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Phil Robertson's America — I've yet to take in an episode of Duck Dynasty. I hear it's a fine show, anchored by a humorous and good-natured family of proud Americans. I try to be good natured, and I have been told that I can appreciate a good joke. I am also a proud American.
Discussion:
American Prospect and Balloon Juice
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Duck Dynasty Star is Rosa Parks of Our Generation — Today, Ian Bayne called Phil Robertson, star of the A&E series “Duck Dynasty,” the ‘Rosa Parks’ of our generation. — “In December 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand against an unjust societal persecution of black people, and in December 2013 …
Discussion:
Politico, Little Green Footballs, BuzzFeed, Liberaland and The Raw Story


Ian Bayne, GOP Congressional Candidate: ‘Duck Dynasty Star Is Rosa Parks Of Our Generation’ — WASHINGTON — Embattled “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has been suspended from his show by A&E for his remarks about gays and African-Americans, and now some high-profile conservatives are rallying to his side and defending him.
Discussion:
Lone Star Q, Daily Kos, The Hinterland Gazette, Wonkblog, PostPartisan, The Baffler and ABC News


The Robertson Family Offical Statement — We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E's decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word.
Discussion:
Politico, TheBlaze.com, Guardian, Business Insider, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, No More Mister Nice Blog, Shakesville, Achenblog, The Hinterland Gazette, Deadline.com, CNN, Scared Monkeys, National Review, CBS Houston, NewsBusters, Gawker, The Reaction, Towleroad News #gay, Taylor Marsh, Hot Air, Patterico's Pontifications, Washington Post, Michelle Malkin and TIME


GOP Congressional Candidate: Duck Dynasty Star Is ‘Rosa Parks Of Our Generation’
Discussion:
his vorpal sword and Suburban Political Recount


The individual mandate no longer applies to people whose plans were canceled — Today, the Obama administration announced that people whose insurance plans were canceled this year will “temporarily” be exempted from the law's individual mandate. Here's how they're doing it — and what it means for the law.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Reuters, Guardian, Weasel Zippers, Connecting.the.Dots, neo-neocon, Power Line, Shakesville and Weekly Standard
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Let's call the whole thing off — When President Obama signed Obamacare into law, Joe Biden famously told him, “this is a big f___ing deal.” So too, minus the adjective, is the Obama administration's decree that those whose health insurance policies were terminated will be allowed …
Discussion:
New York Times, Outside the Beltway, BizPac Review and neo-neocon


Utter Chaos: White House Exempts Millions From Obamacare's Insurance Mandate, ‘Unaffordable’ Exchanges
Discussion:
National Review, Maggie's Farm, Josh Blackman's Blog, NBCNews, The PJ Tatler, Betsy's Page and Los Angeles Times

Obama administration relaxes rules of health-care law four days before deadline

Does New Obamacare Mandate Exemption Open A Pandora's Box?
Discussion:
Health Affairs Blog

Obama Lifts Health Mandate for Those With Canceled Plans
Discussion:
protein wisdom and The Gateway Pundit

White House Will Allow Some To Buy Catastrophic Health Plans


Officials' defenses of NSA phone program may be unraveling — From the moment the government's massive database of citizens' call records was exposed this year, U.S. officials have clung to two main lines of defense: The secret surveillance program was constitutional and critical to keeping the nation safe.
Discussion:
Right Turn, Conservative Intelligence …, Hot Air, Secrecy News, Prairie Weather and The Reaction
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Obama Vows ‘Year of Action’ After He ‘Screwed It Up’ on Health Care
Discussion:
Reuters, Politico and Balloon Juice


GCHQ and NSA targeted charities, Germans, Israeli PM and EU chief — • Unicef and Médecins du Monde were on surveillance list — • Targets went well beyond potential criminals and terrorists — • Revelations could cause embarrassment at EU summit
Discussion:
Spiegel Online, Washington Post, Lawfare, Mashable, The Daily Caller, Angry Bear, New York Times and Boing Boing
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Trooper Joe Petty assisted by Tpr Dave Stucenski & K9 Frankie Locate 1250 Bags of Heroin in Hatfield — Early this morning, Trooper Joseph Petty was on a traffic stop of Route 91 in Northampton when a vehicle passed by him. Trooper Petty observed several violations.
Discussion:
CBS Boston, Politico, Business Insider and The Raw Story
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Massachusetts State Police Bust ‘Obama Care’ Heroin
Discussion:
The Jawa Report


CANADIAN COURT STRIKES DOWN ANTI-PROSTITUTION LAWS — You are here — Home » Canada » Canadian court strikes down anti-prostitution laws … TORONTO (AP) — Canada's highest court struck down the country's anti-prostitution laws Friday, a victory for sex workers who stepped …
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money and Liberaland
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Supreme Court strikes down Canada's prostitution laws — The Supreme Court of Canada has struck down the country's major prostitution laws, saying that bans on street soliciting, brothels and people living off the avails of prostitution create severe dangers for vulnerable women and therefore violate Canadians' basic values.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Hit & Run

President ends year at all-time CNN polling low — Washington (CNN) - Fourteen points. — That's how far President Barack Obama's poll numbers fell in CNN polling over the course of what's been an especially tough year. — Obama's approval rating stands at 41% in a new CNN/ORC International …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Hot Air, Reuters, Business Insider and The PJ Tatler


John Boehner's Betrayal — WOODSTOCK, Ga. — THERE'S a political axiom that says if nobody is upset with what you're doing, you're not doing your job. We've seen this proved time and again in the liberal attacks on conservatives like Sarah Palin and Dr. Benjamin Carson …
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog
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Senate hatches last-minute deal
Discussion:
Daily Kos and Booman Tribune


Jack Kingston defends school lunch quote — Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston, who suggested children should sweep cafeteria floors to earn meals from the federal school lunch program, is clarifying his comments Friday, saying he meant all children should be instilled with a work ethic.
RELATED:

GOP Rep.: School Lunch Comments Not Targeted At Any Income Group
Discussion:
Balloon Juice

Federal judge strikes down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage — A federal judge in Utah Friday struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, saying the law violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process. — “The state's current laws deny its gay …
Discussion:
The Raw Story and Daily Kos


Paul Ryan Finds God — How a backstage prayer in Cleveland and a new leader in the Vatican set the budget-slashing congressman on a mission to help the poor. “My bet is that he's on Pope Francis' team.” — On Oct. 24, 2012, Paul Ryan slipped into a high-ceilinged backstage room …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, JSOnline, ThinkProgress and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

High Schoolers Staged A Massive Sit-In After Their Vice Principal Was Ousted Over Same-Sex Marriage — The students of Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Washington staged a sit-in Thursday after it was announced that their vice principal was being fired.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Seattle Times blogs and The Dish