memeorandum: Cooling Down the Fears of Climate Change (Matt Ridley/Wall Street Journal)

11:05 AM ET, December 19, 2012

Top Items:

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 …

Richard Stengel / TIME:

The Choice — In 1782 an expatriate French aristocrat named J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur who lived in New York's Hudson Valley published a book in London called Letters from an American Farmer. The third letter was titled “What Is an American?”

Discussion: Politico and Post Politics

Justin Sink / The Hill:

Obama is Time's ‘Person of the Year’ — President Barack Obama was named Time magazine's “Person of the Year,” the publication revealed Wednesday morning. — It is the president's second time winning the award; he won in 2008 after being elected to the White House for the first time.

Discussion: americanthinker.com

Fox News:

Robert Bork, former Supreme Court nominee, dies — Robert Bork, former federal judge and Supreme Court nominee, has died, his family confirms to FoxNews.com. — Family members said Bork, 85, died early Wednesday morning. He had a history of heart problems and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Alan Colmes'Alan Colmes', Michelle Malkin, AllThingsD, Mediaite and Ricochet Conversations Feed, more at Mediagazer »

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: Hot Air, Freedom's Lighthouse and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

New York Sun:

Kagan on the Second — There have been so many irresponsible statements by those seeking to exploit the tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut, that it's hard to keep up with them, but for the combination of arrogance and inaccuracy one can't beat the editorial the New York Times ran out this week under …

Discussion: Right Turn

Steven Hayward / Power Line:

Robert Bork's Revenge? — The distinguished jurist Robert Bork has died at the age of 85. Roger Kimball recalls him here, noting with understatement that the Left's scorched-earth opposition to his Supreme Court nomination was “obscene.” I have a long account of it in The Age of Reagan …

Discussion: PointOfLaw Forum and The Volokh Conspiracy

Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Judge Robert Bork dead at 84

Discussion: CNN

New York Times:

Inquiry Into Libya Attack Is Sharply Critical of State Dept. — WASHINGTON — An independent inquiry into the attack on the United States diplomatic mission in Libya that killed four Americans on Sept. 11 sharply criticizes the State Department for a lack of seasoned security personnel …

Discussion: Associated Press, americanthinker.com, “The Lid”, The Hinterland Gazette and First Read

Julian Pecquet / The Hill:
Benghazi probe faults ‘systemic failures’ at State Department

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Reuters, American Power and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Alexander Abad-Santos / The Atlantic Wire:
Conservatives Think Hillary Clinton Is Faking Her Concussion

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, The Week, CNN, The Moderate Voice, The Camp Of The Saints, The Daily Caller, The Heritage Foundation and Investor's Business Daily

Greg McDonald / NewsMax.com:
Bolton: Clinton's ‘Diplomatic Illness’ Shouldn't Stop Benghazi Testimony

Discussion: Politico

Julian Pecquet / The Hill:
Benghazi report could tarnish Clinton's legacy

Discussion: Hot Air

Anne Gearan / Washington Post: Review of Benghazi attack faults ‘grossly’ inadequate security, leadership failures

Paul Mirengoff / Power Line:
Benghazi verdict: grossly inadequate security and systemic failures of leadership

Discussion: Wall Street Journal and Betsy's Page

New York Post:
Hillary Clinton's head fake

Discussion: CNN, PoliticusUSA, The Daily Caller, Exposing Liberal Lies, Politico, Outside the Beltway, The Raw Story and The Glittering Eye

Reuters:
Inquiry slams US State Department over Benghazi

Discussion: Israel Matzav

Associated Press:

Obama Social Security Offer at Odds With Top Dems — President Barack Obama's offer to slow the growth of Social Security benefits would force fellow Democrats in Congress to abandon promises to shield the massive retirement and disability program from cuts as part of negotiations to avoid the year-end fiscal cliff.

Discussion: Politico and CNN

Peter Baker / New York Times:
Obama Facing Critical Choice After Shooting

Discussion: msnbc.com

Reid J. Epstein / Reuters:
Barack Obama to announce guns task force

Discussion: Politico, Daily Kos, New York Times and Capital New York

Bloomberg:
AmEx's Chenault Said to Be Discussed for Treasury Post

Discussion: DealBook, Quartz and Business Insider

Austin Wright / Politico:
Flouting veto threat, conferees finish defense bill

Discussion: ABCNEWS and Lawfare

Jared A. Favole / Wall Street Journal:
Obama to Tap Biden to Oversee Gun-Control Efforts

Discussion: The Caucus and Business Insider

NY Daily News:

Comfort dogs help ease pain of mourning Newtown community — Groups from across the country brought dogs, some of them therapy animals, some just caring pets, to help both young and old cope with their grief over the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. — Dogs comfort a little boy Monday …

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Noel Sheppard / NewsBusters.org:
Piers Morgan Calls Pro-Gun Advocate ‘Unbelievably Stupid,’ ‘Dangerous’: ‘You Shame Your Country’

Discussion: Freedom Outpost, Gawker, Washington Examiner and Towleroad News #gay

Sheldon Alberts / The Hill:
Boehner calls for GOP ‘discussion’ on guns

Discussion: Hot Air, Fox News, Mediaite, Balloon Juice and The Hill

Jeryl Bier / Speak With Authority:
Never Let a Crisis... Sometime it almost feels wrong …

Discussion: Israel Matzav, The Lonely Conservative, Washington Examiner, Weasel Zippers and Twitchy

Jana Winter / Fox News:

EXCLUSIVE: Fear of being committed may have caused Connecticut gunman to snap — NEWTOWN, CONN. - The gunman who slaughtered 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school may have snapped because his mother was planning to commit him to a psychiatric facility …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Mediaite, The Camp Of The Saints, MyFOX8.com, Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, ABCNEWS, The Other McCain, Hot Air, Vox Popoli, The Daily Caller, Hit & Run and Fox News Insider

Ezra Klein / Washington Post:
A better target for gun control

Discussion: msnbc.com, CNN, The Plum Line, Moe Lane and American Spectator

Washington Examiner:
White House endorses specific gun restrictions

Discussion: nation.foxnews.com and The Hill

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 …

Discussion: Politico, New York Times, Right Turn, Hot Air, National Review, “The Lid”, The Atlantic Online, Moe Lane and Commentary Magazine

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Neocons push against Chuck Hagel

Discussion: Booman Tribune, Foreign Policy, Weekly Standard, americanthinker.com, Slate, Washington Free Beacon, The New Republic and Open Zion

Matt Ridley / Wall Street Journal:

Cooling Down the Fears of Climate Change — Evidence points to a further rise of just 1°C by 2100. The net effect on the planet may actually be beneficial. — Forget the Doha climate jamboree that ended earlier this month. The theological discussions in Qatar of the arcana of climate treaties are irrelevant.

Discussion: Power Line, Hit & Run, Watts Up With That?, The Glittering Eye and Althouse

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.

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Mediaite, The Week, The Gateway Pundit and Weasel Zippers

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

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: The Hinterland Gazette, Booman Tribune and The Raw Story

Vicki Needham / The Hill:

Democrats turn up pressure on extending long-term jobless aid — Senior House Democrats insist they won't leave Washington until Congress extends jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. — Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), the House Ways and Means Committee ranking member …