Top Items:
Joe Biden / Washington Post:
Obama: On the way to a failed presidency? — Ronald Reagan famously quipped that the Democratic Party left him before he left the party. Like many progressive supporters of Barack Obama, I'm beginning to have the same feeling about this president. — Consider what we've seen since …
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Paul Krugman:
The Deal — So the tax deal is out. Obama extracted some concessions, with the big surprise being a payroll tax cut. How much better do these concessions make the thing? — Well, for starters we have the two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts. As I pointed out yesterday …
Jake Tapper / Political Punch:
Senior White House Official: ‘We Wanted a Fight,’ too. Congressional Dems 'Wouldn't Throw a Punch' — Vice President Biden heads to Capitol Hill today to lobby Senate Democrats to support the tax cut compromise, as President Obama faces criticism from congressional Democrats …
Jennifer Rubin / Right Turn:
Obama sells out the left: a Republican win on taxes — There really is no other way to say it: the Republicans won, the liberal Democrats lost, and the president sided with the Republicans. The subject, of course, is an agreement to extend all the Bust tax cuts.
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Sen. Durbin: Dems could ‘walk out’ on tax cut deal — A bloc of Senate Democrats could decide not to support a White House-brokered deal on tax cuts and unemployment benefits, thereby putting the plan in danger, according to the second-ranking Senate Democrat.
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Post, Ben Smith's Blog, CNN, Roll Call, Wonkette, ABCNEWS, Washington Monthly, James Pethokoukis and Right Turn
Ezra Klein:
Wonkbook: Everything you need to know about the Bush tax cut deal — I'll admit it: I didn't think they had it in them. A temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts? Sure, they could manage that. Fear is a powerful motivator in Washington, and nothing scares politicians like the threat of a tax hike on their constituents.
New York Times:
Tax Deal Suggests New Path for Obama — WASHINGTON — President Obama announced a tentative deal with Congressional Republicans on Monday to extend the Bush-era tax cuts at all income levels for two years as part of a package that would also keep benefits flowing to the long-term unemployed …
Discussion:
Ezra Klein, CNN, The Note, The Politico, Wonk Room, Capital Gains and Games blogs, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, ThinkProgress, Free exchange, The Daily Dish, Associated Press, Rortybomb, PERRspectives, Ben Smith's Blog, Economix, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/*, Indecision Forever, Sky Dancing, Fox News, The Reality-Based Community, The Hill, NBC Chicago, Swampland, South Capitol Street, New Deal 2.0, New York Magazine, The Confluence, Online NewsHour, Wonkette, Arkansas Blog, Balloon Juice, The Huffington Post, The Atlantic Online, Hot Air, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, FiveThirtyEight, Guardian, Firedoglake, Hullabaloo, The Sundries Shack, CANNONFIRE, Economist's View and New York Times
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Tax deal a good, not great, bargain for Republicans — It's victory! It's defeat! It's the end of Obama! It's the end of the world! The deal to keep the current tax rates in place has received soaring praise and bitter criticism on the Right, but the truth is that the deal winds …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, South Capitol Street, Commentary, driftglass and Power Line
The Politico:
Liberal Dems to Obama: Fight harder — Resentments between President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats that began simmering even before their midterm disaster are nearing the boiling point on Capitol Hill, as liberals make clear that Obama's efforts to strike a lame-duck deal …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Top of the Ticket, Hot Air, Taylor Marsh and The Other McCain
New York Times:
Obama Seeks to Deflect Anger in Party Over Tax Deal
Obama Seeks to Deflect Anger in Party Over Tax Deal
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Green, TPMDC, National Review, The Atlantic Online and ECHIDNE of the snakes
First Read / msnbc.com:
Bush tax cuts just 37 percent of the total deal
Center for American Progress:
Tax and Unemployment Agreement Leads to Jobs Growth
Tax and Unemployment Agreement Leads to Jobs Growth
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Ezra Klein, The Politico and Democracy in America
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Poll: Obama supporters strongly opposed to deal extending Bush tax cuts
Poll: Obama supporters strongly opposed to deal extending Bush tax cuts
Discussion:
TPMDC, Little Green Footballs and Hot Air
Myglesias / Yglesias:
The Trouble With Fiscal Stimulus, Part Zwei
Russell Berman / The Hill:
Pelosi attacks Obama-GOP tax plan as House Dems signal fight
Pelosi attacks Obama-GOP tax plan as House Dems signal fight
Discussion:
The Hill, Daily Kos and Open Congress
Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Left sees tax surrender, says Obama reelection bid now crippled
Left sees tax surrender, says Obama reelection bid now crippled
Discussion:
The Note
Byron York / Washington Examiner:
In tax defeat, Dems pay the price for old tricks
In tax defeat, Dems pay the price for old tricks
Discussion:
Betsy's Page
Jeanne Sahadi / CNNMoney.com:
Tax cut deal and surprise stimulus - the cost
Tax cut deal and surprise stimulus - the cost
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, CNN, Parker Spitzer, Swampland and EconomistMom.com
David Weigel / Slate:
Just How Big of a Dive is Obama Taking on Tax Cuts?
Just How Big of a Dive is Obama Taking on Tax Cuts?
Discussion:
NationalJournal.com, The Daily Dish, AmSpecBlog, The Plum Line, Salon, Eunomia and alicublog
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Does President Obama have a liberal problem?
