memeorandum: Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf dies (Associated Press)

12:10 PM ET, December 28, 2012

Top Items:

Jonathan Allen / Politico:

Why they want to go over the cliff — Washington's Democratic and Republican power brokers have sent the message to the nation that going over the fiscal cliff is a worst-case scenario. But they're not acting that way, not at all. — Instead, many of them have calculated that it's better …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Week, Taegan Goddard's …, AMERICAblog, Politicker, Business Insider, Connecting.the.Dots and The Caucus

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

The logic of House GOP intransigence — The unruly House Republicans who emasculated Speaker John Boehner as the country flirts with fiscal havoc might've seemed like they were doing their best “Lord of the Flies” rendition. — But last week's mayhem had a certain logic — the logic of politicians wanting to keep their jobs.

Discussion: CNN, Booman Tribune, Washington Examiner, Guardian and Daily Kos

Steven T. Dennis / Roll Call:

Pessimism Abounds as White House Calls Cliff Meeting — Lawmakers seemed as pessimistic as ever about averting the fiscal cliff Thursday evening despite the White House scheduling a meeting with the top four congressional leaders for Friday afternoon. — The White House announced …

Discussion: The Other McCain

Deirdre Walsh / CNN:
TRENDING: Hoyer compares GOP debt limit tactics to hostage taker threatening to shoot child

Discussion: Politico, Twitchy, Mediaite, Taylor Marsh, Sister Toldjah, Weasel Zippers and The Reality-Based Community

Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times:
Mitch McConnell lies low as ‘fiscal cliff’ nears

Discussion: The Maddow Blog, ABCNEWS, Mother Jones, Roll Call and New York Times

Washington Post:
Obama reaches out to congressional leaders on ‘fiscal cliff’ talks

Discussion: Salon, The Hill, The Fix, Power Line, First Read, Post Politics, Booman Tribune, The Plum Line, Reuters, Roll Call and Hot Air

Robert D. McFadden / New York Times:

Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Commander in Gulf War, Dies at 78 — Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the American-led forces that crushed Iraq in the 1991 Persian Gulf war and became the nation's most acclaimed military hero since the midcentury exploits of Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, americanthinker.com, The Week, Twitchy and National Review

Matt Schudel / Washington Post:

Retired Gen. Schwarzkopf dies at 78 — H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the four-star Army general who led allied forces to a stunningly quick and decisive victory over Saddam Hussein's Iraqi military in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and who became the most celebrated U.S. military hero of his generation, died Thursday in Tampa.

Discussion: neo-neocon, American Spectator, Gawker and Foreign Policy

Associated Press:
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, coalition forces leader during Persian Gulf War, dies

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Conservatives4Palin and Tim Blair

Associated Press: Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf dies

CNN:
Desert Storm's Gen. Schwarzkopf dies

Discussion: LewRockwell.com Blog

Norman Schwarzkopf / Associated Press:
Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf dies at 78

Discussion: Mediaite

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:

Summoned Back to Work, Senators Chafe at Inaction — WASHINGTON — Senators bid hasty goodbyes to families, donned ties and pantsuits in lieu of sweat pants and Christmas sweaters and one by one returned to the Capitol on Thursday to begin the business of doing nothing in particular.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, ABCNEWS and Taegan Goddard's …

Des Moines Register:

Mississippi's low levels could halt river traffic — A shutdown of commercial use could come by next week, a group says — The feared shutdown of commercial traffic on the Mississippi River due to low water levels could happen as early as next week, a waterways group said Thursday.

Discussion: The Reaction

Niti Central:

Taliban wants Sharia in Pakistan, war with India — The Pakistani Taliban has made a conditional ceasefire offer to the Pakistan Government which calls for an end to Pakistan's participation in the Afghan war, the imposition of Sharia law in the country, and to avenge the embarrassing defeat …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

Frank Newport / Gallup:

NRA Has 54% Favorable Image in U.S. — Republicans most positive about NRA; Democrats most negative — PRINCETON, NJ — Fifty-four percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association, while 38% have an unfavorable opinion. The public's ratings of the NRA …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Hill, Politico, Hot Air, Post Politics, Jammie Wearing Fools and Outside the Beltway

CNN:

Russia's Putin signs anti-U.S. adoption bill — (CNN) — President Vladimir Putin signed a controversial measure banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. families, the Kremlin said Friday. — The action could affect hundreds of American families seeking to adopt.

Discussion: The Heritage Foundation and The Gateway Pundit

David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
Putin Says He Will Sign Law Barring U.S. Adoptions

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Power Line, BuzzFeed and The Week

Larry Downing / Al Akhbar English:

Saudi detains dozens for “plotting to celebrate Christmas” — Saudi religious police stormed a house in the Saudi Arabian province of al-Jouf, detaining more than 41 guests for “plotting to celebrate Christmas,” a statement from the police branch released Wednesday night said.

Discussion: Elder of Ziyon, Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

Matt Canham / Salt Lake Tribune:

Incoming Utah lawmaker open to limited gun control — Politics » Rep.-elect Chris Stewart calls arming educators “a bad idea,” skeptical on armed guards. — | The Salt Lake Tribune — Congressman-elect Chris Stewart is willing to support some limited gun-control measures …

Discussion: The Hill, Post Politics and AMERICAblog

Jenn / Twitchy:

‘Die painfully’: 50 soulless degenerates who can't wait for George H.W. Bush to die — Former President George H.W. Bush is surrounded by family in the ICU of Houston's Methodist Hospital as he fights a “stubborn fever.” Doctors are “cautiously optimistic,” but the 88-year-old “remains in guarded condition.”

Discussion: The Lonely Conservative and Weasel Zippers

Ben Geman / The Hill:

Acting EPA chief among most likely to succeed Jackson — The looming departure of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is yielding quick speculation about who will replace her, and might touch off a brutal Senate confirmation fight to lead a department that has faced constant GOP criticism.

Discussion: The Raw Story

Reuters:

China tightens Internet controls, legalizes post deletion — (Reuters) - China unveiled tighter Internet controls on Friday, legalizing the deletion of posts or pages which are deemed to contain “illegal” information and requiring service providers to hand over such information to the authorities for punishment.

Discussion: Mashable!, Hot Air and BBC