THE FREAK SHOW

I know where Atrios is coming from

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/12/on-bright-side-blogging-will-get-bit.html
I spent many years doing my small little part in trying to influence the Freak Show side of politics. Destroying the Freak Show is impossible, so playing whack-a-mole with Zombie Lies and occasionally managing to make it work for the benefit of The Left was the best I could do. I'm not saying that's all I ever did on this blog, but it definitely started from the place that fixing politics required if not fixing our media then at least getting a bit better at gaming it. Once Dems took control of everything I just couldn't get too interested in what a never going to win Senate candidate from Delaware might have said 10 years ago. It was time to, you know, govern. Not that the media issue magically disappeared, of course. The Freak Show we will always have with us. But I just thought...well, hey, Team D is in charge now, so let's worry about getting stuff done.

But soon we will have Chairman Issa, and the Freak Show will indeed matter an immense amount once again. It isn't good for the country, but maybe it makes this blogging thing a bit easier. . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/30/932374/-Rep.-Steve-King-promises-pointless,-racist-investigations-for-the-next-two-year
Rep. Steve King promises pointless, racist investigations for the next two years

America’s plutocracy

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/were-plutocracy-in-case-you-didnt.html
[Francis Fukuyama] We mean not just rule by the rich, but rule by and for the rich. We mean, in other words, a state of affairs in which the rich influence government in such a way as to protect and expand their own wealth and influence, often at the expense of others. . . . [read on]

The “friction” between the Obama White House and Wall Street – how much of it is real, how much is kabuki?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/mutually-beneficial-propaganda.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/30/2010-the-year-in-wall-str_n_802725.html

A bit of good news on unemployment

http://www.cnbc.com/id/40850864

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/30/first-time-jobless-claims-below-400000-first-time-in-obama-presidency/

Senate “reform”: less than meets the eye?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/opening_day.html

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/bringing-back-real-filibusters/

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/how-harry-reid-and-mitch-mcconnell-could-upend-filibuster-reform.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/30/932425/-Could-there-be-a-negotiated-settlement-on-Senate-rules-reform

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/30/senate-rules-reform-package-taking-shape/

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/30/how-senate-rules-are-changed-is-much-more-important-than-what-changes-are-made-now/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027321.php

Conservatives want to turn Constitution-worship into a quasi-religious ritual. Problem is (as with the Bible), they don’t know, or care, what it actually SAYS

http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2010/12/30/tea-party-about-to-learn-constitution-doesnt-say-what-they-think-it-says/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027317.php

http://firedoglake.com/2010/12/30/to-open-congress-house-republicans-will-read-constitution-aloud-ignore-the-parts-they-hate/

Tea Party Nation: we hate the groups that call us hate groups just because we hate people

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/tea-party-nation-names-dhs-naacp-among-2010s-liberal-hate-groups.php
Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips put out a list yesterday of the "top five liberal hate groups," because "while the Left loves to accuse the Tea Party and Conservatives to be members of hate groups [sic], the simple fact is, there are a lot of liberal hate groups." And who made the cut for the top five? The NAACP, the Department of Homeland Security, the ACLU, the SEIU, and of course, the Southern Poverty Law Center. . . .

You know the old saying, when you criticize a conservative, they attack you and say you’re crazy – when you criticize a liberal they say “you might have a point.” Let’s generalize that to the state of politics today

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/why_liberals_think_their_polit.html

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/why-liberals-compromise

We know that the right loves “eliminationist” rhetoric: they really would erase progressivism as a political alternative if they could, because they aren’t pluralists and they KNOW they’re right (after all, they believe that they, and only they, have God on their side).

