Top Items:
Media Decoder:
Olbermann Said to Be Going to Current TV — Keith Olbermann, the former top-rated host of “Countdown” on the news channel MSNBC, will announce his next television home on Tuesday, and people familiar with his plans pointed Monday to a possible deal with the public affairs channel Current TV.
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Democratic Leadership Council will fold — The Democratic Leadership Council, the iconic centrist organization of the Clinton years, is out of money and could close its doors as soon as next week, a person familiar with the plans said Monday. — The DLC, a network of Democratic elected officials …
Discussion:
The Fix, Outside the Beltway, Salon, USA Today, TPMDC, Hot Air, The New Republic, Hullabaloo and National Review
RELATED:
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Jane Harman to resign from Congress — California Rep. Jane Harman (D) will resign from Congress, according to two senior Democratic leadership aides, a surprise announcement that will set off a special election in her 36th district. — NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who broke the news of Harman's resignation …
RELATED:
David Weigel / Weigel:
Jane Harman's Retirement Create An Opportunity for the Left
Jane Harman's Retirement Create An Opportunity for the Left
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Daily Kos, Ben Smith's Blog, Capitol Alert and The Debate Link
The Politico:
Rep. Jane Harman to resign from House
Rep. Jane Harman to resign from House
Discussion:
Capitol Alert, Hotline On Call, CNN, USA Today, Hit & Run, Swampland and Outside the Beltway
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Blue Dogs have ‘no communication’ with Pelosi, Dem leadership, says Shuler
Blue Dogs have ‘no communication’ with Pelosi, Dem leadership, says Shuler
Discussion:
The Politico, About.com US Liberal Politics, Booman Tribune, National Review, Weasel Zippers, USA Today and Daily Kos
The Note:
Sarah Palin And Gay Rights: Comments Fuel Speculation About Where She Stands — ABC News' Michael Falcone reports: — Some conservatives who are already upset that this week's Conservative Political Action Conference will include a right-leaning organization that promotes gay rights grew …
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David Brody / CBN.com:
Palin Grades Obama, Mainstream Media
Palin Grades Obama, Mainstream Media
Discussion:
USA Today, AMERICAblog News, The Daily Caller and iOwnTheWorld.com
John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Peggy Noonan almost blew a gasket with Andrea Mitchell over Ronald Reagan
Peggy Noonan almost blew a gasket with Andrea Mitchell over Ronald Reagan
Discussion:
Time and Right Wing News
Lawrence Wright / New Yorker:
Discussion:
Raw Story, AOL News, Runnin' Scared, Gawker, boy culture and Balloon Juice
Justin Elliott / Salon:
Bush cancels Europe trip amid calls for his arrest — Will George W. Bush set foot in Europe again in his lifetime? — A planned trip by Bush to speak at the Switzerland-based United Israel Appeal later this week has been canceled after several human rights groups called for Swiss authorities …
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Chris Brennan / Philly.com:
Ex-Gov. Rendell Splits With Wife After 40 Years Of Marriage — Gov. Rendell and his wife, U.S. Appellate udge Marjorie “Midge” Rendell, announced in an e-mail to friends today that they will be “living separately” now that they have left the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg.
