Top Items:
Dorothy Rabinowitz / Wall Street Journal:
What Ron Paul Thinks of America — It seemed improbable that the best-known American propagandist for our enemies could be near the top of the pack in the Iowa contest, but there it is. — Ron Paul's supporters are sure of one thing: Their candidate has always been consistent …
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Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Paul in 1995: Say, have you read my newsletters? — Mitt Romney can breathe a sigh of relief, because Andrew Kaczynksi has shifted his attention to Ron Paul this week. Andrew dug up a 1995 interview with C-SPAN, a year before running for Congress after a decade out of office.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, Leon_H_Wolf's blog, Total Return, Mediaite and USA Today
Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic Online:
Grappling With Ron Paul's Racist Newsletters — The biggest obstacle to his candidacy is making headlines again. If he wants to win anything, he's going to need to confront it. — Did you know about the racist newsletters published in the late 1980s and early 1990s under Ron Paul's name?
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, The Daily Dish, The Reaction and Atlas Shrugs
Alex Alvarez / Mediaite:
Hey, CNN? Can We Talk About What's Going On Between You And Ron Paul? — CNN, boo boos, can we talk? I'm getting a little worried about you. Here, sit down. Have some of this Wolf Spritzer I picked up at your gift shop. No, yeah, it's pretty good. Tastes like berries. Berries and gravitas.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Jackie Kucinich / USA Today:
Paul's story changes on racial comments — WASHINGTON - Rep. Ron Paul has tried since 2001 to disavow racist and incendiary language published in Texas newsletters that bore his name, denying he wrote them and even walking out of an interview on CNN Wednesday.
Discussion:
Hit & Run, Wall Street Journal, Pirate's Cove, Melanie Phillips, CNN, Hot Air and Outside the Beltway
James Crugnale / Mediaite:
Rep. Ron Paul Gets Irked By Newsletter Questions, Walks Out Of CNN Interview
Rep. Ron Paul Gets Irked By Newsletter Questions, Walks Out Of CNN Interview
Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Who is a Ron Paul supporter?
Who is a Ron Paul supporter?
Discussion:
RedState, The Right Scoop and The Daily Caller
The Politico:
McConnell: Pass short-term extension — In a blow to House Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has called on the House to pass a two-month payroll tax extension — while pushing Democrats to negotiate a full year extension of the tax break. — McConnell's statement came …
Discussion:
Washington Post, ABCNEWS, CNN, Booman Tribune, Indecision Forever, Daily Kos and US Politics
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Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
McConnell sides with Dems over Boehner — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been awfully quiet the last few days, as House Republicans rebel against the bipartisan payroll-tax-cut compromise he negotiated and helped pass last weekend. This morning that changed.
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Moderate Voice, Talking Points Memo and The New Republic
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
McConnell breaks with Boehner, urges House to pass payroll bill
McConnell breaks with Boehner, urges House to pass payroll bill
Discussion:
Hot Air
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Senate GOP worries tax standoff could cost them chance at upper chamber
Senate GOP worries tax standoff could cost them chance at upper chamber
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Outside the Beltway, The Politico, Washington Post and Roll Call
Amie Parnes / The Hill:
Obama shows he's confident he's beating GOP in payroll tax fight
Obama shows he's confident he's beating GOP in payroll tax fight
Discussion:
New York Times, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Caucus and Booman Tribune
Paul Kane / Washington Post:
House Republicans face pressure on extension of payroll tax cut
House Republicans face pressure on extension of payroll tax cut
Discussion:
CBS News, The Hill, NO QUARTER, The Week, Daily Kos, Prairie Weather and SQUATLO RANT
Concord Monitor:
Huntsman is the best choice for GOP — Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra » — Editorial review board with Jon Huntsman, Jr. on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra » — There comes a time for many politicians when they gaze at their reflection and see a president.
Discussion:
The Politico
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The Politico:
Mitt Romney Rx: A bloody nose
Mitt Romney Rx: A bloody nose
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, ABCNEWS, CNN and Hot Air
Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Huntsman wins endorsement from N.H. paper
New York Post:
Former Congressman Anthony Weiner's wife gives birth to baby boy — After a year filled with ridicule and scandal, disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner finally has something he can feel proud about — a new baby boy. — Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, gave birth to the wee Democrat yesterday …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Mediaite, Gothamist, Runnin' Scared and msnbc.com
Aliyah Shahid / NY Daily News:
Matt Damon rips President Obama in Elle magazine: A prez with ‘some balls’ would have been better — The ‘We Bought a Zoo’ star also weighed in on the Occupy Wall Street protests, arguing Obama's lack of leadership has contributed to Americans' overall discontent
Discussion:
Hit & Run
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George F. Will / Washington Post:
Gingrich, the anti-conservative — When discussing his amazingness, Newt Gingrich sometimes exaggerates somewhat, as when, discussing Bosnia and Washington, D.C., street violence, he said, “People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 16, 1994].
Kate Linthicum / Los Angeles Times:
Some Occupy L.A. protesters may get a lesson in free speech — Prosecutors say they can avoid court trials by paying $355 to a private company for an educational program. The irony is not lost on the anti-corporate activists, who see it as patronizing. — Los Angeles police officers arrest …
Discussion:
Associated Press and cab drollery
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New York Times:
Explosions Rock Baghdad Amid Iraqi Political Crisis — BAGHDAD — A wave of coordinated explosions ripped across Baghdad early on Thursday, killing at least 63 people, wounding more than 180 and jolting a country already unsettled by a deepening political crisis and the absence of American troops.
Discussion:
americanthinker.com and Wonkette
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Kareem Raheem / Reuters:
Baghdad blasts kill 63 as Iraq tensions rise
Baghdad blasts kill 63 as Iraq tensions rise
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, CNN and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
ProPublica:
How Democrats Fooled California's Redistricting Commission — This spring, a group of California Democrats gathered at a modern, airy office building just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The meeting was House members only — no aides allowed — and the mission was seemingly impossible.
Discussion:
Big Government, Political Mojo, Campaign 2012, Hotline On Call and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Exclusive: Citizens United's Iowa ad buy on Reagan flick, featuring the Gingriches — We wrote back in the summer about a promotion that Citizens United Productions was doing to promote a movie, with Michele Bachmann starring in the ad campaign. — Now, Citizens United …
Discussion:
Ballot Box, Gawker and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Stephen Colbert / The State:
Colbert guest editorial: Naming rights, state mottoes and the GOP primary + video — As a proud son of South Carolina I must address recent unsubstantiated rumors published in The State that I, Stephen Colbert, tried to buy the naming rights to the 2012 Republican primary.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times and 2012 Decoded
Annie Lowrey / New York Times:
Signs Point to Economy's Rise, but Experts See a False Dawn — WASHINGTON — As the fourth quarter draws to a close, a spate of unexpectedly good economic data suggests that it will have some of the fastest and strongest economic growth since the recovery started in 2009 …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, The Enterprise Blog, Washington Post, Prairie Weather and American Power
Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
U.S. Satisfaction in 2011 Ranks as Second Lowest Since 1979 — On average, 17% were satisfied with national conditions, ahead of only 2008's 15% — PRINCETON, NJ — Throughout 2011, an average of 17% of Americans said they were satisfied with the way things are going in the United States.
Discussion:
The Politico, Money & Company, Questions and Observations, Pirate's Cove, Don Surber and Business Insider