and aggressively defending airport security policies against what they see as a media frenzy of distorted information. — The White House and the Department of Homeland Security indicated today that they won't yield …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Atlantic Online and Emptywheel
Tony Pugh / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
TSA chief admits he withheld information on pat-downs — WASHINGTON — Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole said on Monday that he disregarded internal advice to the contrary and decided not tell the public in advance about aggressive new screening and pat-down procedures …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit and Emptywheel
Blogger Bob / The TSA Blog:
Response to “Young Boy Strip Searched by TSA” — A video is being widely circulated showing a shirtless boy receiving secondary screening from a Transportation Security Officer (TSO). A passenger filmed the screening with their cell phone and posted the video on the web.
Ashley Halsey III / Washington Post:
Scientists say they have solution to TSA scanner objections — A cheap and simple fix in the computer software of new airport scanners could silence the uproar from travelers who object to the so-called virtual strip search, according to a scientist who helped develop the program …
Discussion:
Commentary, Outside the Beltway, Don Surber and JustOneMinute
ABCNEWS:
WH: Intel Spurred Pat-Down Policy — TSA Under Fire for New Security Procedures, Administrator John Pistole Says Agency May Rethink Protocols — U.S. intelligence has picked up terrorists discussing the use of prosthetic or medical devices to conceal explosives, sources tell ABC News.
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
There Will Be Blood — Former Senator Alan Simpson is a Very Serious Person. He must be — after all, President Obama appointed him as co-chairman of a special commission on deficit reduction. — So here's what the very serious Mr. Simpson said on Friday: “I can't wait for the blood bath in April. ...
Discussion:
Commentary, AMERICAblog News, Wall Street Journal, Firedoglake, No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Post, The Political Carnival, Maggie's Farm, Comments from Left Field, The Mahablog, FT Alphaville, The Confluence, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Prairie Weather, Booman Tribune, Open Left, Dennis the Peasant, skippy the bush kangaroo and Daily Kos
RELATED:
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Left accuses GOP of economic “sabotage” — It looks like some folks on the right are purporting to be really, really surprised by the suggestion being made by some liberals that Republicans will actively try to sabotage the economy in order to increase their odds of taking the White House in 2012.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Washington Monthly and Eschaton
Gerard Wynn / Reuters:
U.S. corn ethanol “was not a good policy"-Gore — * U.S. ethanol consumes about 40 pct corn crop — Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore said support for corn-based ethanol in the United States was “not a good policy”, weeks before tax credits are up for renewal.
Discussion:
Hot Air, Sister Toldjah, The Powers That Be, Moe Lane, Sweetness & Light, OpenMarket.org, Hit & Run and Gawker
RELATED:
Clint Hill / New York Times:
On Mrs. Kennedy's Detail — IT was with great trepidation that I approached 3704 N Street in Washington on Nov. 10, 1960. I had just been given the assignment of providing protection for the wife of the newly elected president of the United States, and I was about to meet her for the first time.
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, msnbc.com, neo-neocon, American Power and The Confluence
RELATED:
Jefferson Morley / The Atlantic Online:
The Kennedy Assassination: 47 Years Later, What Do We Really Know?
The Kennedy Assassination: 47 Years Later, What Do We Really Know?
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh
Jason Zengerle / New York Magazine:
The Answer Is No — New Jersey governor Chris Christie is denying money to teachers and tunnels, oxygen to Democrats, and intentions to run for president in 2012. Which is only making him more popular. — C — hris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, was trolling for clicks.
Discussion:
GayPatriot, Gawker, Democracy in America, Salon and Weasel Zippers
RELATED:
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Christie: All Sen. Lautenberg does is ‘blow hot air’
Christie: All Sen. Lautenberg does is ‘blow hot air’
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog
Feifei Sun / The Page:
Palin Won't “Waste Time” With Couric — Alaskan tells Hannity she wouldn't do another interview with CBS anchor should she run in 2012. — Full interview to air tonight at 9 p.m. — Sarah Palin on whether she would do an interview with Katie Couric if she ran for President:
Discussion:
The Politico
RELATED:
Fhardingj / CNN:
TRENDING: Palin won't ‘waste time’ on Couric
Fhardingj / CNN:
BREAKING: Sources: Plouffe to join White House staff, Axelrod may exit sooner than expected — Washington (CNN) - President Obama is planning to bring former campaign manager David Plouffe onto the White House staff at the beginning of January to work alongside senior adviser David Axelrod …
Discussion:
The Politico
RELATED:
Whoashep / The 1600 Report:
Plouffe to White House, Axelrod may exit sooner
Plouffe to White House, Axelrod may exit sooner
Discussion:
The Political Carnival
Wall Street Journal:
FBI Raids Three Hedge Funds Amid Insider-Trading Case — Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the offices of three hedge funds as part of a high-profile insider-trading investigation, and more could be on the way, according to people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
Politics Daily, Reuters, Law Blog, Money & Company, Gothamist, The Consumerist and New York Magazine
RELATED:
Ashby Jones / Law Blog:
November Raid: After WSJ Story, Feds Step Into High Gear
November Raid: After WSJ Story, Feds Step Into High Gear
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal and Crooks and Liars
J. David Goodman / New York Times:
Expansion of Bike Lanes Brings Backlash — Over the last four years, the streets of New York City have undergone a transformation: More than 250 miles of traffic lanes dedicated for bicycles have been created, and several laws aimed at promoting cycling have been passed.
