memeorandum: Paleomonetarism — I used that term — it's probably not original … (Paul Krugman)

1:15 AM ET, December 20, 2010

Top Items:

Scott Wong / The Politico:

Dems getting closer on START — Senate Democrats appear to have enough votes to overcome a Republican filibuster on the new START arms-control treaty, though it's unclear if they will have the 67 votes needed for ratification. — At least four Republicans have committed to supporting …

Discussion: New York Magazine, CNN, Weasel Zippers and New York Times

Ben Geman / The Hill:

Reid cites Gaga's ‘meat dress,’ Lindsay Lohan's rehab in START treaty push — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is pulling out the pop culture references as he tries to push ratification of the New START nuclear arms treaty through the Senate. — Reid is attacking GOP claims …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Hot Air and Advocate

New York Times:

Democrats Scramble for Votes to Ratify Arms Pact — WASHINGTON — The top two Senate Republicans declared Sunday that they would vote against President Obama's nuclear treaty with Russia as the bipartisan spirit of last week's tax-cut deal devolved into a sharp battle over national security in the waning days of the session.

Discussion: The Page, ATTACKERMAN and Balkinization

Jimmy So / CBS News:

Graham Announces Opposition to START Treaty — Senator Wants to Start Over on Nuclear Pact; Says “Excruciating” Lame-Duck Session Was Designed to Make GOP Look Bad — (CBS) Leading Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on Sunday's “Face the Nation” that he will vote …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Agence France Presse, Washington Post, The Huffington Post and Weigel

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
McConnell says he ‘cannot support’ nuclear arms treaty

Discussion: The Politico, The Note, Hot Air and The Reaction

Tom Cohen / CNN:
McConnell leads anti-START effort

Discussion: Fox News and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Josh Rogin / Foreign Policy:
McCain's New START amendment goes down, Risch amendment up next

Discussion: Wonk Room, NBC New York and Daily Kos

Reuters:
START struggling to get to finish line

Discussion: The Politico, Crooks and Liars and CNN

The Hill: Republicans dig in their heels on nuclear treaty as Democrats push for vote

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: TechCrunch, The Gateway Pundit, Scared Monkeys, The Confluence, Runnin' Scared, Right Wing News, NO QUARTER, YID With LID, Raw Story, The Other McCain, Wake up America, The Powers That Be and The Daily Beast

The Huffington Post:

Rove Suspected In Swedish-U.S. Political Prosecution of WikiLeaks — What's Your Reaction: … Karl Rove's help for Sweden as it assists the Obama administration's prosecution against WikiLeaks could be the latest example of the adage, “Politics makes strange bedfellows.”

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Instapundit, New York Times and The Other McCain

Ewen MacAskill / Guardian:
Biden: Assange like ‘hi-tech terrorist’

Discussion: Truthdig and Suburban Guerrilla, more at Techmeme »

Devan Sipher / New York Times:

Carol Anne Riddell and John Partilla — WHAT happens when love comes at the wrong time? — Carol Anne Riddell and John Partilla met in 2006 in a pre-kindergarten classroom. They both had children attending the same Upper West Side school. They also both had spouses.

Discussion: Gawker, Gothamist, ProfessorBainbridge.com, Runnin' Scared, New York Magazine, Mediaite and National Review

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

In Sunday-evening surprise, Senate unanimously passes food safety bill — The Senate unexpectedly approved food safety legislation by unanimous consent Sunday evening, rescuing a bill that floated in limbo for weeks because of a clerical error. — The Senate passed the Food Safety and Modernization Act on Nov. 30 by a vote of 73-25.

Discussion: Firedoglake and Weasel Zippers

Ezra Klein / Washington Post:

Health-care overhaul's individual mandate makes all the difference — Unless someone can drop into Anthony Kennedy's dreamspace and, “Inception"-style, either figure out what he thinks of the individual mandate or simply tell him what to think of the individual mandate …

Discussion: Swampland and The Daily Dish

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:

One Battle Won, Activists Shift Sights — WASHINGTON — As gay people around the country reveled on Sunday in the historic Senate vote to repeal “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” a liberal media watchdog group said it planned to announce on Monday that it was setting up a “communications war room for gay equality” …

Discussion: Pam's House Blend, Towleroad News #gay and AMERICAblog Gay

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: Power Line, Maggie's Farm, The Impolitic, Washington Post, Mad Kane's Political Madness, The Politico, No More Mister Nice Blog, Theo Spark and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Kate Zernike / New York Times:

Proposed Amendment Would Enable States to Repeal Federal Law — The same people driving the lawsuits that seek to dismantle the Obama administration's health care overhaul have set their sights on an even bigger target: a constitutional amendment that would allow a vote of the states to overturn any act of Congress.

Discussion: Chicago Boyz

Charles Babington / Associated Press:

New population count may complicate Obama 2012 bid — WASHINGTON - The 2010 census report coming out Tuesday will include a boatload of good political news for Republicans and grim data for Democrats hoping to re-elect President Barack Obama and rebound from last month's devastating elections.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, The Gateway Pundit, Michelle Malkin and Pajamas Media

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: Liveshots, Israellycool and The Jawa Report

Sky News:
US Tourist Dead Stabbed To Death In Israel

Discussion: Scared Monkeys, The Gateway Pundit and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

9/11 HEALTH BILL NOT QUITE DEAD.... Two weeks ago, a unanimous Senate GOP caucus blocked a debate on the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would pay health care costs for 9/11 rescue workers, sickened after exposure to the toxic smoke and debris.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars and The Impolitic