But what’s even weirder is when they attribute to “the left” the very hatred and intolerance that they themselves exhibit

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/crimes-against-inanity.html
[Ralph Peters] If our extreme left maintained a kill-or-capture list for the morning after the revolution (before they started arresting and executing each other), the 30 subjects interviewed in "Showdown with Evil" would fill out the top of its roster. . . [read on]

The Wall Street Journal, hardly a leftist rag, provides some sanity in the “death panel” debate

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/wall-street-journal-we-love-death-panels.php
"[T]he substance is more than defensible," the Journal's editors opined yesterday. "Certain quarters on the political right are following the media's imagination and blasting Dr. Berwick's decision as the tangible institution of death panels. But the rule-making is not coercive and gives seniors more autonomy, not less.... Advance care planning lays out the options and allows patients, in consultation with their providers and family members, to ensure that their future treatment is consistent with their wishes and moral values should they become too sick to decide for themselves."

What a nut! Michele Bachmann tells us what turned her Republican: reading Gore Vidal

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/30/michele_bachmann_gore_vidal

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/bachmann-snotty-gore-vidal-novel-turned-me-republican-video.php

In her own words: Christine O’Donnell explains, calmly and rationally, how the campaign finance allegations against her are part of a plot by the Delaware GOP, the “left-wing Soros funded” CREW, and disgruntled former employees, all out to get her. But she says she isn’t calling it a “conspiracy.” Uh-huh.

Rule #1: when you have no defense, attack your accusers

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/christine_odonnell_fed_probe_ginned_up_by_biden_soros_and_di.php

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40842323/ns/politics-decision_2010/

Vigilantes on the US/Mexico border

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/foxs-griff-jenkins-fluffs-vigilante-
[Fox News] Here along Arizona's southern border, outside of Douglas (ph), Arizona, one of the nation's most trafficked areas for illegal human and drug smuggling, one man, Lynn Kartchner, an Army veteran from Vietnam, a retired civil servant, keeps a watchful eye day and night, using only his resources. He's not a part of any militia or any affiliated group. He's not a part of the border patrol. He simply goes out with a few of his colleagues and tries to find illegal activity and report it to the authorities. So we traveled with only a camera to follow him on patrol to see what he could find. . . . [read on]

More: http://mydd.com/users/the-media-consortium/posts/weekly-diaspora-arizona-vs-anchor-babies

As predictable as snow in December: you have a big storm, and the global warming denialists come out in force

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/tucker-carlson-uses-winter-storm-eas

Virginia’s “history” textbooks: full of lots of stuff, but not much history

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/historians_find_myriad_errors_in_va_history_textbo.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027315.php

Bonus item: The Year in Crazy, from Tom Tomorrow

http://www.credoaction.com/comics/2010/12/2010-the-year-in-crazy-part-1/

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

OR ELSE . . .

Julian Assange has been threatening to release explosive new documents if he is killed or imprisoned for a long time. Wondering what he has to disclose?

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/12/29/assange-alerts-his-hostages/
Top officials in several Arab countries have close links with the CIA, and many officials keep visiting US embassies in their respective countries voluntarily to establish links with this key US intelligence agency, says Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing website, WikiLeaks. . . .

[NB: What a s---storm that will be.]

How the governor of Kentucky explains giving state support to a creationist theme park

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/30/931771/-Open-thread-for-night-owls:-Noah-comes-to-Kentucky

Christine “I am Not a Witch” O’Donnell had some very, err, “unique” ideas about how to spend her campaign money. Now the Feds are looking into it

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/29/odonnell_investigation
[Alex Pareene] Everyone everywhere knows that Christine O'Donnell, non-witch and failed Senate candidate from Delaware, used her campaign money to pay her rent. She admitted it, during the campaign. Now the FBI has opened a criminal investigation . . . Two federal prosecutors and two FBI agents are conducting the investigation, though I can help them out a little bit: Christine O'Donnell violated the law against using campaign funds for personal use. Done!

