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 …
Discussion:
GOP 12, No More Mister Nice Blog, Business Insider, TalkLeft, American Power, LewRockwell.com Blog, Wizbang and The Daily Caller
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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:
The Reaction, Leon_H_Wolf's blog, Slate 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
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:
Hit & Run, Outside the Beltway, Total Return and USA Today
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
Justin Sink / The Hill:
Ron Paul releases new Christmas ad featuring son, Sen. Rand Paul
Ron Paul releases new Christmas ad featuring son, Sen. Rand Paul
Discussion:
CNN
Jackie Kucinich / USA Today:
Paul's story changes on racial comments
Paul's story changes on racial comments
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Pirate's Cove, RedState, CNN, Melanie Phillips, Hot Air, The Right Scoop and Outside the Beltway
NationalJournal.com:
Gingrich Slams Paul, Challenges Romney to Debate — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker. — Despite his mantra to stay “positive,” Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich took a swipe at rival Ron Paul on Thursday, suggesting …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller
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The Politico:
Mitt Romney Rx: A bloody nose
Mitt Romney Rx: A bloody nose
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, No More Mister Nice Blog, CNN and The Hill
Tommy Christopher / Mediaite:
Mitt Romney bin Busted: ‘Candidate Like Myself’ Would Have Done Bin Laden Raid (Except 2007 Mitt)
Mitt Romney bin Busted: ‘Candidate Like Myself’ Would Have Done Bin Laden Raid (Except 2007 Mitt)
Discussion:
The Humble Libertarian, The Reality-Based Community and US Politics
Christian Heinze / GOP 12:
Gingrich: Romney outsources dirty work
Gingrich: Romney outsources dirty work
Discussion:
Washington Post and The Right Scoop
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Senate GOP worries tax standoff could cost them upper chamber — Senate Republicans are worried the standoff over extending the payroll tax holiday could hurt their chances of winning the upper chamber next year. — Senior Republican aides have made clear in private conversations …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Outside the Beltway, Roll Call and Washington Post
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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:
NO QUARTER, The Week, SQUATLO RANT, Daily Kos, Prairie Weather, Wall Street Journal and Next Media Animation
Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Rove: Republicans should fold in payroll tax cut standoff
Rove: Republicans should fold in payroll tax cut standoff
Discussion:
The Politico, ABCNEWS, CNN, Daily Kos, Washington Post, GayPatriot, Liberal Values, National Review, Washington Monthly, Washington Wire and ThinkProgress
Justin Sink / Ballot Box:
Payroll tax debate a juggling act for GOP presidential contenders
Payroll tax debate a juggling act for GOP presidential contenders
Discussion:
The Politico
Kareem Raheem / Reuters:
Baghdad blasts kill 63 as Iraq tensions rise — (Reuters) - A series of bombings hit Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 63 people in the first big assault attack on Iraq's capital since a sectarian crisis erupted within its government just days after the U.S. troop withdrawal.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, CNN and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
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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 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, msnbc.com and Gawker
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
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 and Prairie Weather
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
Betsy Rothstein / FishbowlDC:
Sensenbrenner Aide Responds to Big Butt Allegation — Amanda Infield, a spokesman for Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) graciously got back to us concerning her boss telling a female constituent that first lady Michelle Obama has a “large posterior.” The congressman was overheard talking …
Discussion:
The Raw Story, nation.foxnews.com and Weasel Zippers
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Betsy Rothstein / FishbowlDC:
Lawmaker Says Michelle Obama Has ‘Large Posterior’
Lawmaker Says Michelle Obama Has ‘Large Posterior’
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite and The Gateway Pundit
Paul Krugman:
The Meaning of Mercury — David Roberts reports on the EPA's decision, finally, to regulate mercury from coal plants: … Let me repeat part of that: it will save tens of thousands of lives every year and prevent birth defects, learning disabilities, and respiratory diseases.
Discussion:
Political Mojo, TalkLeft, Grist and Firedoglake
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.
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, Don Surber, Questions and Observations, Pirate's Cove and Business Insider
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