Top Items:
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
WHY MUST HE BE SUCH AN ANGRY OLD MAN.... Most good stories have heroes, and when it comes to the story of repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the list of heroes is wonderfully long. — And then there are the villains. … Watching McCain rail endlessly yesterday was a genuinely painful experience.
Discussion:
The Impolitic
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Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
John McCain at his fieriest before 'don't ask, don't tell' vote — If John McCain gets any more hostile toward his Senate colleagues, they might consider having him go through the metal detector before he enters the Capitol. — Saturday's debate on the repeal of the “don't-ask-don't-tell” …
Manu Raju / The Politico:
John McCain's new role: GOP agitator — Sen. John McCain is getting under the skin of Democrats these days — and he seems to be relishing it. — After Democrats scrapped a massive $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill Thursday, McCain gloated about its defeat — and Democrats fumed.
Discussion:
CNN, No More Mister Nice Blog, Pat Dollard and Theo Spark
Josh Rogin / Foreign Policy:
McCain's New START amendment goes down, Risch amendment up next — Supporters of the New Start treaty staved off an attempt by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and John Barrasso (R-WY) to attach a “treaty killing” amendment on the Senate floor Saturday afternoon. Next up is an amendment by Sen. James Risch …
Discussion:
NBC New York, Wonk Room, Daily Kos, Firedoglake and National Review
Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
McConnell says he ‘cannot support’ nuclear arms treaty — WASHINGTON (CNN) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voiced opposition Sunday to the New START - a nuclear arms treaty with Russia - saying that members of his party need more time to consider the legislation.
Discussion:
The Reaction and Hot Air
RELATED:
Reuters:
START struggling to get to finish line — The new START treaty teetered on a knife's edge Sunday - with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) going public with opposition to the U.S.-Russia nuclear arms deal, hoping to halt any momentum treaty backers are generating.
Discussion:
CNN
The Hill:
Republicans dig in their heels on nuclear treaty as Dems push vote — Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) predicted victory Sunday for the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, but his Republican counterpart said that unless there are changes to the preamble he is “absolutely” voting no.
Chris Geidner / Poliglot:
White House Won't Commit to Halting DADT Discharges — a Move Urged By Reid, Levin
Discussion:
The Confluence, Firedoglake and Pam's House Blend
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Senate Rejects Amendment Blocking New Start Treaty
Discussion:
CNN, The Note, The Politico, Politics Daily, Washington Monthly, Raw Story, Prairie Weather, The Hill, ThinkProgress and Washington Post
New York Post:
Saudi king may want to move Ground Zero mosque to St. Vincent's site — A Manhattan lawyer with ties to the Saudi royal family is sounding out officials and community leaders about a plan to move the controversial Ground Zero mosque to the West Village. — Attorney Dudley Gaffin …
Discussion:
Runnin' Scared, JammieWearingFool, Weasel Zippers and Scared Monkeys
ABCNEWS:
Democrats Confident that 9/11 Health Bill Will Pass — One More Republican Vote Needed to Pass Bill for Responders and Victims — The first responders still suffering health effects more than nine years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks could get a “Christmas miracle” this year, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said today.
Discussion:
The Impolitic and Raw Story
RELATED:
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
WASHINGTON — Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said Saturday …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Blue Wave News, Madville Times and Daily Kos
Gili Cohen / Haaretz:
Body of U.S. tourist found near Jerusalem; police suspect terror attack — Christine Logan disappeared on Saturday, when she and a Jerusalem-area friend were stabbed by assailants while hiking at an archaeological site; her friend, Susan Kaye Wilson, was hospitalized in moderate condition.
Discussion:
Israellycool, Liveshots and The Jawa Report
RELATED:
David Leppard / TheAustralian:
Lawyers cry foul over leak of Julian Assange sex-case papers — LAWYERS for Julian Assange have expressed anger about an alleged smear campaign against the Australian WikiLeaks founder. — Incriminating police files were published in the British newspaper that has used him as its source for hundreds of leaked US embassy cables.
Discussion:
Runnin' Scared, Raw Story, YID With LID and The Powers That Be
Michael Kinsley / New York Times:
Bush on Bush — They call themselves, smugly, “41” and “43,” meaning the 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States. You're supposed to prefer the father, all graciousness and handwritten little notes, over the son, who — even in memoirs written at age 64 after two terms as president — seems callow.
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org blogs
Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
A Gay Commander in Chief: Ready or Not? — Jimmy Carter is putting the out in outspokenness. — In an interview with bigthink.com, the former president was asked, “Is the country ready for a gay president?” — Even as John McCain and other ossified Republicans were staging last-minute maneuvers …
Discussion:
BuzzFlash.org and Prairie Weather
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Ivies moving toward restoring ROTC — Some top universities moved quickly Saturday to respond to the vote repealing the ban on gays in the military, and those who don't restore their ROTC programs in the wake of the vote are likely to face immediate pressure on the issue.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Weekly Standard and Instapundit
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