Top Items:
Katrina vanden Heuvel / 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 Politico, Greg Mankiw's Blog, The Huffington Post, Free exchange, The Note, Rortybomb, CNN, TPMDC, ThinkProgress, AmSpecBlog, The Reality-Based Community, Pajamas Media, Ezra Klein, Real Time Economics, The New Republic, Swampland, New Deal 2.0, Ben Smith's Blog, Arkansas Blog 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 …
New York Times:
Obama Defends Tax-Cut Plan as ‘Good Deal’ for Americans — 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” …
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, Roll Call, Outside the Beltway, Ben Smith's Blog, CNN, Wonkette, James Pethokoukis, Washington Monthly and Right Turn
The Huffington Post:
Mary Landrieu: ‘Obama-McConnell’ Plan Is ‘Almost Morally Corrupt’ — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … WASHINGTON — Sen. Mary Landrieu, a conservative Democratic from Louisiana, lashed out Tuesday at President Obama's deal with congressional Republicans that allows tax cuts for the wealthy to be extended for two years.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Firedoglake, Taylor Marsh, Colorlines, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Daily Kos
Ezra Klein:
How the White House cut its deal and lost its base — If you look at the numbers alone, the tax cut deal looks to have robbed Republicans blind. The GOP got around $95 billion in tax cuts for wealthy Americans and $30 billion in estate tax cuts. Democrats got $120 billion in payroll-tax cuts …
Discussion:
Zandar Versus The Stupid
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.
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Poll: Obama supporters strongly opposed to deal extending Bush tax cuts — Okay, we now have our first poll measuring the impact on the Democratic base of Obama's support for a temporary extension of all the Bush tax cuts. Suffice it to say this is a major, make-or-break issue …
Discussion:
Power Line, NationalJournal.com, Slate, The Atlantic Online, TPMDC, Hot Air, Little Green Footballs and Eunomia
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
Tax deal a good, not great, bargain for Republicans
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, Commentary, South Capitol Street and driftglass
Patrick O'Connor / Washington Wire:
Landrieu: ‘Obama-McConnell Plan’
Landrieu: ‘Obama-McConnell Plan’
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's … and Cafe Hayek
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:
CNNMoney.com, Washington Post, McClatchy Washington Bureau, Commentary and The Note
First Read / msnbc.com:
Bush tax cuts just 37 percent of the total deal
Bush tax cuts just 37 percent of the total deal
Discussion:
The New Republic
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:
Pundits Blog, The Hill, PERRspectives, The Page and Daily Kos
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
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?
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New York Times:
British Court Denies Bail to Assange — LONDON — Julian Assange, the founder of the beleaguered WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group, was denied bail by a London court on Tuesday after he was arrested on a Swedish extradition warrant for questioning in connection with alleged sex offenses.
Discussion:
Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Salon, Washington Post, The Other McCain, Law Blog, Raw Story, Fausta's Blog, msnbc.com, Taylor Marsh, NewsBusters.org, South Capitol Street, FP Passport, The Hill, Wonkette, Indecision Forever, pandagon.net, Gizmodo, The Awl, The Nation, Politics Daily and At-Largely, more at Mediagazer »
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Anti-WikiLeaks lies and propaganda - from TNR, Lauer, Feinstein and more — (updated below - Update II - Update III) — (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 …
Discussion:
Guardian, Media Diary, Right Turn, Newshoggers.com, Towleroad News #gay, The New Republic, AlterNet, The Daily Dish, LewRockwell.com Blog and CNN
Julian Assange / TheAustralian:
Don't shoot messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths
Don't shoot messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths
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NPR, The Moderate Voice, New York Times, Guardian, Examiner and The Nation, more at Techmeme »
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:
Slate, Media Diary, CNN, Firedoglake, National Review, Threat Level, ThinkProgress, Salon, Techdirt, Mediaite, Raw Story and Hullabaloo, 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, The Awl, Raw Story and AMERICAblog News
Raleigh News & Observer:
Cancer claims Elizabeth Edwards — Elizabeth Edwards, author of ‘Saving Graces’ , greets and autographs copies of her book for the community in 2006. — Elizabeth Anania Edwards, who became a national figure in her fight against cancer and as a partner in her husband John's political career, died today.
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …, Crooks and Liars and Mediaite
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Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Obama administers a stern scolding to lefty critics — I noted this morning that Obama's strategy going forward will be to position himself as Washington's lone resident adult in a town full of squabbling children on right and left, and at his presser just now, Obama offered a surprisingly stern …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Ben Smith's Blog
Michelle Malkin:
So much for bipartisanship: Obama calls GOP “hostage-takers,” Boehner a “bomb-thrower;” attacks lib critics, too — President Obama looks haggard and peeved and petulant at his White House press briefing on the tax deal, still underway as I type. — Exuding his typical gracelessness …
Discussion:
The Right Scoop, Pundit & Pundette, National Review, RedState, Nice Deb and Commentary
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Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
President Obama takes on deal's Democratic critics
President Obama takes on deal's Democratic critics
Discussion:
Hot Air, The Daily Caller, CNN, New York Times and The Daily Dish
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:
ThinkProgress, Wonk Room, Washington Monthly, Economix, Democracy in America, Ezra Klein and The Politico
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Myglesias / Yglesias:
The Trouble With Fiscal Stimulus, Part Zwei
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, Don Surber, 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
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 Note:
Dem Vows Filibuster of Obama Tax Deal — ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: — The divide between Senate Democrats and Republicans on the tax cut compromise was crystal clear listening to leaders of both parties describe the deal today. — The Senate's top Republican Mitch McConnell said …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, CNN and The Politico
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Jon Walker / Firedoglake:
Health Care Reform Reminder: Dems Could Still Pass Public Option …
Health Care Reform Reminder: Dems Could Still Pass Public Option …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post and Corrente