Top Items:
Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Obama's Hostage Deal — I've spent the past couple of days trying to make my peace with the Obama-McConnell tax-cut deal. President Obama did, after all, extract more concessions than most of us expected. — Yet I remain deeply uneasy — not because I'm one of those “purists” …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Dennis the Peasant, Daily Kos, Prairie Weather and TPMCafe
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Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
Swindle of the year — Barack Obama won the great tax-cut showdown of 2010 - and House Democrats don't have a clue that he did. In the deal struck this week, the president negotiated the biggest stimulus in American history, larger than his $814 billion 2009 stimulus package.
Discussion:
Clusterstock, Top of the Ticket, Outside the Beltway and The Page
Jackie Calmes / New York Times:
Obama Weighs Tax Overhaul in Bid to Address Debt — WASHINGTON — President Obama is considering whether to push early next year for an overhaul of the income tax code to lower rates and raise revenues in what would be his first major effort to begin addressing the long-term growth of the national debt.
Discussion:
The Hill, NPR, JustOneMinute, Sky Dancing and TPMDC
Scott Horsley / NPR:
Obama ‘Confident’ Congress Will Pass Tax Deal … “Nobody — Democrat or Republican — wants to see people's paychecks smaller on Jan. 1 because Congress didn't act,” President Obama told NPR's Steve Inskeep during an Oval Office interview on Thursday. — In the face of strong opposition …
Discussion:
CNN, Parker Spitzer and Washington Post
NPR:
Transcript: Obama On Taxes, Economy And START … PRESIDENT OBAMA: All right, fire away. — STEVE INSKEEP: OK, we'll jump right into it here. Mr. President, what do you intend to do about the House Democrats who have said that they are not going to bring your plan to a vote in its current form?
Discussion:
National Review and Politics Daily
Anna Palmer / Roll Call:
Profanity, Anger Spill Over in House Democratic Caucus Meeting — The frustration with President Barack Obama over his tax cut compromise was palpable and even profane at Thursday's House Democratic Caucus meeting. — One unidentified lawmaker went so far as to mutter “f— the president” …
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Noel Sheppard / NewsBusters.org:
Fineman To Olbermann: Democrats Said of Tax Plan ‘F the President,’ ‘No F-ing Way,’ ‘He F-ed It Up’ — Roll Call reported Thursday that during a heated meeting of House Democrats to discuss Barack Obama's tax compromise plan, an unknown member was heard saying, “F—k the President.”
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
Glenn Thrush / The Politico:
Chuck Schumer vs. President Obama — It wasn't on the White House's official schedule, but on Nov. 22 Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) quietly slipped into the Oval Office on a self-appointed mission to steel Barack Obama for the tax cut fight. — Schumer, the newly anointed message guru …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, JustOneMinute, RedState, The Foundry and Daily Kos
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The Politico:
The dirtiest word in politics: Has Barack Obama been caught triangulating?
The dirtiest word in politics: Has Barack Obama been caught triangulating?
Discussion:
Washington Wire and Politics Daily
Raymond Hernandez / New York Times:
Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers
Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Booman Tribune, Outside the Beltway, TPMDC, The Hill, msnbc.com, Corrente, VetVoice, democracyarsenal.org, Firedoglake, Taylor Marsh, Balloon Juice, The Democratic Daily, Guardian, The Reaction, The New Republic, Daily Kos, PointOfLaw Forum, The Mahablog and Indecision Forever
Susan Crabtree / The Hill:
Dems show signs of abandoning Obama elsewhere after frustration with tax deal
Dems show signs of abandoning Obama elsewhere after frustration with tax deal
Discussion:
Hot Air
Carrie Budoff Brown / The Politico:
Senate tax bill lures Democrats with sweeteners
Senate tax bill lures Democrats with sweeteners
Discussion:
Hot Air, Liberty Pundits Blog, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Pundit & Pundette, CNN, DownWithTyranny! and Open Congress
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Why Harry Reid decided to move foward with DADT vote — Earlier this afternoon, just before Harry Reid went onto the Senate floor and gave a speech calling for a vote on repeal of don't ask don't tell — which has now failed — he turned to a Senate aide and shrugged his shoulders.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Roll Call, The Politico, The Other McCain, The White House, A plain blog about politics, The New Republic, AMERICAblog Gay, Federal Eye, Sky Dancing, The Hill, msnbc.com, Crooks and Liars, VetVoice, Close Read, Hot Air, ThinkProgress, Washington Post, Wonk Room, MyDD, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Daily Dish, Towleroad News #gay and The Moderate Voice
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Adam Serwer / American Prospect:
DADT Repeal Fails. — I've only been covering politics for a few years. So while I've witnessed a number of sad political moments— like Congress voting to go to war in Iraq with only six senators having actually read the NIE beforehand — the Senate's failure to repeal the ban on allowing gays …
Discussion:
The Confluence and AMERICAblog Gay
Wall Street Journal:
Big Patent Firm Sues Nine Tech Firms — Technology companies on Wednesday received troubling news that some had feared for years: Intellectual Ventures LLC has started suing. — The secretive firm co-founded by former Microsoft Corp. Chief Technology Officer Nathan Myhrvold has raised $5 billion …
Discussion:
Yglesias, Mother Jones and Felix Salmon
Sarah Palin / Wall Street Journal:
Why I Support the Ryan Roadmap — Let's not settle for the big-government status quo, which is what the president's deficit commission offers. — The publication of the findings of the president's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform was indeed, as the report was titled, “A Moment of Truth.”
