Top Items:
Brian Beutler / Talking Points Memo:
Did Boehner Just Pull The Plug On Fiscal Cliff Negotiations? — In response to President Obama's extensive comments about the fiscal cliff at the White House Wednesday afternoon, House Speaker John Boehner left himself little if any room to continue negotiations.
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, The Plum Line and Hullabaloo
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Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
House Republicans Again Show Why We Need to Wait Until January for a Deal — For about half a day, in the wake of President Obama's most recent budget compromise, it appeared that an agreement might be close at hand. Boehner was reported to be taking the temperature of his crazies on Obama's plan.
Discussion:
New York Times, Hot Air, BuzzFeed and Taking Note
Ryan Ellis / Americans for Tax Reform RSS:
ATR Statement on “Plan B” Tax Plan — ATR's statement on the “Plan B” tax bill. — ATR has consistently maintained that individual Members of Congress make a pledge to their constituents to oppose and vote against tax increases. The House this week will vote on a tax bill.
Discussion:
Politico, The New Republic, Speaker.gov, Washington Examiner, National Review, Business Insider, Post Politics, Washington Wire, Wonkblog and CTJReports
Talking Points Memo:
Grover Norquist: Boehner's ‘Plan B’ Not A Tax Pledge Violation — In a significant development announced on Wednesday, Grover Norquist's group Americans for Tax Reform released a statement indicating that House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) “Plan B” to avert the so-called fiscal cliff …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Business Insider, Washington Examiner and National Review
Manu Raju / Politico:
Quick switch: Hatch backs Boehner Plan B
Quick switch: Hatch backs Boehner Plan B
Discussion:
The Hill, The Fix, Associated Press, The Daily Caller, Los Angeles Times, Hot Air, CNN and Post Politics
David Taintor / Talking Points Memo:
White House: Obama Would Veto GOP's Fiscal Cliff ‘Plan B’
White House: Obama Would Veto GOP's Fiscal Cliff ‘Plan B’
Discussion:
Washington Post, ThinkProgress and Firedoglake
Michael Scherer / TIME:
2012 Person of the Year: Barack Obama, the President — Twenty-seven years after driving from New York City to Chicago in a $2,000 Honda Civic for a job that probably wouldn't amount to much, Barack Obama, in better shape but with grayer hair, stood in the presidential suite on the top floor …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Atlantic Online, ABCNEWS, Greg's Opinion, The Democratic Daily, Mediaite, The Caucus, ABCNEWS, Forbes, LightBox, MadMike'sAmerica …, Capital New York, Towleroad News #gay, The Moderate Voice, Taylor Marsh, The Hinterland Gazette, Washington Wire, Gothamist, GOP 12, Weasel Zippers, The Tell, JustOneMinute, The Lonely Conservative, Shakesville, americanthinker.com, Twitchy, Business Insider, Gawker, The Week, The BLT and Politico, more at Mediagazer »
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Richard Stengel / TIME:
The Choice — In 1782 an expatriate French aristocrat named …
The Choice — In 1782 an expatriate French aristocrat named …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Politico, LightBox, Mediaite, Post Politics, msnbc.com, Gawker and Business Insider
Roger Kimball / Roger's Rules:
Robert H. Bork, 1927-2012 — Judge Robert H. Bork, one of the the greatest jurists this country has ever produced, died early this morning from heart complications in a Virginia hospital near his home. He was 84. — Bork was a national celebrity. Several years ago …
Discussion:
Power Line, Hot Air, Freedom's Lighthouse, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Spectator, americanthinker.com and National Review
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John Podhoretz / Commentary Magazine:
Robert Bork, 1927-2012 — Robert Bork died today at the age of 85 …
Robert Bork, 1927-2012 — Robert Bork died today at the age of 85 …
Discussion:
The Week, National Review, ABCNEWS, PointOfLaw Forum and The Volokh Conspiracy
Adolph L. Reed Jr / New York Times:
The Puzzle of Black Republicans — WHEN Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina announced on Monday that she would name Representative Tim Scott to the Senate, it seemed like another milestone for African-Americans. Mr. Scott will complete the term of Senator Jim DeMint, who is leaving to run Heritage Foundation.