Is there a case? http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/weigel/archive/2010/12/29/is-there-a-case-against-christine-o-donnell.aspx

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/feds_open_criminal_investigation_into_christine_odonnells_campaign_spending.php
O'Donnell basically admitted that CREW's main charge were true back in October, conceding she used campaign cash to pay rent on her Delaware town house because it doubled as campaign headquarters, which CREW charged amounted to using her primary campaign "as her personal ATM." Commission rules "say candidates can't use campaign money for their mortgage or rent 'even if part of the residence is being used by the campaign'."

O’Donnell responds: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/29/932278/-Christine-ODonnell-responds-to-reports-of-criminal-probe
“We've been warned by multiple high-ranking Democrat insiders that the Delaware Democrat and Republican political establishment is jointly planning to pull out all the stops to ensure I would never again upset the apple cart. Specifically they told me the plan was to crush me with investigations, lawsuits and false accusations so that my political reputation would become so toxic no one would ever get behind me. . . .

I was warned by numerous sources that the DE political establishment is going to use every resource available to them. So given that the King of the Delaware Political Establishment just so happens to be the Vice President of the most liberal Presidential administration in U.S. history, it is no surprise that misuse and abuse of the FBI would not be off the table. . . .

I have faith that our supporters and the general public will see right through these thug tactics. This is simply an Establishment trick to stop the anti-establishment Tea Party movement in its tracks.”

[NB: Yep. You are so threatening to the “Democrat Party” that the Vice President of the United States is directing the FBI to investigate you.]

The power of political clichés

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/28/the-worst-cliches-of-politics-from-tax-and-spend-to-maverick/

Fox News: Obama still wants to kill your grandma!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/fox-news-are-death-panels-back-death-panels-are-back.php

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/death-panels-and-betsy-mccaughey-are-back-

Fox News: always your source for thoughtful, measured analysis

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/29/tucker-carlson-michael-vi_n_802192.html
[Tucker] Carlson led a panel discussion pegged to President Obama's recent phone call with the Eagles owner, in which he applauded the Eagles for giving Vick a second chance following his time in jail over his dogfighting scandal.

But Carlson is not as forgiving as Obama or the Eagles.

“I'm a Christian, I've made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances,” Carlson said. “But Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did in a heartless and cruel way. And I think, personally, he should've been executed for that. . . .”

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/tucker-carlson-michael-vick-should-have-been

More from the geniuses at Fox News: calling “illegal aliens” “undocumented immigrants” is like calling rapists “nonconsensual sex partners”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027307.php

Bonus item: Where they know her best

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027293.php
In Alaska just 33% of voters have a favorable opinion of [Palin] to 58% with a negative one. . . [read on]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

How they govern

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/gop-house-rules-pave-the-way-for-more-bush-tax-cuts.php
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities examined the GOP's proposed new rules for the House, and here's what they found.

The new rules would stand the reconciliation process on its head, by allowing the House to use reconciliation to push through bills that greatly increase deficits as long as the deficit increases result from tax cuts, while barring the use of reconciliation in the House for legislation that reduces the deficit if that legislation contains a net increase in spending (no matter how small) that is more than offset by revenue-raising provisions.

To translate: Bush tax cuts are fine, but, say, paying for infrastructure projects by taxing carbon would be forbidden, even if the net result would be a reduction in the deficit.

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/28/under-house-republicans-reconciliation-can-increase-the-deficit/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027285.php

GOP promises to cut spending . . .uh. . . . somewhere, maybe

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027283.php

Now that they’ve vowed to eliminate “earmarks,” the GOP needs to find a new way to channel money to their constituents – and a new way to describe it

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027277.php

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/415308/sen._shelby%27s_pork_lust_forces_nasa_to_spend_$500_million_on_canceled_rocket_program/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/28/congressional-earmark-add_n_802026.html

Good news: expanding US economy creates new jobs!
Bad news: they’re all overseas!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/28/job-market-booming-overseas_n_801839.html
Job Market Booming Overseas For Many American Companies

The cracks start to form: teabag wing of the conservative movement wants to oust gay Republicans. Very smart move!

