Top Items:

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” …
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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

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.


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 and Firedoglake

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.

Benedict Arnold Republicans destroy military and our national security — We are now stuck with sexual deviants serving openly in the U.S. military because of turncoat Republican senators. — (Dictionary definition of “deviant”: “departing from usual or accepted standards, esp. in social or sexual behavior.”
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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

WASHINGTON — Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said Saturday …
Discussion:
Blue Wave News, Madville Times and Daily Kos

Eight Republicans back 'Don't ask' repeal
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, JOSHUAPUNDIT, The Hill, Ben Smith's Blog, Liberal Values, Power Line, Weasel Zippers and Crooks and Liars


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, Weasel Zippers and JammieWearingFool


Gays in the Military, ROTC back on Campus? — Now that the lame duck Democratic Congress has repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), the new Congress will have to see to it that the Obama administration manages the implementation of repeal responsibly, and that the concerns of military leaders and troops are taken seriously.
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Ivies moving toward restoring ROTC
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Weekly Standard and Instapundit

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


Immigration Vote Leaves Obama's Policy in Disarray — The vote by the Senate on Saturday to block a bill to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant students was a painful setback to an emerging movement of immigrants and also appeared to leave the immigration policy …
Discussion:
Right Wing News
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Republicans block youth immigration bill
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, NewsBusters.org blogs, National Review, The Anchoress and Hot Air

Defeat of immigration measure reveals failed White House strategy, advocates say
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Monthly and New York Times

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:
Hot Air
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Senate Rejects Amendment Blocking New Start Treaty
Discussion:
The Politico, Reuters, Politics Daily, Washington Monthly, CNN, Prairie Weather, The Hill and ThinkProgress

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


The Bipartisanship Racket — JEEZ, can't we all just get along? Can't we be civilized? Can't we reach across the aisle, find common ground and get things done? Can't we have a new Morning in America as clubby and chipper as MSNBC's daily gabfest, “Morning Joe”?
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org and Prairie Weather


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:
Sky News, Liveshots and Scared Monkeys


White House Won't Commit to Halting DADT Discharges — a Move Urged By Reid, Levin — Saying that they had been “focused” on the vote, a senior White House aide intimately familiar with the administration's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” repeal efforts was unwilling to say whether President Obama agrees …
Discussion:
Firedoglake and Pam's House Blend
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DADT repeal wins!
Discussion:
Big Think, The Huffington Post and Lawyers, Guns & Money