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, LewRockwell.com Blog, American Power, Wizbang and The Daily Caller
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James Crugnale / Mediaite:
Rep. Ron Paul Gets Irked By Newsletter Questions, Walks Out Of CNN Interview — Ron Paul walked out of an interview with CNN's Gloria Borger following a heated exchange over the controversy regarding racist newsletters sent in his name during the 1990s. Borger asked the Congressman if he had ever read the newsletters.
Alex Alvarez / Mediaite:
Hey, CNN? Can We Talk About What's Going On Between You And Ron Paul?
Hey, CNN? Can We Talk About What's Going On Between You And Ron Paul?
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, The Moderate Voice and The Reaction
Jackie Kucinich / USA Today:
Paul's story changes on racial comments
Paul's story changes on racial comments
Discussion:
Hot Air, Wall Street Journal, Outside the Beltway, Pirate's Cove, RedState, Melanie Phillips and The Right Scoop
Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Who is a Ron Paul supporter?
Who is a Ron Paul supporter?
Discussion:
Hot Air and The Daily Caller
Justin Sink / The Hill:
Paul abandons interview concerning controversial newsletters
Paul abandons interview concerning controversial newsletters
Discussion:
Shakesville, CNN, American Power and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
The Politico:
Mitt Romney Rx: A bloody nose — Here is one way to look at Mitt Romney's challenge from Newt Gingrich: As one more humiliation delivered by Republican activists who have made clear over and over that they would really, really prefer to fall in love with someone, anyone, whose name is not Mitt Romney.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, The Hill, Hot Air and CNN
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Tommy Christopher / Mediaite:
Mitt Romney bin Busted: ‘Candidate Like Myself’ Would Have Done Bin Laden Raid (Except 2007 Mitt) — At Christmastime, it's comforting to know that a Mitt Romney interview is the gift that keeps on giving. On Wednesday's The Daily Rundown, host Chuck Todd drew a lot out of the candidate with his deceptively easygoing style.
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
Amie Parnes / The Hill:
Obama shows he's confident he's beating GOP in payroll tax fight — President Obama, who has been on the losing end of several hard-fought battles with House Republicans, is showing that he thinks he's winning the latest tax fight. — While the White House—which has made it known …
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, New York Times, The Caucus and Booman Tribune
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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:
The Hill, Daily Kos, ABCNEWS, SQUATLO RANT, Prairie Weather, Next Media Animation and Wonkette
Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Rove: Republicans should fold in payroll tax cut standoff
Rove: Republicans should fold in payroll tax cut standoff
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, CNN, Washington Post, Daily Kos, GayPatriot, Washington Wire, Washington Monthly, Liberal Values, National Review, ThinkProgress and Roll Call
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
Stephen C. Webster / The Raw Story:
Boehner's office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating
Boehner's office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating
Discussion:
Wonkette, Mediaite, Sunlight Foundation Blog, ThinkProgress, Washington Monthly and ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/*
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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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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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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Daniel Jacobson / Gossip Cop:
Matt Damon Blasts Obama: “One-Term President With Balls” Would Be Better — Matt Damon rips President Obama in Elle magazine, blasting his leadership qualities and saying he'd prefer “a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done.” — The actor, a longtime supporter …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, THEROOT.COM, Hot Air, The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite, The Lonely Conservative and The Daily Caller
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, Hotline On Call, Political Mojo and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Betsy Rothstein / FishbowlDC:
Lawmaker Says Michelle Obama Has ‘Large Posterior’ — Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), known for his cantankerous ways and for not speaking to media unless it's his idea, was overheard at the Delta Crown lounge at Reagan National Airport today talking on his cellphone about an incident …
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite and The Gateway Pundit
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Betsy Rothstein / FishbowlDC:
Sensenbrenner Aide Responds to Big Butt Allegation
Sensenbrenner Aide Responds to Big Butt Allegation
Discussion:
The Raw Story, nation.foxnews.com and Weasel Zippers
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].
Discussion:
Power Line, The Volokh Conspiracy and Cato @ Liberty
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Ginger Gibson / Reuters:
Newt Gingrich courting Iowa voters with judicial rants
Newt Gingrich courting Iowa voters with judicial rants
Discussion:
NewsHounds blog
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, Taylor Marsh, Pirate's Cove and Business Insider
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.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis:
National Income and Product Accounts Gross Domestic Product, 3rd quarter 2011 (third estimate) Corporate Profits, 3rd quarter 2011 (revised estimate) — Real gross domestic product — the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States …
Discussion:
Business Insider and Hot Air
Floyd Norris / New York Times:
A Central Bank Doing What It Should — “Talk tough, and open the vaults.” — That should be the slogan of Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank. — In recent weeks, the new president publicly insisted the central bank would never do any of the things that Germany opposed.
Discussion:
Felix Salmon, Via Meadia, Vox Popoli, Free exchange and Booman Tribune