memeorandum: Poll: Berkley holds slim lead over Heller for Senate seat (Steve Tetreault/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

2:25 PM ET, December 23, 2011

Top Items:

Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:

The GOP's payroll tax debacle — Now that Congress has reached agreement on what must be one of the worst pieces of legislation in years — the temporary payroll tax holiday extension — let's survey the damage. — To begin with, what even minimally rational government enacts payroll tax relief for just two months?

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

The Suicidal House Republicans — The payroll tax debacle is now the third suicidal episode undertaken by the House Republicans since they took control at the beginning of the year. The first was when they voted almost unanimously for Paul Ryan's budget, which was filled with grist for attack ads …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, The Daily Dish, The Atlantic Online and Slate

CNN:

Congress passes payroll tax cut extension — Washington (CNN) — Both chambers of Congress passed an amended version of the two-month payroll tax cut extension Friday, sending the measure to President Barack Obama's desk and handing Democrats a hard-fought victory on an issue — taxes …

Discussion: Washington Post, ThinkProgress, New York Post, The Politico, Althouse, American Prospect, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/* and AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

A done deal — Congress sure can move quickly when it wants to. — Late yesterday, House Republicans caved to Democratic demands and agreed to accept a slightly-tweaked bipartisan compromise from the Senate. This morning, just to move the process along, the Senate preemptively approved the tweaked version by unanimous consent.

Discussion: Daily Kos, The Caucus, Booman Tribune and New York Times

Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
House approves payroll tax bill, sends to Obama for signature

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Hot Air

Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPMDC — Boehner Takes Strong Hand With House GOP After Payroll Tax Meltdown

Discussion: Wonkette, Balloon Juice, The Moderate Voice, The Impolitic and Washington Monthly

Jackie Calmes / New York Times:
News Analysis: For Obama, Payroll Tax Victory Was Aided by Republicans

Discussion: Washington Post, The Page, Connecting.the.Dots and ABCNEWS

Jamie Klatell / The Hill:
GOP freshman: House caved to Dems again, gave gift of uncertainty

Discussion: The Politico, CNN and NationalJournal.com

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Dems win one as GOP caves

Discussion: Speaker, Washington Monthly, Prairie Weather, New York Times, Daily Kos and Outside the Beltway

Reuters:

In ad for newsletter, Ron Paul forecast “race war” — (Reuters) - A direct-mail solicitation for Ron Paul's political and investment newsletters two decades ago warned of a “coming race war in our big cities” and of a “federal-homosexual cover-up” to play down the impact of AIDS.

The New Republic:

TNR Exclusive: A Collection of Ron Paul's Most Incendiary Newsletters — For years, Ron Paul published a series of newsletters that dispensed political news and investment advice, but also routinely indulged in bigotry. Here's a selection of some especially inflammatory passages …

Discussion: Swampland, The Daily Dish, Outside the Beltway, No More Mister Nice Blog, American Power, GOP 12 and Iowa Caucuses

Benjy Sarlin / 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPM2012 — Ron Paul Direct Mail Warned Of 'Race War …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Towleroad News #gay and Little Green Footballs

ABCNEWS:

Iowa Conservative Leader Mired in Controversy After Rick Santorum Endorsement — ABC News' Shushannah Walshe and Michael Falcone report: — DAVENPORT, Iowa — An Iowa Christian conservative leader who bestowed his highly sought-after endorsement on presidential candidate Rick Santorum …

Discussion: The Hill, Outside the Beltway, FiveThirtyEight, Catholic Bandita, GOP 12, Iowa Caucuses, Iowa Caucus 2012 and CNN

Zack Ford / ThinkProgress:

Bob Vander Plaats' Pay-For-Play Scandal: Charged A Million Bucks For Endorsement, Asked Candidates To Drop Out — Bob Vander Plaats' endorsement of Rick Santorum has produced a backlash among conservatives in Iowa, some of whom are accusing the FAMiLY LEADER president of engaging in …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Indecision Forever, Outside the Beltway and Good As You

Alexander Burns / The Politico:
Santorum's pop-up Iowa pitch

Discussion: CNN, Mediaite, Indecision Forever, Good As You, The Other McCain and Iowa Caucuses

Sara Sorcher / The Atlantic Wire:

Obama Blames Hawaii for his ‘Deep Down’ Laziness — The personality trait President Obama says he most deplores in himself and others is not exactly one you'd expect from, presumably, one of the busiest people in the world: laziness. — “You're lazy?” Barbara Walters incredulously asked Obama …

Discussion: The Hill, Weasel Zippers, The Daily Caller and The Right Sphere

Peter Nicholas / Los Angeles Times:
Dog days: Bo's whereabouts spark latest White House controversy

Discussion: Washington Post and cab drollery

Joe Biden / Des Moines Register:

Vice President: This is what a real opportunity society looks like — M itt Romney recently laid out his plan for America. Reading about it, I thought of my dad. My dad was a hard worker. He took pride in what he did. And, like millions of Americans, that pride was put to the test …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, ABCNEWS, Los Angeles Times, Ballot Box, Pirate's Cove, CNN and Fox News

Wall Street Journal:

Oh Wow! — Some highlights of 2011. — The great words of the year? “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” — They are the last words of Steve Jobs, reported by his sister, the novelist Mona Simpson, who was at his bedside. In her eulogy, a version of which was published in the New York Times …

Discussion: Booman Tribune

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

The Post-Truth Campaign — Suppose that President Obama were to say the following: “Mitt Romney believes that corporations are people, and he believes that only corporations and the wealthy should have any rights. He wants to reduce middle-class Americans to serfs, forced …

Discussion: Washington Post and Balloon Juice

Steve Tetreault / Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Poll: Berkley holds slim lead over Heller for Senate seat — WASHINGTON — For many people, the dawn of a new year can mean a fresh start, a clean slate. For the politicians running to represent Nevada in the U.S. Senate, the view close to the new year is a nearly level battlefield judging from the latest measure of public sentiment.

Discussion: The Politico, Ballot Box and Hotline On Call

David Weigel / Slate:

The Newsweek Curse — This isn't the problem that's kept the actual candidates up at night, but I'm in the media, damn it, and it's annoying. The fickle Republican base keeps choosing new frontrunners right after reporters are caught up on the last frontrunners. Exhibit A: Newsweek.

Discussion: Iowa Caucuses, The Right Sphere and GOP 12

Molly Ball / The Atlantic Online:
Ron Paul's Iowa Edge: A Rock-Solid Caucus Campaign

Discussion: Discourse.net, Los Angeles Times, Salon.com and THEROOT.COM

Richard Wolf / USA Today:

Voters leaving Republican, Democratic parties in droves — WASHINGTON - More than 2.5 million voters have left the Democratic and Republican parties since the 2008 elections, while the number of independent voters continues to grow. — A USA TODAY analysis of state voter registration …

Discussion: neo-neocon, Hot Air, ABCNEWS and Wake up America

CNN:

State media: Suicide bombers strike government buildings in Damascus — (CNN) — Two suicide car bombs shook the seat of Syrian power on Friday, said state-run media, a strike the government blames on terrorists and opposition forces call the work of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, The Heritage Foundation and americanthinker.com