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/28/cpac_boycott_goproud
Social conservatives will not attend the annual CPAC conference because of the presence of a gay Republican group . . . [read on]

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/right-wing-groups-pull-out-of-cpac-because-gay-group-will-be-there.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/28/932060/-Conservatives-abandoning-CPAC-over-infiltration-of-gay-Republicans

The Repubs were damn lucky to win Scott Brown’s Senate seat in Massachusetts. Now they’re brilliantly planning to lose it again

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027278.php

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/28/932036/-Teabaggers-still-restless,-target-Scott-Brown-and-George-Allen

Is this one too late to make the Top Ten lists?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/28/obama_indians
[Alex Pareene] Congratulations, 2010, for fitting in one more completely insane made-up right-wing scandal: Barack Obama is going to give Manhattan back to the Indians! Also the U.N. will help, because grrrr, the U.N.! . . . [read on]

More: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/latest_right-wing_freak-out_obama_wants_to_give_ma.php

Oh, christ, here come “death panels” again

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/gop-could-force-vote-on-death-panels.php

I TOLD you that Obama's meeting with the Wall Street execs would earn him no good will at all. They barely walked out the door before they started whining

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/28/wall-street-whines-to-pol_n_801935.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027289.php

Harry Reid’s quiet power

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/28/how_reid_became_so_powerful.html

More: http://www.esquire.com/features/harry-reid-election-0111

How the rise of former government officials (from both parties) among the punditocracy slants journalism

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/28/cnnn

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/press-rejects-its-reason-for-being.html

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/its-sad-day-when-journalism-collaborate

Sarah! delays release of her govt emails (again). What’s she hiding?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/28/932088/-Delay-in-release-of-official-Palin-emails-to-exceed-her-time-in-office
On Monday evening, Sarah Palin's former staff in the Alaska governor's office requested another delay in making public 25,000 e-mails exchanged by Palin, her husband and her senior aides. . . .

Bonus item: She even lies about the little things. Sarah! denies coming up with the malapropism “refudiate,” which actually won “word of the year.”

She says it was merely an accidental typo on Twitter . . . except that she also said it out loud on television

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/sarah-palin-tries-lie-her-way-out-re

Word of the year: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20022860-503544.html

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

GOING BACKWARD

How the Republicans plan to undo Obama’s accomplishments, foment constant political turmoil, and make government look dysfunctional in preparation for 2012

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/inside-the-gops-plan-to-stifle-obamas-executive-branch-power.php

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/27/republicans-plan-to-use-more-resolutions-of-disapproval-next-year/

And who’s helping them: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/gop-turns-to-k-st-to-unravel-health-care-law.php
Three recently hired Republican aides -- two set to work in senior positions on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, and one for soon-to-be Speaker John Boehner -- spent the past years lobbying on behalf of insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other corporate interest groups with a vested interest in weakening or repealing the [health care] law. . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/27/931824/-GOP-committee-chairman-hires-health-care-lobbyist-to-oversee-health-care-policy
Apparently, the GOP's definition of "getting their country back" involves putting the health care lobby back in charge of health care policy . . . [read on]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/revolving-door-is-whirling-like-top.html
The Revolving Door Is Whirling Like A Top

The economy may be improving for next year – but wait til the Republicans get their hands on it

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/26/the-economy-in-2011/

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/27/more-on-the-economy-in-2011-republicans-let-their-slip-show/

The GOP declares war on the states

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/27/931008/-House-GOP-intend-to-destroy-public-employee-unions

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/27/in-unfolding-war-on-public-employees-state-lawmakers-and-media-likely-to-do-the-work-themselves/

Undoing food safety rules?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027268.php

Undoing net neutrality rules?

