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US tells Twitter to pass on messages — Icelandic MP to fight attempts by the US department of justice to access her private information — A member of parliament in Iceland who is also a former WikiLeaks volunteer says the US justice department has ordered Twitter to hand over her private messages.
Discussion:
The Hill, Balloon Juice, Informed Comment and Liberal Conspiracy
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DOJ subpoenas Twitter records of several WikiLeaks volunteers — (updated below - Update II) — Last night, Birgitta Jónsdóttir — a former WikiLeaks volunteer and current member of the Icelandic Parliament — announced (on Twitter) that she had been notified by Twitter …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Raw Story and Gawker, more at Techmeme »

DOJ sends order to Twitter for Wikileaks-related account info — The U.S. Justice Department has obtained a court order directing Twitter to turn over information about the accounts of activists with ties to Wikileaks, including an Icelandic politician, a legendary Dutch hacker, and a U.S. computer programmer.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Feds Subpoena Twitter Seeking Information on Ex-WikiLeaks Volunteer
Discussion:
Boing Boing and Little Green Footballs


BREAKING: CBO Says Repealing ObamaCare Would Reduce Net Spending by $540 Billion — The Congressional Budget Office, in an email to Capitol Hill staffers obtained by the Spectator, has said that repealing the national health care law would reduce net spending by $540 billion in the ten year period from 2012 through 2021.
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LOVE IT... House Votes to Repeal “Job-Killing” Health Care Law 236-181 — It was a bi-partisan vote by the way... 4 Democrats joined with Republicans in a 236-181 vote. — Click to Enlarge- — The language: — “Providing for consideration of H.R. 2, to repeal the job-killing health care law …
Discussion:
The Democratic Daily, Weigel, Wonk Room, Wake up America, Weasel Zippers and Firedoglake


When opposition to health-care reform stops being polite and starts getting scary — In the Wyoming state legislature, 10 congressmen and three senators have co-sponsored “The Health Care Choice and Protection Act.” The intent? To make it a felony to implement the health-care reform law …
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Statement by the President on H.R. 6523 — Today I have signed into law H.R. 6523, the “Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.” The Act authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, for military construction, and for national security-related energy programs.
Discussion:
New York Times, ProPublica, Emptywheel, TPMMuckraker, Human Rights First and Lawfare


‘Mother,’ ‘Father’ Changing to ‘Parent One,’ ‘Parent Two’ on Passport Applications — Section of current passport application asking for “father” and “mother” information. — The words “mother” and “father” will be removed from U.S. passport applications and replaced with gender neutral terminology, the State Department says.
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On Passports, Mother and Father Will Soon Be ‘Parent 1’ and ‘Parent 2’
Discussion:
PR Newswire

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as “human shields” — Muslims turned up in droves for the Coptic Christmas mass Thursday night, offering their bodies, and lives, as “shields” to Egypt's threatened Christian community — Egypt's majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Jawa Report, Wake up America, Informed Comment, Outside the Beltway and Greg's Opinion


Obama the Centrist Irks a Liberal Lion — BERKELEY, Calif. — So how would he grade President Obama's economic policies, and the new team put in place this week? — Though Robert B. Reich, the former labor secretary, endorsed Mr. Obama and has traveled to the White House to provide economic counsel …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars

Top GOPer praises Obama picks — (CNN) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is hopeful the staff shake ups at the White House this week that included a new chief of staff and director of the National Economic Council are a sign President Barack Obama is moving toward the political center.
Discussion:
The Politico
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Stockholm bomber was trained in Iraq, says official — (Reuters) - Iraq informed the United States about a plot to carry out bombings in Sweden two months before an attack in Stockholm by a man trained in Iraq, an Iraqi security official told al Arabiya television on Friday.
Discussion:
1 The Long War Journal, The Jawa Report, Weasel Zippers and The Local

Obama touts tax deal as vehicle for economic growth in new year — President Obama predicted the tax package passed recently by Congress would help drive down unemployment and grow the economy faster than previously expected. — “I fought for that package because, while we are recovering …
Discussion:
The Politico

China's New Fighter Jet Could Pose ‘Terrifying’ Challenge to U.S. Fleet — While the Pentagon downplays China's rollout this week of what appears to be a jet fighter designed using sophisticated stealth technology, military experts are warning that the aircraft - reportedly capable …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Hot Air, Los Angeles Times and Weasel Zippers


On economy, Obama turns to pros — 'You know, you've got to talk to Austan Goolsbee. That's his job,' President Obama said. — AP Photo — After reading his prepared remarks on the economy at a window manufacturer on Friday, President Obama sought to take some photos with workers …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Fox Nation

Targeting Tom DeLay — The ascension of a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives this week contrasts sharply with an event that will unfold next Monday 1,300 miles away in a courtroom in Austin, Texas: the sentencing of former House majority leader Tom DeLay.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly


GOP representatives regret skipped oath — In a letter to be distributed Friday night, Reps. Pete Sessions and Mike Fitzpatrick apologize to all 433 of their House colleagues for voting after missing out on taking their official oath of office during Wednesday's opening ceremonies of the 112th Congress.
Discussion:
CNN, The Daily Caller, Taylor Marsh, The Moderate Voice, The Hill and ThinkProgress
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Weiner Mocks House GOP Oath Blunder: 'We Violated The Constitution …
Discussion:
The Political Carnival, msnbc.com, The Huffington Post, Doug Ross and Salon