memeorandum: Bomb attack in Sweden: The Cartoon Jihad never ends (Michelle Malkin)

2:15 PM ET, December 12, 2010

Top Items:

Orwellian Centrism — I don't usually bother looking at the Washington Post. But I'm inside the Beltway right now, so I spared a peek — and for my sins ended up reading Dana Milbank, who praises Obama for punching the hippies. — So far, so usual. But then I read this:

Discussion: TalkLeft and Mediaite

Helene Cooper / New York Times:

As the Ground Shifts, Biden Plays a Bigger Role — WASHINGTON — It was the end of a long and testy gripe session with House Democrats on Wednesday, and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had had enough. — For two hours, Mr. Biden had been going back and forth with furious members …

Discussion: JustOneMinute, Don Surber, NewsBusters.org, Prairie Weather, CNN, Daily Kos and The Politico

The Hill:

What happens next in the tax-cut standoff: Three scenarios — If the Bush-era tax cuts are going to be extended beyond Dec. 31, someone is going to have to blink. — Most political insiders believe it will be Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her House Democrats.

Discussion: The Politico, CNN and Prairie Weather

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:

Obama finally stands his ground — For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of President Obama. — I'm not particularly proud of the tax-cut deal he and the Republicans negotiated. But I'm proud that he has finally stood firm against the likes of Peter DeFazio.

Discussion: TalkLeft, JustOneMinute, Raw Story, FiveThirtyEight, Washington Monthly, Taylor Marsh, Gawker, Booman Tribune and naked capitalism

Elizabeth Williamson / Wall Street Journal:
Obama to Convene CEO Summit

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Impolitic, Suburban Guerrilla and New York Times

New York Times:

Stockholm Hit by Blasts After E-Mail Warning — STOCKHOLM — One man was killed and two other people were injured when two explosions hit the heart of Stockholm's city-center shopping district on Saturday evening, the police in the Swedish capital said. The country's foreign minister called …

Discussion: Questions and Observations, The Mahablog, Outside the Beltway, Fausta's Blog, ParaPundit, Yglesias, Jihad Watch, Gates of Vienna, Atlas Shrugs, Balloon Juice, The Jawa Report, The Other McCain and A Chequer-Board of Nights …

Michelle Malkin:
Bomb attack in Sweden: The Cartoon Jihad never ends

Discussion: Fox Nation

Los Angeles Times:
Suspected bomber dies in Stockholm blasts

Discussion: Cubachi, Big Peace, Weasel Zippers, Guardian and Liberty Pundits Blog

BBC:
Stockholm blasts kill one and injure two

Discussion: TalkLeft, Associated Press, Sister Toldjah, 1 The Long War Journal, Hot Air, Reuters and The Local

Michael C. Moynihan / Hit & Run:
Explosions in Stockholm: Suicide Bomber Threatened Swedes, “Pig” Mohammad Cartoonist

Discussion: Moe Lane

The Politico:

Michael Steele to reveal decision Monday — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele plans to announce his reelection plans on Monday evening, and key supporters expect him to drop out of the hotly contested race, top Republicans tell POLITICO.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Pajamas Media

Fhardingj / CNN:

Steele could announce his future on Monday — Washington (CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has organized a private conference call with fellow committee members for Monday night in which he could announce whether he plans to seek a second term.

Jonathan Martin / Ben Smith's Blog:
Steele to hold private conference call

Discussion: The Page

Associated Press:

Israel says it won't share Jerusalem — JERUSALEM — Israel's leader dismissed Sunday a top ally's call to share the holy city of Jerusalem with the Palestinians, another reminder of the challenges the U.S. faces as it shifts gears on its troubled Mideast peacemaking strategy.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and The Gateway Pundit

Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:

Reality Check — The failed attempt by the U.S. to bribe Israel with a $3 billion security assistance package, diplomatic cover and advanced F-35 fighter aircraft — if Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu would simply agree to a 90-day settlements freeze to resume talks with the Palestinians — has been enormously clarifying.

Discussion: FP Passport, Israpundit, Israel Matzav and Yourish.com

Frank Rich / New York Times:

Gay Bashing at the Smithsonian — EACH Aug. 4, my wife Alex and I visit a church to light candles for two people we loved who both died tragically on that day two years apart — my mother, killed at 64 in a car crash, and Alex's closest friend from graduate school, killed by AIDS at half that age.

Discussion: Mediaite, iOwnTheWorld.com, Towleroad News #gay, Todd Starnes and AMERICAblog News

Louise Story / New York Times:

A Secretive Banking Elite Rules Trading in Derivatives — On the third Wednesday of every month, the nine members of an elite Wall Street society gather in Midtown Manhattan. — The men share a common goal: to protect the interests of big banks in the vast market for derivatives …

Discussion: Mother Jones, ECHIDNE of the snakes and The Big Picture

New York Post:

West Village YMCA axes Santa Claus for Frosty — Tweet — He's a lost Claus. — A politically correct West Village YMCA has fired Ol' St. Nick in favor of Frosty. — Kids who once thrilled at sitting on Santa's lap at the 14th Street McBurney YMCA's wildly popular annual holiday luncheon …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Weasel Zippers and Todd Starnes

Brad Knickerbocker / Christian Science Monitor:

Westboro picketers outnumbered at Elizabeth Edwards funeral — Members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards Saturday. But they were vastly outnumbered by a “human buffer” singing Christmas carols. — Members of the controversial Westboro …

Discussion: HotAirPundit and The Reaction