Discussion:
Althouse and Ben Smith's Blog
The Politico:
HuffPost to AOL: Leaving left behind? — The Huffington Post may have been founded as the liberal answer to the conservative Drudge Report, a place for progressive wound-licking in the wake of George W. Bush's re-election. — But on Monday, Arianna Huffington was distancing herself …
Discussion:
The Democratic Daily, Firedoglake and American Power
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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
THE BREWING KRISTOL, BECK FEUD.... Well, this ought to be interesting. — Last week, Fox News' Glenn Beck launched a week-long effort to explain developments in Egypt as only he can. The deranged media personality cooked up truly bizarre conspiracy theories — even by his standards …
Discussion:
iOwnTheWorld.com, Commentary, Booman Tribune and Media Matters for America
RELATED:
John Tierney / New York Times:
Social Scientist Sees Bias Within — SAN ANTONIO — Some of the world's pre-eminent experts on bias discovered an unexpected form of it at their annual meeting. — Discrimination is always high on the agenda at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology's conference …
Discussion:
Power Line, JustOneMinute, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Grim's Hall and The Reality-Based Community
Spencer Ackerman / Danger Room:
U.S. Has Secret Tools to Force Internet on Dictators — When Hosni Mubarak shut down Egypt's internet and cellphone communications, it seemed that all U.S. officials could do was ask him politely to change his mind. But the American military does have a second set of options …
Discussion:
The Daily Dish and Pajamas Media, more at Techmeme »
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
The best campaign ad of 2012 — So it may not actually have been cut yet, but Haley Barbour's rivals will struggle to beat his repurposing of this direct-to-camera endorsement from his 1982 Senate race: — I'd like to take a moment to talk with you about our country's future and a very special leader - Haley Barbour.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online
Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:
Pawlenty: Rescinding Funds To Implement DADT Repeal Is ‘A Reasonable Step’ — Last month, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) made waves when he suggested that he would reinstate the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy if elected President. This morning, Pawlenty went a step further …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Towleroad News #gay and Good As You
RealClearPolitics Video Log:
Obama: Corporate Profits “Have To Be Shared By American Workers” — “If we're fighting to reform the tax code and increase exports, the benefits cannot just translate into greater profits and bonuses for those at the top. They have to be shared by American workers, who need …
National Review:
Bush 2012 — John J. Miller has a cover story in the new issue of National Review that's a compelling portrait of the accomplishments of Jeb Bush. Four years after leaving the Florida governor's mansion, he remains one of the most impressive Republican politicians in the country …
Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
Lawmakers' End of Earmarks Affects Local Programs Large and Small — WASHINGTON — Gone for now are the likes of the taxpayer-financed teapot museum, or studies on the mating habits of crabs. — But also shelved are a project to help consolidate information about warrants in Brazos County …
Discussion:
Brilliant at Breakfast
Kimberley A. Strassel / Wall Street Journal:
Rumsfeld's ‘Slice of History’ — In an interview, the former secretary of defense explains how Washington feuds harmed Iraq policy, and why the surge was less vital than you think. — 'I'd read other folks' books about things I'd been involved in . . . and I'd think, 'My goodness …
Richard Fausset / Los Angeles Times:
Conservative Democrats switch to GOP across the Deep South — Defections reflect the Democrats' drubbing in the midterm election and Republicans' consolidation of power in the South. — Reporting from Atlanta — For Democrats, Ashley Bell was the kind of comer that a party builds a future on …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, Questions and Observations, Ben Smith's Blog and The Maddow Blog
Nick Gillespie / The Huffington Post:
How to Balance the Budget Without Raising Taxes or Cutting Essential Services — There's a 19 percent solution to our debt and deficit problems. — Sen. Rand Paul's (R-KY) new budget plan cuts $500 billion from the federal budget this year. Paul proposes cutting defense spending by 6.5 percent, saving $47 billion.
Discussion:
Hit & Run and National Review
The Politico:
How President Obama plays media like a fiddle — In early November, Barack Obama was one sad sack of a president—his agenda repudiated by midterm voters, his political judgment scorned by commentators, his future darkened by a growing belief he might be a one-time president.
Susan Ferrechio / Washington Examiner:
Republicans declare war on federal regulations — The Republican-led House this week will push through legislation aimed at making government rules and regulations less burdensome for business, setting up a standoff with President Obama over some of his key initiatives, including the new health care law …
Discussion:
Don Surber and The Note
Christian Heinze / GOP 12:
The CPAC 2011 straw poll — Here's the full list of '12 prospects who are listed on CPAC's presidential straw poll this week.a. Michele Bachmannb. Haley Barbourc. Herman Caind. Chris Christiee. Mitch Danielsf. Newt Gingrichg. Mike Huckabeeh. Jon Huntsmani. Gary Johnsonj. Sarah Palink.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog and Shakesville