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/gop-moves-to-block-weakened-net.html

Bad news from Afghanistan

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/28/931769/-Open-thread-for-night-owls:-Insecurity-rises-in-Afghanistan

http://crooksandliars.com/jason-sigger/afghanistan-deteriorating

http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2010/12/27/maps-2/

Want to know what an angry, bitter asshole John McCain is? He opposed the DREAM Act only as payback for Latinos “abandoning” him in 2008

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/27/931394/-McCain-still-angry-that-Latinos-turned-on-him-after-betrayal
Woods said "it hurts" McCain to vote against legislation like the Dream Act after years of working on reform but said the senator felt betrayed when Latinos overwhelmingly supported Obama in 2008. "When you carry that fight at great sacrifice year after year and then you are abandoned during the biggest fight of your life, it has to have some sort of effect on you," he said. . . . [read on]

More on the DREAM Act: http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/27/dream-act-chimera-looks-like-the-beginning-of-2012-campaign-agenda/

No, Haley Barbour was never a viable candidate for President. His chums inside the Beltway have tried to keep his name in play, even after his recent comments on race and the South – but it was never going to happen and it’s certainly not going to happen now

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/can_haley_recover.php
[Josh Marshall] With everyone in Washington knowing him, why shouldn't he run for president? Everybody likes him. He's had a successful career. He's the governor of a state. So why not? What could go wrong? . . . [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027261.php

Now this: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46816.html
Barbour has traveled extensively on the jet, brushing off suggestions from Mississippi Democrats that he give it up in favor of a more modest propeller plane for his travel. The trips, according to a POLITICO review of the Cessna’s flight manifest since 2007, have mixed state business with both pleasure and national politics. . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/27/haley_barbour_plane
Corpulent unreconstructed good ol' boy Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour apparently has a "state plane" that he uses to fly to football games with corporate executives, Politco reports today. Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist and deluded would-be presidential candidate, has taken the plane "to at least one boxing match," according to Ben Smith and Byron Tau. . . .

Great. GOP Chairman Michael Steele is race-baiting his own party

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/race-recriminations-pop-up-in-rnc-election.php

DADT defenders pick a new battleground: what about the showers?

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/group_against_gays_in_military_fights_on_against_shower_policy.php

It’s a hard thing to find new reasons to ignore the facts. Climate change denialists have gone from “global warming isn’t happening,” to “maybe it’s happening, but there’s not enough scientific evidence, yet” to “there’s scientific evidence, but we think it’s been manipulated, so we don’t have to pay attention to it,” and now to “okay, climate change IS happening, but it’s not such a bad thing.” What next?

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/deniers-want-pretend-global-warming-

Bonus item: Here come the annual “top ten” lists

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/on-the-floor-ten-great-moments-from-congress-in-2010-video.php
Ten Great Moments From Congress In 2010

http://www.slate.com/id/2279128/
A selection of gaffes from the 2010 campaign

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

American corporatism: no one even questions it any more

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/tom-brokaw-pretends-president-obama-hasnt-

How the Big Lies spread

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/how-republicans-fool-old-folks-democrats-he

He goes there

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/26/930894/-Barbour-furor-obscures-GOP-problem-with-people-of-color
Barbour furor obscures GOP problem with people of color

“A Tale of Two Johns”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027251.php

Today’s think piece

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/priorities-left
[Kevin Drum] My post earlier today about the decline of organized labor and the rise of rights-based activism within the post-60s liberal community provokes an obvious question: was this a good thing? . . . [read on]

Quote of the day

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027252.php
Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) can be difficult to understand -- his version of reality can be, shall we say, unique -- but this morning's anti-spending rant on Fox News was especially inscrutable . . . [read on]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/tom-coburn-preaches-austerity-thee-no

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/apocalyptic-pain-and-picasso-sunday.html

One of the things that will be interesting to watch next year is which Repubs decide to go full teabagger, and which ones try to carve out a more “responsible” conservative position. For Palin and Bachmann, the decision has been made

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/michele-bachmann-calls-9-11-responders-bil
Michele Bachmann Calls 9-11 Responders Bill a New Entitlement Program