Discussion:
CNN, Hot Air, The Page, GOP 12, iOwnTheWorld.com, Conservatives4Palin.com, AmSpecBlog, The Gateway Pundit and Israpundit
Bloomberg:
Americans in Poll Want Deficit Cut With Entitlements Secured — Americans want Congress to bring down a federal budget deficit that many believe is “dangerously out of control,” only under two conditions: minimize the pain and make the rich pay. — The public wants Congress to keep …
Discussion:
Capital Gains and Games blogs
Daily Mail:
Pure terror in her eyes: Charles and Camilla surrounded by baying tuition fees mob who attacked their car screaming ‘Off with their heads’ — With terror written across her face, the Duchess of Cornwall comes under fire from a snarling mob of student fees rioters last night.
Discussion:
Hot Air, RedState, Guardian, CBS News, The Gateway Pundit, Joe. My. God., South Capitol Street and National Review
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Paul Harris / Daily Mail:
Defacing the Cenotaph, urinating on Churchill... how young thugs …
Defacing the Cenotaph, urinating on Churchill... how young thugs …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, National Review and Guardian
CNN:
Palin to make surprise trip to Haiti — (CNN) - It turns out that Sarah Palin's next overseas trip won't be to England or Israel, as was widely reported Thursday. — CNN has learned that the former Alaska governor will be traveling to Haiti this weekend with Franklin Graham and his relief organization Samaritan's Purse.
Discussion:
Online NewsHour, The Politico, National Review and Cubachi
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Becky Bohrer / Associated Press:
Palin to visit Haiti for humanitarian effort
Palin to visit Haiti for humanitarian effort
Discussion:
Politics Daily, Christianity Today, The Daily Beast and Conservatives4Palin.com
Scott Wong / The Politico:
Lugar a definite yes vote on DREAM - again — Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) said on Thursday he absolutely will vote for the DREAM Act. That should be of little surprise since he's co-sponsored several versions of the immigration legislation. — But earlier this week, Lugar's backing began to waver.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
RELATED:
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Senate Dems put DREAM Act on hold after House passage
Senate Dems put DREAM Act on hold after House passage
Discussion:
The Politico, Wonk Room, Salon, TPMDC and The Plum Line
Washington Wire:
The Number: $858 Billion — The Obama-McConnell tax compromise will cost $858 billion over the next 10 years, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. — In other words, the Republican-backed tax plan will cost more than the stimulus bill, which priced out at $787 billion.
Justin Lahart / Wall Street Journal:
Companies Cling to Cash — Coffers Swell to 51-year high as Cautious Firms Put Off Investing in Growth — Corporate America's cash pile has hit its highest level in half a century. — Rather than pouring their money into building plants or hiring workers, nonfinancial companies in the U.S …
Karen Tumulty / Washington Post:
Santorum: A 2012 long shot tests the water — GOFFSTOWN, N.H. - It was pushing 10 p.m., and Rick Santorum was sitting at the corner table in a near-empty Dunkin' Donuts. The garishly lit scene might have been lifted straight from the movie “Primary Colors.”
Discussion:
Ballot Box, USA Today, GOP 12 and The Page
Shane D'Aprile / Ballot Box:
Manchin votes against 'Don't ask' repeal, then apologizes — Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) appeared to take a stand on the repeal of “Don't ask, don't tell” Thursday, becoming the only Senate Democrat to vote against a procedural motion to move the measure forward.
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …
Pam Spaulding / Pam's House Blend:
A New Year's wish for the community: Joe Solmonese's resignation — I'm sure you know that's been my position for some time, but in harmony with Autumn's post last night that summarized the complete Senate legislative fail yesterday, it's simply too easy to point the finger at just Harry Reid …
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Obama lights the National Christmas Tree, says ‘Merry Christmas’ three times — President Obama's words at lighting of National Christmas Tree, as provided by the White House — THE PRESIDENT: Merry Christmas, everybody! — AUDIENCE: Merry Christmas! — THE PRESIDENT: Happy holidays.
Discussion:
sisu
Steve Green / Las Vegas Sun:
Drudge Report owner sued by Righthaven — Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC on Wednesday filed its second copyright infringement lawsuit over Denver Post material, this time suing a big target: Drudge Report operator Matt Drudge. — The suit, filed in U.S. District Court …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog and The Latest Word, more at Mediagazer »
New York Times:
At Peace Prize Ceremony, Winner's Chair Stays Empty — OSLO — Imprisoned in China and with close family members forbidden to leave the country, the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, his absence represented at the prize ceremony here on Friday by an empty chair.
Discussion:
Politics Daily and The Lede
David Brooks / New York Times:
Obama's Very Good Week — Over the past week we've seen the big differences between cluster liberals and network liberals. Cluster liberals (like cluster conservatives) view politics as a battle between implacable opponents. As a result, they believe victory is achieved through maximum unity.
Ed Barnes / Fox News:
Stuxnet Worm Still Out of Control at Iran's Nuclear Sites, Experts Say — Aug 21: The first fuel is loaded into the reactor building at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. — EXCLUSIVE: Iran's nuclear program is still in chaos despite its leaders' adamant claim …
Discussion:
Hot Air and Israel Matzav