Why I'm Posting Bail Money for Julian Assange  —  Yesterday, in the Westminster Magistrates Court in London, the lawyers for WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange presented to the judge a document from me stating that I have put up $20,000 of my own money to help bail Mr. Assange out of jail.

Amateur Hour: VA Judge Makes Elementary Error In Health Care Ruling  —  The Virginia federal district court judge who ruled yesterday that the individual mandate in the health care bill is unconstitutional is catching a lot of flack — and not just for having a financial interest in an anti-health care reform consulting firm.

Huge Senate majority votes to advance $858B tax package  —  President Obama's $858 billion tax package won a huge bipartisan majority in the Senate Monday evening, setting it up for a contentious debate in the House.  —  In a 83-15 vote, the Senate quashed a filibuster by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Va.).

The “radical centrists” of No Labels  —  Mark McKinnon and Kiki McLean were on PBS Newshour describing their No Labels group as part of a contingent of disaffected democrats and republicans who are against “hyperpartisanship.”  McKinnon even labeled members of the group as a bunch of “radical centrists.”

Steny Hoyer: Estate tax a ‘great concern’  —  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer kept the door open Tuesday for changes to the estate tax provision embedded in the larger tax deal that's headed to the House floor.  —  The Maryland Democrat said House Democrats are concerned about the provision …

Atheist Ads on Buses Rattle Fort Worth  —  FORT WORTH — Stand on a corner in this city and you might get a case of theological whiplash.  —  A public bus rolls by with an atheist message on its side: “Millions of people are good without God.”  Seconds later, a van follows bearing a riposte: “I still love you.

Key questions surrounding the Rahm Emanuel residency case  —  As Rahm Emanuel prepares to testify in the residency case challenging his eligibility to run for mayor of Chicago, here are some questions and answers.  —  Q. Isn't this just a big joke?  —  A. No, this is serious business.

Scarborough blasts MSNBC's bias: They always will say ‘a George W. Bush-appointee,’ ‘a Reagan appointee’  —  “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough doesn't let much slip by him - well not today, at least.  —  On his December 14 program, Scarborough pointed out the bias at his network, MSNBC, and even offered a particular example.

Corker assembling bloc to demand reforms ahead of debt ceiling vote  —  Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Tuesday he's hoping to assemble a bloc of senators who will demand tax and spending reforms before agreeing to vote to raise the U.S. debt ceiling next year.

No Labels and Other Ripped Off Designs  —  Brooklyn-based artist Thomas Porostocky's friends and fans have been tipping off NY media that his art has been used without permission by the bi-partisan political group No Labels.  —  Porostocky designed star-spangled giraffes …

Memo to the media: They're called “obstructionists”  —  That sore-loser phrase doesn't seem to get much use these days.  Yet watching Senate Republicans in the minority essentially close down the chamber, not allowing any votes to proceed until their demands are met regarding tax cuts for the very wealthy …