Top Items:
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Graham: GOP to blame for ‘capitulation ... of dramatic proportions’ in lame-duck — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) lashed out at fellow Republicans Tuesday for a “capitulation ... of dramatic proportions” to Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the lame-duck Congress.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Riehl World View, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, TPMDC and Flopping Aces
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Josh Rogin / Foreign Policy:
Jim DeMint and the war on Christmas vacation — South Carolina GOP Sen. Jim DeMint repeated today his claim that “millions of Americans” are “outraged” that Congress would dare work on major legislation, namely New START, this close to Christmas. He previously called it “sacrilegious.”
Discussion:
Blogcritics
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Lindsey Graham: Senate owes Jon Kyl an apology for moving forward with New START
Lindsey Graham: Senate owes Jon Kyl an apology for moving forward with New START
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Daily Kos, Wonk Room and ThinkProgress
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Arms Treaty With Russia Headed for Ratification
Arms Treaty With Russia Headed for Ratification
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, Hot Air, National Review, Salon, TPMCafe, democracyarsenal.org and Opinionator
David Weigel / Weigel:
Introducing: Your New Congressional Apportionment! — It's official: Here are the states gaining and losing seats (and thus electoral votes) in 2011. I've put states entirely controlled by Republicans in bold and states entirely controlled by Democrats in italics, although in some of these states …
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New York Times:
South and West See Large Gains in Latest Census — WASHINGTON — The Census Bureau rearranged the country's political map on Tuesday, giving more Congressional seats to the South and the West at the expense of the Northeast and the Midwest — changes that will have far-reaching implications for elections over the next decade.
Michael D. Shear / The Caucus:
Democrats Optimistic About Census — The conventional political wisdom is that the results of the 2010 census, announced Tuesday, are a big win for Republicans, who are largely dominant in the states where population increased. — But Democratic officials in Washington are cautiously optimistic …
Discussion:
The Fix
Lbentzterp / CNN:
Specter issues parting blow to Roberts, Alito — (CNN) - Sen. Arlen Specter, the outgoing Pennsylvania Republican-turned-Democrat, directed a parting blow Tuesday to members of the Supreme Court's conservative bloc. — In his final speech on the Senate floor, Specter …
Discussion:
The BLT, Doug Ross, Donklephant, The Politico, The Note, Law Blog, The Reaction, Althouse and The Impolitic
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Timothy P. Carney / Washington Examiner:
BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL — Snarlin' Arlen snarls his way through one final angry speech — This morning I was starting to feel a bit sad about Arlen Specter's departure from the Senate. While I rooted heartily for his defeat in 2004 and 2010, I consider him to be stubbornly independent …
Discussion:
The Caucus, Hot Air, Power Line, RealClearPolitics Video Log and Pajamas Media
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Conservative bloggers agree: Haley Barbour is toast — I noted here yesterday that the real problem with Haley Barbour's comments about the Citizens Councils is that they show an unwillingness to avoid urinating on the third rail of race. Today several conservative bloggers came …
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Barbour clarifies: Citizens councils ‘indefensible’ — Haley Barbour responds to a day of criticism of his statements on race with an explanation of the comment that has drawn the most fire: — When asked why my hometown in Mississippi did not suffer the same racial violence when I was a young man …
Brett / Majority In Mississippi:
Barbour's Speech From Philadelphia In 2004
Barbour's Speech From Philadelphia In 2004
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Hullabaloo, No More Mister Nice Blog and Hot Air
Ta-Nehisi Coates / The Atlantic Online:
Barbour Mistakes Black for White
Barbour Mistakes Black for White
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, The Fix, TPMMuckraker, Swampland and Ben Smith's Blog
Cecilia Kang / Post Tech:
FCC passes first net neutrality rules — update: 3:23 p.m. with statement of support from President Obama, plans for Congressional hearings from House Republicans. — The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to approve its first ever Internet access regulation …
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Nilay Patel / Engadget:
FCC: We didn't impose stricter net neutrality regulations on wireless …
FCC: We didn't impose stricter net neutrality regulations on wireless …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Android Phone Fans and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Sara Jerome / The Hill:
FCC commissioners ratify net neutrality, fulfilling Obama pledge
FCC commissioners ratify net neutrality, fulfilling Obama pledge
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Hit & Run, Pirate's Cove and Nice Deb
Washington Post:
Obama administration readies indefinite detention order for Guantanamo detainees — The Obama administration is preparing an executive order that would formalize indefinite detention without trial for some detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but allow those detainees …
Discussion:
Moe Lane, Lawfare and New York Magazine
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ProPublica:
White House Drafts Executive Order for Indefinite Detention — 8:15 p.m: This story has been updated with the White House's response. — The White House is preparing an Executive Order on indefinite detention that will provide periodic reviews of evidence against dozens of prisoners held …
Discussion:
Lawfare, Sky Dancing, ATTACKERMAN, Political Punch, Gawker and JammieWearingFool
The Blaze:
GREEN MAKE BELIEVE: VAN JONES ADMITS LEFT IS ‘PRETENDING’ NEED FOR REGULATIONS IN GREEN MOVEMENT — GEAUXALREADY — Why does he still breath free air? — Report Post » — Log in to Reply — CULTUREWARRIORS — Where is the MSM? Why are they not interested in exposing the communist among us?
