memeorandum: With a Supermajority, California Democrats Begin to Make Plans (Adam Nagourney/New York Times)

1:45 PM ET, December 17, 2012

Top Items:

Kevin Robillard / Politico:

Pro-gun Sen. Joe Manchin: Time to act — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin — who has an “A” rating from the NRA and is a lifetime member of the pro-gun rights group — said Monday that it was time to “move beyond rhetoric” on gun control. — “I just came with my family from deer hunting,” Manchin said on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”

Discussion: The Hill, The Huffington Post, msnbc.com, The New Republic, CNN, Mediaite, OpenSecrets.org, Gawker, Washington Post, The Plum Line, Daily Kos and Taylor Marsh

New York Times:

In Town at Ease With Its Firearms, Tightening Gun Rules Was Resisted — People in the rural, hilly areas around Newtown, Conn., are used to gunfire. In one woodsy stretch, southeast of downtown, the Pequot Fish and Game Club and the Fairfield County Fish and Game Protective Association …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, American Prospect, AMERICAblog, No More Mister Nice Blog and Prairie Weather

Wall Street Journal:

New Calls for Gun Limits — Several lawmakers Sunday called for reintroducing a ban on assault weapons in the wake of Friday's deadly school rampage. President Barack Obama is also likely to propose gun-policy changes, according to two administration officials.

Discussion: American Prospect, The Huffington Post, The Atlantic Online, Talking Points Memo, Law Blog, Hartford Courant and Politico

Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic Online:

The Conceit That America Hasn't Had a Conversation About Guns — Current policy isn't an N.R.A. conspiracy. Americans became increasingly pro-gun, even as debate on the subject raged. — Reuters — All words offered in the aftermath of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting are inadequate …

Discussion: protein wisdom, Truthdig and “The Lid”

Erica Goode / New York Times:

Rifle Used in Killings, America's Most Popular, Highlights Regulation Debate — It comes in black, tan and camouflage. A pink version was once raffled by a gun store to raise money for breast cancer research. — Favored by target shooters in competitions and by hunters who stalk small game …

Discussion: Hit & Run, Washington Examiner, Runnin' Scared, National Review and The National Memo

First Read:
First Thoughts: An explicit call to action

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and Taegan Goddard's …

Nicholas D. Kristof / New York Times:
Do We Have the Courage to Stop This? — IN the harrowing aftermath …

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Slate, americanthinker.com, The Huffington Post and Daily Kos

The Caucus:

Tim Scott to Be Named for South Carolina Senate Seat, Republicans Say — Updated Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina has chosen Representative Tim Scott to replace Jim DeMint in the United States Senate, according to three Republican officials. The move will make Mr. Scott the first black senator …

Discussion: Ballot Box, Towleroad News #gay, Right Wing Watch, Taylor Marsh, msnbc.com, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway and The PJ Tatler

Scott Keyes / ThinkProgress:

Meet Sen. Tim Scott: The Tea Party Lawmaker Who Wanted To Impeach President Obama And Kick Kids Off Food Stamps — Tim Scott is America's newest senator today after getting tapped by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) to fill the vacancy left by former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Discussion: Wonkette and The Raw Story

Lori Ziganto / Twitchy:

Gov. Haley picks Rep. Tim Scott to replace DeMint; Vile cries of ‘token,’ ‘Uncle Ruckus’ begin — As Twitchy reported, Gov. Haley is set to officially announce that Rep. Tim Scott will be Sen. DeMint's replacement. Non-racists, which includes thrilled conservatives, swiftly and excitedly congratulated Rep. Scott.

Discussion: Fox News, USA Today, Michelle Malkin and Weasel Zippers

Associated Press:
Nikki Haley to announce Jim DeMint's successor

Discussion: ABCNEWS, CNN, The Hill, The Daily Caller and National Review

Peter Hamby / CNN:
Haley names Tim Scott as DeMint's successor

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Politico, Weasel Zippers and The Lonely Conservative

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

Dukakis seen as possible Senate replacement if Kerry tapped for State — Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, may be headed back to the political spotlight as he's considered a likely interim replacement for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Hot Air, ABCNEWS, The Week, The Daily Caller, Weasel Zippers, americanthinker.com and CBS Boston

Washington Post:

President Obama's speech at prayer vigil for Newtown shooting victims (Full transcript) — Full transcript of President Obama's remarks at a Dec. 16 prayer vigil for victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. — OBAMA: Thank you. — Thank you, Governor.

Discussion: Reuters, Guardian, Crooks and Liars, The Fix, The Other McCain, Gawker, Shakesville, NewsHounds blog, The Reaction, The Democratic Daily, The National Memo and The Raw Story

Natasha Lennard / Salon:
Anonymous hits Westboro Baptist Church over Sandy Hook picket plans

Discussion: ComPost, Mashable!, MadMike'sAmerica …, The Raw Story, The Lonely Conservative, Bottom Line Communications …, The Hinterland Gazette and Boing Boing

The White House:
Remarks by the President at Sandy Hook Interfaith Prayer Vigil

Discussion: Firedoglake, Hit & Run, White House.gov Blog, Hot Air, The Moderate Voice, CBS Connecticut, Daily Kos, Booman Tribune and Fox News Insider

Dana Bash / CNN:

CNN sources: Fiscal cliff talks centered on GOP $2 trillion proposal — Washington (CNN) - President Obama and House Speaker Boehner are discussing a $2 trillion framework on a deal to avert the fiscal cliff, that would include roughly a trillion in tax increases and roughly a trillion …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal

Erik Wasson / The Hill: Conservative groups slam reported Boehner concessions in talks

Pat Garofalo / ThinkProgress:
4 Reasons Why Boehner's Latest Tax Offer Is A Bad Deal

Discussion: Forbes, Washington Examiner, Politico and Firedoglake

Washington Post:
Boehner offers to take debt limit off the table

Discussion: Power Line, Washington Monthly, Firedoglake, Wonkblog, Wall Street Journal, Post Politics, Right Wing News, americanthinker.com, Weasel Zippers, The Lonely Conservative and Politico

presstv.ir:

Obama expected to nominate anti-Israel Hagel as secretary of defense — US President Barack Obama is expected to nominate former Senator Chuck Hagel, an outspoken critic of Israel, as the next Pentagon chief. — The White House Counsel's office has reportedly completed Hagel's vetting process …

Discussion: Israel Matzav and Weasel Zippers

Daniel Halper / Weekly Standard:
Iranian State Press Praises Likely Obama Defense Nominee as ‘Anti-Israel’

Discussion: Taylor Marsh

Reid Wilson / NationalJournal.com:

The GOP's Electoral College Scheme — Swanson Middle School, a polling place in Arlington, VA. — Republicans alarmed at the apparent challenges they face in winning the White House are preparing an all-out assault on the Electoral College system in critical states, an initiative …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and Booman Tribune

Dennis House / Channel 3's Dennis House Blogs:

Lieberman Wants Term Limits for Senators, Electoral College Eliminated — Retiring U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (I) CT says it is time for sweeping changes in the way the United States chooses its leaders. In an interview on “Face the State,” on WFSB-TV Hartford, Lieberman said he supports …

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …, Outside the Beltway and Post Politics

Justin Sink / The Hill:
Lieberman urges term limits for senators in exit interview

Discussion: Politico

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

With a Supermajority, California Democrats Begin to Make Plans — LOS ANGELES — The Democratic Party has controlled the California Legislature for a nearly unbroken stretch of 42 years. Yet control goes only so far: it takes two-thirds of the Legislature to enact a host of important legislation …

Discussion: Via Meadia and Moe Lane