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/gibberish-results-as-sarah-palin-attacks-obamas-tax-cut-compromise-posted-on-december-8-2010-by-j/question-1377467/
Gibberish Results as Sarah Palin Attacks Obama’s Tax Cut Compromise

It’s hard to imagine a pundit who’s more consistently wrong

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bill-kristol-makes-his-predictions-gop-201
[Heather] I guess it's safe to assume that Sarah Palin is definitely going to run for president since Bill Kristol has predicted she won't on this week's Fox News Sunday. Kristol's other predictions; Haley Barbour's racist past won't hurt him and neither will Newt Gingrich's infidelity. Bloody Bill also thinks that Newt Gingrich and get this... Mike Pence are going to be formidable candidates. . .

Wish we’d had this item a couple of days ago: Back when it was made, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was considered by the FBI to be a piece of communist propaganda

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/capra-was-commie-simp.html

Bonus item: The 2010 lowlights from “Fox and Friends”

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/its-almost-news-show-fox-friends-stupidest

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS

Here’s a little gem for the holidays. Frank Rich draws our attention to an amateur documentary, “Disneyland Dream,” recounting a Connecticut family’s trip (won through a scotch-tape contest) to the then-newly opened Disneyland in 1956. The film has been added to the National Film Registry and is available online:

http://www.archive.org/details/barstow_disneyland_dream_1956

Take a few minutes to watch it – a glimpse of a very different America and a measure of countless historical and cultural changes since then.

Frank Rich: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/opinion/26rich.html

State bankruptcies: they could happen – and conservatives are giddy about it

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/grover-norquist-states-go-bankrupt-itll-fee
Grover Norquist is only one conservative of many calling out for states to declare bankruptcy. Why? To kill unions, of course. . . . [read on]

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php
[Dick Morris] The Next Big Crisis: State Bankruptcies

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/23/AR2010122304421.html
A remedy for beggar states

http://polipundit.com/?p=28271
State Bankruptcies Coming Soon?

http://www.calitics.com/diary/12949/house-republicans-plan-to-force-california-into-bankruptcy-to-bust-unions
House Republicans Plan to Force California Into Bankruptcy

Angry about corporations outsourcing jobs? If only we didn't have those damn unions, says Fox News

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/corporate-lobbyist-front-groups-barbara-co

Will filibuster reform happen?

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/byron-york-awfully-certain-filibuste

All this for WHAT?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/23/AR2010122304412.html
The companies that build futuristic airport scanners take a more old-fashioned approach when it comes to pushing their business interests in Washington: hiring dozens of former lawmakers, congressional aides and federal employees as their lobbyists. . . .

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/defeating-the-pornoscanners-with-simple-pancake-shape/
The new, expensive backscatter x-ray scanners installed at airports have already been shown to be fairly worthless because they can’t stop a determined individual from smuggling contraband onto an airplane in a body cavity. But that’s not all; it appears the scanners can easily be defeated by a kitchen rolling pin and a roll of tape. . .

http://www.slate.com/id/2275448/
Does the TSA Ever Catch Terrorists?
If they do, for some reason they won't admit it.

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2010/12/26/sunday-talking-heads-december-26-2010/
ABC’s This Week: The unique challenges facing service members returning home from the frontlines with Bob Woodruff. Plus, the Army Vice Chief of Staff, General Peter Chiarelli. Also, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden: What all Americans can do to support military families. Then, New York Times war reporter David Rohde, held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan and his wife, Kristen Mulvihill, and their new book, “Rope and a Prayer.” Ending with Terry Moran with an Israeli and a Palestinian who through their deep loss are trying to bridge the gap.

CBS’ Face The Nation: Roundtable: Chip Reid, Chief W.H. Correspondent; Lara Logan, Chief Foreign Correspondent; David Martin, Nat’l Security Correspondent; Nancy Cordes, Congress Correspondent; Sharyl Attkisson, Investigative Correspondent.

