memeorandum: A decisive conclusion is necessary (Gilad Sharon/Jerusalem Post)

8:15 AM ET, November 19, 2012

Top Items:

A decisive conclusion is necessary — There is no middle path here - either the Gazans and their infrastructure are made to pay the price, or we reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip. — Anyone who thinks Hamas is going to beg for a cease-fire, that Operation Pillar of Defense will draw to a close …

Discussion: Israel Matzav, 3 News, Firedoglake, CANNONFIRE, Business Insider, Crooked Timber, Mondoweiss, Twitchy, The Agonist, Little Green Footballs, Truthdig and Guardian

Associated Press:
OBAMA: ISRAEL HAS RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF

Discussion: Washington Post, seattlepi.com, World News and The Hill

Melanie Phillips:

Here is the (real) news — Here is some information about the war between Gaza and Israel that for some unaccountable reason you may have missed today in Britain's mainstream media. — Since the beginning of Israel's operation Pillar of Defence last Wednesday against Hamas rocket attacks …

Discussion: Palestinian Media Watch, BBC, Spectator, Elder of Ziyon, Algemeiner.com and Israel Matzav

Simon Plosker / Honest Reporting:

Gaza Child Killed... By Hamas — This iconic image made its way around the world. Fighting back tears at Gaza's Shifa Hospital, Egyptian Prime Minister held 4-year old Mahmoud Sadallah in his arms and called on Israel to end its military operations. — A PR gift for Hamas, eager to portray the IDF as vicious child killers.

Discussion: BREITBART.COM, Elder of Ziyon, Weasel Zippers, NewsBusters.org, The Gateway Pundit, Israellycool, Israel Matzav and Telegraph

New York Times:
Gaza Violence Is Unabating as Other Nations Push for Truce

Discussion: Reuters, WorldViews, Sky News, Firedoglake, Reporters Without Borders, maannews.net, pchrgaza.org, New York Magazine, Gawker, www.wnyc.org, Mondoweiss, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and msnbc.com, more at Mediagazer »

Brendan Sasso / The Hill:
Sen. McCain calls for Bill Clinton to lead Israel-Palestinian talks

Discussion: CNN, The Impolitic, Politico and Talking Points Memo

Haaretz:
LIVE BLOG: Day 5 of Israel's Gaza offensive

Discussion: Tikun Olam, Mondoweiss, Israel Matzav and The Gateway Pundit

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

Allen West falls further behind — Florida Rep. Allen West's reelection prospects grew dimmer Sunday, as a recount of early ballots showed him falling further behind his Democratic opponent. — Democrat Patrick Murphy, a 29-year-old construction company executive, gained 242 votes …

Discussion: Reuters, Outside the Beltway, CNN, The Raw Story, The Reaction and Alan Colmes'Alan Colmes'

Meghashyam Mali / Ballot Box: Murphy claims victory after recount deadline, West weighs challenge

Aviva Shen / ThinkProgress:

McCain Refuses To Support Any Secretary Of State Nominee — Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has not hesitated to voice his distaste towards U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, who may be nominated to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. On Face the Nation Sunday morning …

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Outside the Beltway

Sahil Kapur / Talking Points Memo:

Top Republicans Excoriate Romney On Sunday Talk Shows — If Mitt Romney has any friends left in the Republican Party, they're in hiding. — On the Sunday talk shows, senior Republicans, former Romney surrogates and prominent conservatives piled on their defeated presidential nominee …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway

Reuters:

Republicans say party needs revamp after Romney drubbing — (Reuters) - The Republican Party needs to stop insulting voters and broaden its appeal after Democratic President Barack Obama won re-election this month over Mitt Romney with overwhelming support from Hispanics, blacks and single women, top Republicans said on Sunday.

Discussion: Hot Air, NewsBusters.org and Mediaite

Seung Min Kim / Politico:
Graham to Romney: 'When you're in a hole, stop digging'

Discussion: Firedoglake and The Huffington Post

Larry McShane / NY Daily News:

New York businessman says Jill Kelley tried to parlay honorary South Korean consul gig into $80 million check — Socialite linked to David Petraeus sex scandal tried to broker pricey deal on fuel conversion project — Energy businessman Adam Victor says Tampa socialite Jill Kelley requested …

Discussion: The Daily Caller and New York Magazine

Matt DeLong / Washington Post:

Joe Biden to Sandy victims: 'You've got a homeboy' who ‘gets it’ — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), left, and Vice President Joe Biden walk off their helicopter Sunday in Island Beach State Park, N.J. (Rich Schultz / AP) — Seeking to reassure victims of Hurricane Sandy following a tour …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, Michelle Malkin, The Daily Caller and New York Magazine

Brendan Sasso / The Hill:
Biden tours Sandy damage in NJ, pledges continued federal aid

Discussion: CNN

Maureen Callahan / New York Post:

Former hotel insider's memoir reveals dirty secrets of hospitality industry — Any big hotels have got scandals. Just like every big hotel has got a ghost. Why? Hell, people come and go. — “The Shining” by Stephen King — The most memorable guest Jacob Tomsky ever came across …

Discussion: Althouse

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:

Paul Ryan Emerges as Power Broker in Fiscal Talks — WASHINGTON — Gone is the private jet and the motorcade that swept him from the tarmac to the private hotel entrances. His security staff has been reduced to a few Capitol Police officers, soon to fade away.

Discussion: The Fix, Taegan Goddard's … and The Caucus

Pedro Oliveira Jr / New York Post:

White House denies terror delete — The White House yesterday denied it edited talking points about the terrorist attack that killed the American ambassador to Libya — contradicting remarks made a day earlier by disgraced ex-CIA chief David Petraeus. — “The only edit that was made by the White House …

Discussion: Associated Press, The Lonely Conservative and Michelle Malkin

Anne Flaherty / Associated Press:
Congress to Investigate Benghazi ‘Talking Points’

Discussion: Politico

Talking Points Memo:

Tom Price: Balanced Approach Means No Revenue Through Tax Hikes — Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) said Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union” that a deficit-reduction deal should not raise taxes but can increase revenue through “pro-growth” reforms. — “We need to look at increasing revenue through …

Discussion: The Raw Story