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Cornyn: Congress will not allow default — Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the Republican whip, said in Houston Thursday that Congress will not allow an impasse over raising the debt ceiling to result in the federal government defaulting on its spending obligations. — “We will raise the debt ceiling.
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A new strategy for the GOP — It has become conventional wisdom that Republicans are suffering an internal split that President Obama is successfully exploiting to neuter the Republican House. It is not true, however, that the Republican split is philosophical and fundamental.
Discussion:
The Week, Right Turn, Mediaite, msnbc.com, Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, FreedomWorks blogs, New York Times, Hot Air and The Plum Line

House Republicans using retreat as chance for self-reflection
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …

Rank and file tell GOP leaders to keep sequester, shutdown ‘on the table’
Discussion:
Hot Air


Up next for Obama: A looming Democratic divide — As President Barack Obama approaches his second inaugural on Monday, he presides over a party that has largely papered over its divisions for the past four years thanks to the president's commanding popularity.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Week, Capital New York, msnbc.com and First Read
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First Thoughts: Different attitude greeting Obama's upcoming inaugural — A different attitude to greet Obama's 2nd inauguration, per new NBC/WSJ poll... “Cope” instead of “hope”... But Obama remains popular in poll... The same isn't true of the GOP, Congress... Majority supports broad principle …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Outside the Beltway, Taegan Goddard's … and Business Insider


NBC/WSJ poll: NRA more popular than entertainment industry
Discussion:
The Fix, Hot Air, No More Mister Nice Blog, Post Politics, The Daily Caller and Daily Kos


White House releases new presidential portrait — (CNN) - The White House released a new portrait of President Barack Obama on Friday, just ahead of the inauguration of his second term. — The photo was taken by White House photographer Pete Souza on December 6, 2012.
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Seeking to harness Obama's campaign resources for a second term — An ambitious new political organization is being built out of the machine that propelled him back into office, with the hope of supporting his policy objectives. — President Obama's reelection campaign is reinventing itself …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed, The Hill, Ballot Box, TechPresident, Politico and Prairie Weather


AP Sources: Obama Team to Form Agenda Group
Discussion:
CNN, Politico and Washington Free Beacon


New Study Highlights Threat From Far Right-Wing Groups In U.S. — A new study from a think tank connected to the West Point Military Academy highlights the threat of violent far-right movements in the United States, leading to the conclusion that, while diverse in in their causes …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' and Booman Tribune
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West Point center cites dangers of ‘far right’ in U.S.
Discussion:
National Review and Weasel Zippers

Christie calls NRA ad criticizing Obama daughters' security ‘reprehensible’ — Governor Christie called the National Rifle Association's ad criticizing President Obama's daughters' security detail “reprehensible.” — “I think any of us who are public figures, you see that kind of ad and you cringe,” he said.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Outside the Beltway, Mediaite, Politico, Weasel Zippers and The Hinterland Gazette
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Chris Christie Slams ‘Reprehensible’ NRA For 'Dragging People's Children' Into Gun Control Debate
Discussion:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Political State, Hot Air, The Moderate Voice and The Gateway Pundit

White House Posts Videos of Children Asking Obama to Address Gun Violence
Discussion:
Post Politics, Mediaite and The Raw Story

Chris Christie: NRA Ad Mentioning Obama's Daughters ‘Reprehensible’ (VIDEO)
Discussion:
Joe. My. God. and Business Insider


Lance Armstrong to Oprah: Story was ‘one big lie’ … Saying his “mythic, perfect story” was “one big lie,” Lance Armstrong admitted that he cheated during most of his famed cycling career and that he bullied people who dared to tell the truth about it. — After denying doping allegations …
Discussion:
The Heritage Foundation, msnbc.com, Infowars and Taylor Marsh
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Analysis: Lance Armstrong Confesses to Using Drugs but Without Details
Discussion:
OpenSecrets.org, Media Decoder, DealBook and Althouse, more at Mediagazer »


GOP's surprising edge on diversity — Editor's note: John Avlon is a CNN contributor and senior political columnist for Newsweek and The Daily Beast. He is co-editor of the book “Deadline Artists: America's Greatest Newspaper Columns.” He is a regular contributor to “Erin Burnett OutFront” …
Discussion:
Prairie Weather

Americans Call for Term Limits, End to Electoral College — Virtually no partisan disagreement on these long-discussed constitutional reforms — PRINCETON, NJ — Even after the 2012 election in which Americans re-elected most of the sitting members of the U.S. House and Senate …

I Have No Words — I'm not going to characterize this or say anything about it. But I had to share it with you. From TPM Reader PH ...
Discussion:
Eschaton and CANNONFIRE

FOR WANT OF A NAIL — (January 16, 2033. A fire-lit cabin in the hills of Brezhnev City, Stalinton - formerly Boise, Idaho. A man sitting on a shattered milk crate looks older than his 53 years. His rumpled, malnourished grandson sits at his feet.) — “Grandpa?

The Dwindling Deficit — It's hard to turn on your TV or read an editorial page these days without encountering someone declaring, with an air of great seriousness, that excessive spending and the resulting budget deficit is our biggest problem. Such declarations are rarely accompanied …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Paul Krugman and Hullabaloo

Murray will not run for governor — WORCESTER — Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray will not run for governor in 2014, citing the demands of campaigning, serving in elected office and his desire to spend more time with his wife and two young daughters. — “I've decided that I am not going to run for governor …
Discussion:
Post Politics


HOLDER BEGS COURT TO STOP DOCUMENT RELEASE ON FAST AND FURIOUS — Attorney General Eric Holder and his Department of Justice have asked a federal court to indefinitely delay a lawsuit brought by watchdog group Judicial Watch. The lawsuit seeks the enforcement of open records requests relating …
Discussion:
Hot Air
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Holder Begs Court to Stop Document Release on #FastandFurious
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protein wisdom