memeorandum: Gay marriage pressure back on Obama (Josh Gerstein/Politico)

Kyle Balluck / The Hill:

White House could protect middle class from looming tax hikes — The White House has the power to temporarily protect taxpayers from middle-class tax hikes even as upper income rates rise if Congress does nothing and all of the Bush-era tax rates expire in January.

Discussion: Hot Air and Instapundit

Sen. Corker open to higher tax rates as part of deficit-cutting deal — Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) on Sunday joined a growing chorus of Republicans who are open to higher tax rates for the richest Americans as part of a deal to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” — Corker, a member of the Senate …

Discussion: CNN and Politico

Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:

GOP Rep. Cole: Take Obama's offer to gain tax cuts for ‘98 percent’ — Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said Sunday that House Republicans should agree to extending tax cuts for the majority of U.S. taxpayers. — Speaking on CNN's “State of the Union,” Cole continued to champion his case …

Discussion: CNN

Jackie Calmes / New York Times:
Tax Arithmetic Shows Top Rate Is Just a Starter

Discussion: Daily Kos

Josh Israel / ThinkProgress:

Top Michigan Newspaper Turns On Snyder: Slams Governor For Sneaking Through Anti-Union ‘Right-To-Work’ Legislation — The Detroit Free-Press, which endorsed Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) in his 2010 campaign and has generally supported him since, blasted his decision to ram through a union-busting …

Discussion: Alan Colmes'Alan Colmes' and Washington Monthly

Carlos Osorio / Detroit Free Press:

A failure of leadership: Snyder's about-face on right-to-work betrays voters — Two years ago, a newly elected Rick Snyder told the Free Press editorial board he was determined to be a new kind of governor — a pragmatist focused like a laser on initiatives that promised to raise standards of living for all Michiganders.

Discussion: emptywheel and Alternet

George Stephanopoulos / ABCNEWS:

George Will: ‘Quite Literally, The Opposition to Gay Marriage Is Dying’ — While Supreme Court watchers ponder how justices will come down in the debate over gay marriage, ABC's George Will said Sunday on ABC News “This Week” it's clear where public opinion is headed.

Discussion: Politico, NewsBusters.org and Towleroad News #gay

ABCNEWS:

‘This Week’ Transcript: Two Powerhouse Roundtables — STEPHANOPOULOS (voice-over): Good morning, and welcome to “This Week.” — With 23 days to go, stalemate. — OBAMA: I want to send a very clear message. I will not play that game. — STEPHANOPOULOS: The president digs in.

Discussion: ABCNEWS and Red Alert Politics

Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Gay marriage pressure back on Obama

Discussion: AMERICAblog, How Appealing and Towleroad News #gay

Tia Ghose / The Huffington Post:

Volcanoes, Not Meteorite, Killed Dinosaurs, New Study Suggests … REACT: — FOLLOW: — Video, Dinosaur Death, Dinosaur Extinction, Dinosaurs Asteroid, Dinosaurs Deccan Traps, Dinosaurs India, Dinosaurs Lava, Dinosaurs Volcano, Volcanic Activity Dinosaurs, Volcanoes Killed Dinosaurs, What Killed Dinosaurs, Science News

Discussion: Mock, Paper, Scissors

Jodi Kantor / New York Times:

Clinton's Countless Choices Hinge on One: 2016 — You're one of the most famous women on earth, and you're jobless for the first time in decades. You'd like to make money, but you don't want to rule out running for president. So what do you do all day? — Right now, aides and friends say …

Discussion: The PJ Tatler, Algemeiner.com, Althouse, Washington Post and The Daily Beast

Zack Beauchamp / ThinkProgress:

U.S. Senator Protests Climate Talks With Activist Who Believes The UN Is The Anti-Christ — Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, held a climate-denial press conference at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on Thursday.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Ross Douthat / New York Times:

The Years of Senator DeMint — IN November 2008, just after John McCain was routed by Barack Obama, Jim DeMint addressed a Myrtle Beach conference on the future of the Republican Party. The first-term South Carolina senator was there to reassure his audience: Republicans might have lost an election …

Discussion: Washington Monthly and INSTAPUTZ

Elizabeth Weise / USA Today:

For the first time, same-sex couples wed in Wash. state — In the Nov. 6 election, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to allow same-sex couples to marry by popular vote. — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — 10:33AM EST December 9. 2012 - SEATTLE — Emily cried …

Discussion: Advocate, Towleroad News #gay and Queerty

Discussion: Guardian, BBC and Towleroad News #gay

Kevin Bogardus / The Hill:

Newark Mayor Booker considering runs for governor, Senate — Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) said Sunday that he is considering a run for higher office, including Senate as well as governor of New Jersey. — Speaking on CBS's “Face the Nation,” Booker, a rising star in the Democratic Party …

Discussion: Politico