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Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:
CNN Anchor Blasts Florida Governor For Ducking Gun Control, Demands Action Before ‘I Cover Another Tragedy’
CNN Anchor Blasts Florida Governor For Ducking Gun Control, Demands Action Before ‘I Cover Another Tragedy’
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The Raw Story and Mediaite
Ashley Killough / CNN:
TRENDING: Tim Scott points to ‘moral decay’ after school shooting
TRENDING: Tim Scott points to ‘moral decay’ after school shooting
Discussion:
Politico
Michael D. Shear / New York Times:
Obama to Give Congress Plan on Gun Control Within Weeks — WASHINGTON — President Obama declared Wednesday that he would make gun control a “central issue” as he opens a second term, submitting broad new gun control proposals to Congress no later than January and committing the power …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Shakesville, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Capital New York and CNN
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Byron York / Washington Examiner:
Obama, Reid slam brakes on gun control … With President Obama's announcement of a commission to study and recommend ways to reduce gun violence, the two most important Democrats in government — Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — have both indicated a desire to slow …
Discussion:
The Week, The Plum Line, Power Line, Hot Air, Mediaite, New York Times and American Power, more at Mediagazer »
Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
President Obama Launches Gun-Violence Task Force
President Obama Launches Gun-Violence Task Force
Discussion:
ABCNEWS and The Democratic Daily
Jared A. Favole / Wall Street Journal:
Obama Backs Push For New Gun Laws
Obama Backs Push For New Gun Laws
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Caucus, Politico, Taylor Marsh, Daily Kos, Politicker and Business Insider
Kevin Robillard / Politico:
Joe Manchin: 'I'm so proud of the NRA' — 'I'm not supporting a ban on anything. I'm supporting a conversation on everything,' Manchin said. AP Photo — Close — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who suggested earlier in the week that the time had come for some gun control restrictions …
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Mike Lillis / The Hill:
Sensing political shift, Pelosi, Dems call for ban on high-capacity gun clips
Sensing political shift, Pelosi, Dems call for ban on high-capacity gun clips
Discussion:
CNN
Eric Schmitt / New York Times:
3 State Department Resignations After Libya Attack Report — WASHINGTON — Three State Department officials resigned under pressure on Wednesday following a report that detailed “grossly inadequate” security measures at the United States Mission in Benghazi, Libya, on the night assailants besieged …
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, Taylor Marsh, CBS News, The Other McCain, Fox News and Michelle Malkin
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Matthew Lee / bigstory.ap.org:
STATE DEPT SECURITY CHIEF RESIGNS AFTER BENGHAZI — You are here — Home » United States government » State Dept security chief resigns after Benghazi — WASHINGTON (AP) — Three State Department officials resigned under pressure Wednesday, less than a day after a damning …
Discussion:
The Hill, Business Insider, Hit & Run and Mediaite
Washington Post:
Chuck Hagel is not the right choice for defense secretary — FORMER SENATOR Chuck Hagel, whom President Obama is reportedly considering for defense secretary, is a Republican who would offer a veneer of bipartisanship to the national security team. He would not, however, move it toward the center …
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Maggie Haberman / Politico:
Kristol-founded group targets Hagel
Kristol-founded group targets Hagel
Discussion:
Washington Post, Taylor Marsh and Weekly Standard
CNN:
CNN Poll: Bare majority now support major gun restrictions — Washington (CNN) - Americans are reacting to the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut with elevated levels of anger, shock and fear that have led a growing number of people to look for action from the government and society …
Discussion:
The National Memo
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Becket Fund:
Federal Appeals Court Hands Victory to Religious Colleges, Commands HHS to Act Quickly to Fix Mandate — Media Contact: Emily Hardman, 202.349.7224 — Washington, D.C. — Today, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. handed Wheaton College and Belmont Abbey College a major victory in their challenges to the HHS mandate.
Discussion:
National Review, The Heritage Foundation, Hot Air and Washington Free Beacon
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Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic Online:
Quoting Rush Limbaugh Verbatim Is the Easiest Way to Discredit Him — His broadcasts since the Newtown shooting are an apt illustration of his self-contradiction and lack of intellectual integrity. — Reuters — There's been a lot of talk about the “national conversation” these last few days.
Discussion:
Riehl World News, Connecting.the.Dots and The Spectacle Blog
Paul Krugman:
That Old Sick Feeling — Here we go again — or so I find myself fearing. — Obama's fiscal deal offer was already distressing — cuts to Social Security, and a big concession, it turns out, on taxation of dividends, retaining most of the Bush cut (with the benefits flowing overwhelmingly to the top 1 percent).
Discussion:
The Huffington Post and Prairie Weather
Tampa Bay Times:
Man shot at St. Pete pizza joint had been complaining about slow service — ST. PETERSBURG — Florida's controversial “stand your ground” law has been cited in hundreds of cases. People have used it to justify shooting, stabbing, killing and maiming would-be intruders, romantic competitors and rival gang members.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, AMERICAblog, The Hinterland Gazette, Booman Tribune and The Raw Story