Top Items:
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 …
Discussion:
The Note, Greg Mankiw's Blog, TPMDC, Pajamas Media, The Politico, Colorlines, Ezra Klein, The New Republic, Real Time Economics, Economist's View and Peter Daou
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 …
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:
Washington Post, The Hill, Ben Smith's Blog, CNN, Roll Call, Wonkette, Washington Monthly, James Pethokoukis and Right Turn
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.
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.
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:
Ezra Klein, Outside the Beltway, Commentary, South Capitol Street, driftglass and Power Line
New York Times:
Obama Seeks to Deflect Anger in Party Over Tax Deal — WASHINGTON — President Obama, facing a Democratic revolt over his tax accord with Republicans, defended the package on Tuesday, saying his party's lawmakers ought to support it as a “good deal for the American people” …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Green, National Review, TPMDC, ECHIDNE of the snakes, The Atlantic Online and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
Center for American Progress:
Tax and Unemployment Agreement Leads to Jobs Growth — Agreement Will Create or Save 2.2 Million Jobs Despite Wasteful Tax Policies — A job seeker fills out an application while attending a job fair in Livonia, MI. The Obama administration clearly had its eye on job creation …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Ezra Klein, The Politico and Democracy in America
New York Times:
Tax Deal Suggests New Path for Obama
Tax Deal Suggests New Path for Obama
Discussion:
The Note, The Politico, Washington Monthly, CNN, Capital Gains and Games blogs, Free exchange, Wonk Room, The Daily Dish, ThinkProgress, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Associated Press, Ezra Klein, Rortybomb, Swampland, Economix, Fox News, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/*, Indecision Forever, Ben Smith's Blog, Sky Dancing, The Hill, South Capitol Street, New Deal 2.0, The Reality-Based Community, New York Magazine, NBC Chicago, The Confluence, Online NewsHour, Wonkette, Arkansas Blog, The Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Balloon Juice, The Atlantic Online, FiveThirtyEight, Hot Air, Hullabaloo, Guardian, The Sundries Shack and Firedoglake
The Politico:
Liberal Dems to Obama: Fight harder
Liberal Dems to Obama: Fight harder
Discussion:
The Fix, Top of the Ticket, The Atlantic Online, Hot Air, Taylor Marsh and The Other McCain
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:
The Atlantic Online, TPMDC, Little Green Footballs and Hot Air
First Read / msnbc.com:
Bush tax cuts just 37 percent of the total deal
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 Huffington Post, Pundits Blog, The Hill and Daily Kos
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:
McClatchy Washington Bureau and The Note
Myglesias / Yglesias:
The Trouble With Fiscal Stimulus, Part Zwei
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Obama to sell tax deal at press conference
Obama to sell tax deal at press conference
Discussion:
CNN, PERRspectives, Daily Kos and The Hill
Jeanne Sahadi / CNNMoney.com:
Tax cut deal and surprise stimulus - the cost
Tax cut deal and surprise stimulus - the cost
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Parker Spitzer and Swampland
NationalJournal.com:
Deal Adds to Uncertainty, Debt
Deal Adds to Uncertainty, Debt
Discussion:
The New Republic and South Capitol Street
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:
AmSpecBlog, The Daily Dish, The Plum Line, Salon, Eunomia and alicublog
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:
New York Times, CNN, The Plum Line, The Fix and Right Wing News
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:
Guardian, Washington Post, Salon, msnbc.com, Media Diary, Taylor Marsh, NewsBusters.org, FP Passport, pandagon.net, The Awl, Raw Story, The Hill, Wonkette and Indecision Forever
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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?
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:
Guardian, Newshoggers.com, The Daily Dish, The New Republic, AlterNet and CNN
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 …
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:
Firedoglake, Media Diary, ThinkProgress, Salon, Hullabaloo, Techdirt, National Review and Raw Story, 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 »
Julian Assange / TheAustralian:
Don't shoot messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths
Don't shoot messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths
Discussion:
NPR, The Moderate Voice, New York Times, Guardian and Examiner, more at Techmeme »
Dianne Feinstein / Wall Street Journal:
Prosecute Assange Under the Espionage Act
Prosecute Assange Under the Espionage Act
Discussion:
Technology Liberation Front, Right Turn, Guardian, LewRockwell.com Blog, BLACKFIVE and Raw Story, 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:
Washington Post, New Atlanticist and The Daily Caller, more at Mediagazer »
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.
Discussion:
Salon
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
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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Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Klobuchar Formidable — Amy Klobuchar is overwhelmingly popular and would cruise to reelection at this point pretty much no matter who her Republican opponent was. — Klobuchar's approval rating is 59% with only 29% of voters disapproving of her. She is universally well liked by the Democratic base …
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's … and Minnesota Independent
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
Sam Dillon / New York Times:
Top Test Scores From Shanghai Stun Educators — With China's debut in international standardized testing, students in Shanghai have surprised experts by outscoring their counterparts in dozens of other countries, in reading as well as in math and science, according to the results of a respected exam.
Discussion:
Indecision Forever and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog