memeorandum: A Secretive Banking Elite Rules Trading in Derivatives (Louise Story/New York Times)

12:30 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, Prairie Weather, Daily Kos and The Politico

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: JustOneMinute, TalkLeft, Washington Monthly, Taylor Marsh, Booman Tribune and naked capitalism

Elizabeth Williamson / Wall Street Journal:

Obama to Convene CEO Summit — WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama will convene a one-day summit of corporate chief executives Wednesday as part of a renewed White House effort to build support among business leaders for his economic agenda. — Executives from Google, Cisco Systems, Inc. …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Impolitic and Suburban Guerrilla

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: CNN and Prairie Weather

Jackie Calmes / New York Times:
Obama to Meet With Executives

Discussion: Sky Dancing, Crooks and Liars and CNN

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

Los Angeles Times:

Suspected bomber dies in Stockholm blasts — Two people are injured in the two explosions in the Swedish capital and the apparent bomber is found fatally injured on the sidewalk nearby. An e-mail to news media threatens to take revenge for Sweden's ‘war against Islam.’

Discussion: Cubachi, Weasel Zippers, Big Peace and Guardian

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

Discussion: Moe Lane

The Local:
One dead after suicide bombing in Stockholm

Discussion: The Local, Associated Press and The Gateway Pundit

BBC:
Stockholm blasts kill one and injure two

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

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 and Weasel Zippers

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

Kim Severson / New York Times:
Edwards Eulogized as Defender of Her Family

Discussion: New York Times, American Power and ThinkProgress

NY Daily News:

Mark Madoff, oldest son of Bernie Madoff, hangs himself with dog leash in SoHo apartment — Mark Madoff was found dead in his SoHo apartment Saturday morning. He apparently killed himself with his son in the next room, sources say. — The eldest son of disgraced Ponzi schemer Bernard …

Discussion: Gothamist, Above the Law, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Clusterstock and Joe. My. God.

Wall Street Journal:
Life After Madoff's ‘Big Lie’

Discussion: msnbc.com, Clusterstock, Right Wing News, DealBook, Associated Press, The Moderate Voice, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and New York Times

Myglesias / Yglesias:

Technology and Currency — A thought while waiting at the gate at Frankfurt Airport: 20 years ago before the near-universal availability of credit cards and ATMs, having a single currency for Europe would have offered tremendous practical advantages. You could fly from Dublin to Paris …

Discussion: Free exchange and Outside the Beltway

Jonathan Martin / Ben Smith's Blog:

Steele to hold private conference call — RNC Chairman Michael Steele will hold a private conference call Monday night with members of the national committee at which time he may reveal whether he intends to seek another term atop the party. — Steele, who since the election has been mum about his plans …

Discussion: The Page