Discussion:
AmSpecBlog, Weasel Zippers and Tennesseans Watching …
Alex Seitz-Wald / ThinkProgress:
Fox News' Shep Smith Shames Coburn For Blocking 9/11 Bill: ‘This Is The Senator’ Blocking ‘Necessary Funding’ — It appears even loyal Fox News has turned on Senate Republicans for their obstruction of the 9/11 first responders bill. Fox & Friends demanded the bill be passed …
Discussion:
TPM LiveWire, The Wire, Media Matters for America, The Hill, Salon, Daily Kos and Sky Dancing
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Lucy Madison / CBS News:
Coburn Moves to Block 9/11 First Responders Bill as Some Republicans …
Coburn Moves to Block 9/11 First Responders Bill as Some Republicans …
Discussion:
Mediaite, ThinkProgress, The Note, Hot Air, The Politico, The Plum Line, Firedoglake, PointOfLaw Forum and CBS New York
BBC:
Transcript: The Assange interview — The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been holed up in a mansion in East Anglia since he was released from prison last week. — He is under strict bail conditions while he fights extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning about claims of sexual assault.
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Michael Calderone / Yahoo! News:
WikiLeaks' Assange fires back at The Guardian to competitor
WikiLeaks' Assange fires back at The Guardian to competitor
Discussion:
The Wire, Gawker, Tim Blair, Feministing and Democracy Now
Bryan Fischer / afa.net:
Obama wants to give America back to the Indians — President Obama likes the “U.N. Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.” He says it can “help reaffirm the principles that should guide our future.” — The State Department added helpfully that although the declaration is not legally binding …
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs and Wonkette
Cassy Fiano / The Greenroom:
Hysterics Over DADT Repeal Are An Insult To The Military — Originally posted at David Horowitz's Newsreal: — There have been a lot of different responses to the news that Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed. President Obama is planning to sign the bill this week.
Discussion:
Maggie's Farm, Shakesville, GayPatriot, BLACKFIVE, Associated Press, Law Blog and National Review
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Richard Cohen / Washington Post:
Marine Corps commandant has to go
Marine Corps commandant has to go
Discussion:
FrumForum, AmSpecBlog, SWJ Blog and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Jeff Dunetz / YID With LID:
DHS Inspector General Reports MILLIONS Allowed to Enter Through US Border Crossings Without Proper ID — Yesterday Department of Homeland Security Secretary said that her department was working hard to protect American Citizens 24 hours/day, 7/days a week, 364 days a/year (yes she said 364).
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WVMetroNews Headline News:
Manchin Admits Mistake and Apologizes — Senator Manchin Apologizes For Skipping Votes — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin apologized to his constituents Tuesday for missing two key votes over the weekend. — Manchin has caught heat from friends and foes alike for failing to be on the Senate floor Saturday …
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, The Hill, TPMDC, New York Magazine, HotAirPundit and Squawk Box
Sara A. Carter / Washington Examiner:
Afghan sex practices concern U.S., British forces — A document released by WikiLeaks described efforts by high-ranking Afghan officials to quash reports of police officers and other Afghans arrested for “purchasing a service from a child.” — The leaked diplomatic cable quoted former Minister …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and iOwnTheWorld.com
Larry David / New York Times:
Thanks for the Tax Cut! — THERE is a God! It passed! The Bush tax cuts have been extended two years for the upper bracketeers, of which I am a proud member, thank you very much. I'm the last person in the world I'd want to be beside, but I am beside myself! This is a life changer, I tell you.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, NewsBusters.org blogs, Mediaite, NPR Blogs, Left Coast Rebel and PopEater
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
WHITE HOUSE EXTENDS WELL-DESERVED PRAISE TO JON STEWART.... It's too soon to say for sure whether Republican obstructionism will kill the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The supermajority appears to be coming together, and Senate Democrats are keeping the pressure on …
Discussion:
NY Daily News, The Hill and The Politico