Discussion:
Runnin' Scared and City Room
RELATED:
Tom Perrotta / Wall Street Journal:
Cycling's New Rules of the Road
Cycling's New Rules of the Road
Discussion:
Gothamist and New York Magazine
John Avlon / The Daily Beast:
Mosque Money Shocker — The so-called ground zero mosque recently applied for a $5 million federal grant from a fund designed to rebuild lower Manhattan after 9/11, reports The Daily Beast's John Avlon. — Developers of the controversial Park51 Islamic community center and mosque located …
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Bombshell evidence may make Waters an ethics nightmare for Dems — Apparently, the Charlie Rangel ethics trial was just the warm-up act. The New York Times reported over the weekend that the House Ethics Committee suddenly postponed the trial of Maxine Waters on ethics violation because it found …
Discussion:
YID With LID, Moe Lane, TPMMuckraker, Weasel Zippers, Wake up America, The Other McCain, Commentary and Power Line
David Frum / CNN:
The right way to honor Ronald Reagan — President Ronald Reagan speaks at a rally February 8, 1982. He was born on February 6, 1911. … Washington (CNN) — We're approaching the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Ronald Reagan: February 6, 2011. It's time to begin thinking seriously …
Discussion:
GayPatriot and sisu
Ben Smith / The Politico:
View from Middle East: President Obama is a problem — JERUSALEM — Vowing to change a region that has resisted the best efforts of presidents and prime ministers past, Barack Obama dove head first into the Middle East peace process on his second day in office. — He was supposed to be different.
John Cassidy / New Yorker:
WHAT GOOD IS WALL STREET? — Much of what investment bankers do is socially worthless. — A few months ago, I came across an announcement that Citigroup, the parent company of Citibank, was to be honored, along with its chief executive, Vikram Pandit, for “Advancing the Field of Asset Building in America.”
Discussion:
National Review, Felix Salmon, The Future of Capitalism, DealBook and Money & Company
BBC:
Saudi school lessons in UK concern government — Panorama went undercover to obtain the books — The government says it will not tolerate anti-Semitic and homophobic lessons being taught to Muslim children in the UK. — BBC Panorama found that more than 40 Saudi Students' Schools …
Discussion:
Atlas Shrugs, Advocate and Harry's Place
Matt Friedman / New Jersey Online:
N.J. Assembly, Senate pass ‘Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights’ in wake of Tyler Clementi's death — TRENTON — The state Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” today — a bipartisan piece of legislation supporters say would make up for an inadequate anti-bullying law …
Discussion:
Politics Daily, Associated Press, Gothamist and Gawker
Associated Press:
Huckabee says ousting of Iowa judges historic move — DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Sunday that Iowa voters likely launched a national movement when ousting three state Supreme Court justices who agreed with a decision to strike a ban on gay marriage.
Discussion:
Des Moines Register, Wonk Room, Outside the Beltway, Ballot Box and Daily Kos
William Bradley / The Huffington Post:
Jerry Brown and the California Exception — What's Your Reaction: — The prodigal son has returned. Not that he ever really left for good. Or was all that prodigal, for that matter. — Jerry Brown's long and winding road has led him back to the door to the suite of offices …
Discussion:
MyDD
Wall Street Journal:
Some States Weigh Unthinkable Option: Ending Medicaid — Huge budget shortfalls are prompting a handful of states to begin discussing a once-unthinkable scenario: dropping out of the Medicaid insurance program for the poor. — Elected and appointed officials in nearly a half-dozen states …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Colorlines, Hit & Run, ThinkProgress and Shakesville
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
When politics of Israel, Cuba collide — The incoming chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs helped shut down an unexpected diplomatic opening between Cuba and Israel earlier this year, sources in Jerusalem and Washington confirmed. — Israeli leaders reacted warmly …
Discussion:
Yglesias, Israel Matzav and Harry's Place