For Obama, Tax Deal Is a Back-Door Stimulus  —  A year ago, President Obama and the Democrats made the mistake of assuming that an economic recovery was under way.  This week's deal to extend the Bush tax cuts shows that the White House's top priority is avoiding the same mistake again …

Obama's Deal to Extend High-Earner Tax Cuts Unpopular in Poll  —  Americans don't approve of keeping the breaks for upper-income taxpayers that are part of the deal President Barack Obama brokered with congressional Republicans, a Bloomberg National Poll shows.

LOOKING FOR PLAN B.... The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' Bob Greenstein, who has as much liberal credibility on budget and tax issues as anyone, doesn't seem to like the “disturbing negative” provisions of the tax policy deal struck by the White House and congressional Republicans.

Four Ways To Make The Tax Deal Better.  —  Tax deal apologist that I am, it behooves me to offer some constructive criticism, too, along with a reminder that this deal isn't final until the legislative process makes it so: Congressional Democrats, unable to unify around an original proposal, may try and adapt this framework.

DeMint To Oppose “the Deal”  —  Senator JimDeMint just announced on my program that he will oppose the deal as well as a vote for cloture on the deal.  He is reluctant to criticize GOP Senate leadership, but believes the deal at a minimum has to be paid for, and that we need “a permanent economy” …

In blow to DADT repeal, talks with Senator Collins hit wall  —  Senior Senate Democratic aides are in a panic this morning about the prospects for repeal of don't ask don't tell, because talks with Senator Susan Collins over her procedural demands have hit a wall, with the Democratic leadership dismissing …

Harry Reid tries to add online poker to tax bill  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying to use the tax cut package President Barack Obama brokered with Republicans to legalize online poker, POLITICO has learned — a move that could further complicate the deal Obama announced Monday.

Christine O'Donnell: Extending Unemployment Benefits A ‘Tragedy’ Like Pearl Harbor  —  For the past year, conservatives have used specious, callous, and occasionally offensive arguments against extending unemployment benefits for jobless Americans, but former Delaware GOP Senate nominee …

Pass the Caribou Stew  —  The doomed caribou gazed calmly across the Alaska tundra at Caribou Barbie.  —  The female caribou could easily have escaped, since it took the Wasilla huntress six shots, two rifles and some help from her dad to bag her prey.  (Giving credence to Levi Johnston's contention …