Does President Obama have a liberal problem?
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, The Plum Line, Questions and Observations and Commentary
Scott Wilson / Washington Post:
Obama's tax cut extension part of strategy to show bipartisanship
Obama's tax cut extension part of strategy to show bipartisanship
Discussion:
The Fix, Right Wing News and Prairie Weather
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION.... At the surface …
MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION.... At the surface …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Note, The Politico, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, RedState and msnbc.com
New York Times:
British Court Denies Bail to Assange in Sex Inquiry — LONDON — Julian Assange, the founder of the beleaguered WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group, was denied bail by a London court on Tuesday and said that he would resist extradition to Sweden where he faces questioning in connection with alleged sex offenses.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Guardian, msnbc.com, Media Diary, Taylor Marsh, The Awl, pandagon.net, NewsBusters.org, FP Passport, Raw Story, The Hill, Wonkette, Indecision Forever, The Nation, At-Largely and CNN, more at Mediagazer »
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Richard Pendlebury / Daily Mail:
The Wikileaks sex files: How two one-night stands sparked a worldwide hunt for Julian Assange — A winter morning in backwoods Scandinavia and the chime of a church bell drifts across the snowbound town of Enkoping. Does it also toll for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange?
BBC:
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange arrested in London — Julian Assange denies sexually assaulting the two women — The founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been arrested by police in London. — The 39-year-old Australian, who was the subject of a European arrest warrant …
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Anti-WikiLeaks lies and propaganda - from TNR, Lauer, Feinstein and more — (updated below - Update II) — (1) In The New Republic today, Todd Gitlin writes an entire anti-WikiLeaks column that is based on an absolute factual falsehood. Anyone listening to most media accounts would believe …
Discussion:
Newshoggers.com, The Daily Dish, Guardian, The New Republic, AlterNet, CNN and The Excavator, more at Mediagazer »
Dianne Feinstein / Wall Street Journal:
Prosecute Assange Under the Espionage Act
Prosecute Assange Under the Espionage Act
Discussion:
Guardian, Right Turn, Technology Liberation Front, LewRockwell.com Blog, BLACKFIVE and Raw Story
Julian Assange / TheAustralian:
Don't shoot messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths
Don't shoot messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, NPR, New York Times, Guardian, Examiner and The Nation, more at Mediagazer »
Christopher Hitchens / Slate:
The WikiLeaks founder is an unscrupulous megalomaniac with a political agenda.
The WikiLeaks founder is an unscrupulous megalomaniac with a political agenda.
Discussion:
New Atlanticist and The Daily Caller
Guardian:
WikiLeaks: US Senator Joe Lieberman suggests New York Times could be investigated
WikiLeaks: US Senator Joe Lieberman suggests New York Times could be investigated
Discussion:
Media Diary, ThinkProgress, Hullabaloo, Techdirt, Raw Story, National Review and Associated Press, more at Mediagazer »
Naomi Wolf / The Huffington Post:
Julian Assange Captured by World's Dating Police
Julian Assange Captured by World's Dating Police
Discussion:
Associated Press, Raw Story and AMERICAblog News, more at Techmeme »
Associated Press:
Elizabeth Edwards gravely ill with cancer — WASHINGTON (AP) — Elizabeth Edwards over the past six years has seen her husband's presidential ambitions thwarted, retreated from public life as their marriage disintegrated over his affair, then emerged to advocate for changes …
Discussion:
WTVD-TV
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The Star-Ledger Editorial Page:
Christie's bully act getting old — Two years ago, when Chris Christie announced he was running for governor, he dismissed questions about his days as the Godzilla freeholder — when he breathed fire on almost every issue, insulted Morris County colleagues and needlessly stomped on countless toes.
The Smoking Gun:
Palin Success Triggered FCC Complaints — Voting, hug angered “Dancing with the Stars” viewers … In the days after Bristol Palin was voted into the finals of “Dancing with the Stars,” viewers from across the country wrote to the Federal Communications Commission accusing the ABC show …
Discussion:
Cubachi, Mediaite and Liberty Pundits Blog
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Andy Barr / The Politico:
Rebuffed by Sarah Palin, tea party group picks Saul Anuzis
Rebuffed by Sarah Palin, tea party group picks Saul Anuzis
Discussion:
USA Today
Philip J. Crowley / US Department of State:
U.S. to Host World Press Freedom Day in 2011 — Press Statement — Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs — Washington, DC — The United States is pleased to announce that it will host UNESCO's World Press Freedom Day event in 2011, from May 1 - May 3 in Washington …
Discussion:
Gizmodo and Boing Boing
Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Unloads Citi Stake for a $12 Billion Profit — The U.S. Treasury sold the last of its Citigroup Inc. common shares in a $10.5 billion offering that capped the government's biggest bank bailout of the financial-market meltdown. — The stock sale, which was finalized Monday evening …
Discussion:
The Political Carnival and msnbc.com
Condoleezza Rice / Wall Street Journal:
New Start: Ratify, With Caveats — The treaty helpfully reinstates on-site verification of Russian nuclear forces, but senators should make it clear to Moscow that they don't see it as limiting U.S. missile defenses. — When U.S. President Bush and Russian President Putin signed the Moscow Treaty in 2002 …
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Monthly, Wonk Room, msnbc.com and ThinkProgress