memeorandum: WikiLeaks cables reveal how US manipulated climate accord (Damian Carrington/Guardian)

Now it's all or nothing on tax cuts — Democrats failed to break a Republican filibuster Saturday of two measures that would have ended Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, forcing both parties back to the negotiating table if they want to avert a tax hike next year for most Americans.

Discussion: Associated Press, No More Mister Nice Blog, Mediaite, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Wake up America, Scared Monkeys and Washington Monthly

Graham: GOP ‘made some pretty poor choices’ for Senate candidates this fall — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that Republicans “made some pretty poor choices” in choosing their Senate candidates this fall. — Graham, in a Senate floor speech on Saturday, made an aside comment underscoring …

Discussion: Scared Monkeys and Weasel Zippers

J. Taylor Rushing / The Hill:

Senate rejects million-dollar tax-cut compromise in Saturday session — United Senate Republicans joined a small handful of Democrats on Saturday to defeat a pair of proposals to extend some of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts signed into law by President George W. Bush.

Discussion: Sky Dancing, Outside the Beltway and Booman Tribune

David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:

Senate Rejects Obama's Tax Plan, Setting Stage for Deal — WASHINGTON — The Senate on Saturday rejected President Obama's proposal to end the Bush-era tax breaks on income above $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals, a triumph for Republicans who have long called for continuing the income tax cuts for everyone.

Discussion: RedState

The Politico:

Now it's all or nothing on tax cuts — “It became apparent the second time we met that actually there weren't going to be any bipartisan negotiations to reach a decision until there had been a political catharsis on the Democratic side,” said Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who was tapped for a bipartisan working group led by the administration.

Discussion: Power Line and Outside the Beltway

Patricia Murphy / Politics Daily:
Senate Blocks Democrats on Middle Class Tax Cut; Obama Still Confident of Deal

Discussion: ThinkProgress

CNN:
Democratic procedural votes on extending Bush tax cuts fail in Senate

Discussion: TPMDC, Mediaite and New York Magazine

Washington Post:

Hollywood myth-making on Valerie Plame controversy — WE'RE NOT in the habit of writing movie reviews. But the recently released film “Fair Game” - which covers a poisonous Washington controversy during the war in Iraq - deserves some editorial page comment, if only because of what its promoters are saying about it.

Discussion: Wonk Room, Pajamas Media, Balloon Juice, TBogg, NO QUARTER and Grasping Reality …

Daily Mail:

Narnia fans' fury after Liam Neeson claims Aslan - the symbol of Christ - could also be Mohammed — The much-loved children's stories have an unapologetic Christian message. — C. S. Lewis was clear that the character of Aslan in his Chronicles of Narnia is based on Christ.

Discussion: Big Hollywood, Jihad Watch and Right Wing News

Charles M. Blow / New York Times:

She Who Must Not Be Named — This is it. This is the last time I'm going to write the name Sarah Palin until she does something truly newsworthy, like declare herself a candidate for the presidency. Until then, I will no longer take part in the left's obsessive-compulsive fascination with her …

Discussion: Wake up America, Towleroad News #gay, Balloon Juice, House of Eratosthenes, No More Mister Nice Blog, Daily Kos, Vox Popoli, Prairie Weather and Eschaton

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

WHY COMPROMISE WITH THESE GUYS IS IMPOSSIBLE, PART MCCXVII.... I can only hope folks in the West Wing take a moment to consider what incoming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told Slate's John Dickerson the other day. … Ryan went on to say Republicans sent some letters …

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Michael Lerner / Washington Post:

Save Obama - by running against him — People who used to say, “Give President Obama more time” when the president was criticized for capitulating to the right, or who argued that Obama must have a plan to turn things around, are now largely depressed and angry.

Discussion: Eunomia and Vox Popoli

Reuters:

Clinton charm falls flat with Iranian minister — (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton lost him at “hello.” — The Secretary of State had a rare chance to interact with Iran's foreign minister at a Bahrain security conference, where Clinton urged Tehran to engage with the international community …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and The Hill

New York Times:

Cables Discuss Vast Hacking by a China That Fears the Web — As China ratcheted up the pressure on Google to censor its Internet searches last year, the American Embassy sent a secret cable to Washington detailing one reason top Chinese leaders had become so obsessed with the Internet search company: they were Googling themselves.

Discussion: The Peking Duck, more at Techmeme »

J. Taylor Rushing / The Hill:

Reid on schedule: No Christmas work — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Saturday said Democrats plan to move forward next week on several votes including the DREAM act to establish U.S. citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. — Speaking midway through …

Discussion: The Politico

Damian Carrington / Guardian:

WikiLeaks cables reveal how US manipulated climate accord — Embassy dispatches show America used spying, threats and promises of aid to get support for Copenhagen accord — WikiLeaks cables: Cancún climate talks doomed to fail, says EU president — Cancún climate change summit: Week one in pictures

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, LewRockwell.com Blog and Dot Earth

Shane D'Aprile / The Hill:

Dem congressman: Afghanistan conflict ‘not a winnable war’ — With President Obama on the ground in Afghanistan Friday, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) declared the U.S.-led war in that country unwinnable. — In an appearance on MSNBC's “Hardball” with Chris Matthews, the Democrat said the war …

Discussion: theblogprof, Weasel Zippers and The Other McCain

The Huffington Post:

Obama Issues First Pardons Of His Presidency — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … WASHINGTON — President Obama, who had gone nearly 700 days without using his clemency power, finally issued nine pardons on Friday afternoon to a very minor rogue's gallery of small-time felons who long ago did their time, if they did any at all.

Discussion: Daily Kos and FrumForum

Shane D'Aprile / The Hill:

Obama signs stopgap measure to keep government running for another 15 days — President Obama signed a short-term stopgap measure into law Saturday that will keep the federal government operating through Dec. 18. — It was passed by the House Wednesday and cleared by the Senate Thursday night …

Discussion: Politics Daily

The Huffington Post:

4 Million Americans Set To Lose Unemployment Benefits Even If Congress Passes Extension (CHART) — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … Even as Congress debates whether to extend emergency unemployment checks for more than 6 million Americans who are approaching the 99-week limit …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Discussion: Hot Air, Big Government and Salon