CNN’s State of the Union: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Then, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in an exclusive interview about the reports of terrorist threats this holiday season and the uproar over the TSA. Finally, Gen. Michael Hayden (Ret.) and Former Director of National Intelligence Vice Adm. Mike McConnell (Ret.).

NBC’s Meet The Press: Valerie Jarrett. Roundtable: Tom Brokaw, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Peggy Noonan, Bob Woodward, taking stock of 2010.

Bonus item: Wow – really? Hmmm. . . .

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/pat-robertson-legalize-maijuana.html
Pat Robertson: legalize marijuana

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

STOCKING STUFFERS

A lump of coal for these losers

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/oreilly-and-coulter-try-explain-why-
Bill O'Reilly really took it personally when Stephen Colbert made fun of O'Reilly's bizarre column claiming that Jesus really wouldn't have helped the poor at Christmas time . . . [read on!]

With all those liberals and atheists out to destroy it, it’s a wonder that Christmas has survived at all

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/the_biggest_battles_in_this_year.php
The Biggest Battles In This Year's War On Christmas

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/dispatches-from-war-on-christmas.html

Just don’t call it “class warfare”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/gopers-remove-labor-from-committee-name.php
GOPers Remove 'Labor' From House Committee Name

What we wouldn’t know without WikiLeaks

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/24/wikileaks

A lot of Republicans want to talk now as if racism was a sad but bygone feature of our national past: sure, there might be a few unenlightened folks out there with deep prejudices, but not any of the folks WE know. Well, guess what?

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/racists-and-bad-analogies

Good to see that several people forced out of government by Monica Goodling, the hyper-zealous hatchet girl of Bush's politicized DOJ, have successfully returned to public service

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/reputed_victim_of_bush-era_doj_politicization_to_head_dojs_internal_watchdog.php
"You have a Monica problem," Ashton was told, several DOJ officials told the New York Times back in 2007. "She believes you're a Democrat and doesn't feel you can be trusted." . . . [read on]

The new governor of Hawaii is determined to put the “birther” nonsense to rest for once and for all

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/the_anti-birther.php
[LAT] Neil Abercrombie knew Barack Obama's parents when the future president was born here in 1961, and he has been aggravated by the so-called birther movement, which alleges Obama was not born in the United States and thus should be expelled from office.

Now Abercrombie has an office of his own -- he became governor of Hawaii on Dec. 6. -- and he intends to do something about it.

What, exactly, is unclear. But in an interview this week at the state Capitol, he left little doubt that torpedoing the conspiracy theorists was a priority.

"What bothers me is that some people who should know better are trying to use this for political reasons," said Abercrombie, 72. "Maybe I'm the only one in the country that could look you right in the eye right now and tell you, 'I was here when that baby was born.' "

Welcome back, nutter

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rick-santorum-dadt-part-secularist-plot-pu
Rick Santorum: DADT is Part of a Secularist Plot to Push Religion Out of the Public Square

What should we call the (state-supported) creationist theme park in Kentucky?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/ark_park.php

No one should be surprised by this: it was just a matter of time before the GOP realized that Sarah Palin, while a magnet of attention for conservative dogma, was always first and foremost a magnet of attention for HERSELF. Now that she threatens to suck up all the oxygen in the lead-up to the 2012 presidential race (a race she can’t possibly win) she needs to be knocked aside so someone better can have a chance. And they’re doing it with gusto, because they also – don’t – like – her

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/24/palin_gop_criticism

Bonus item: Too late for this year’s gift list, but chalk this one up for your friends next year

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/just_in_time_for_the_war_on_christmas_americas_war_on_christianity.php
If you were looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for the non-Jews and Muslims on your holiday gift list, World Net Daily Books had just the answer with their new book America's War on Christianity . . .

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

CHRISTMAS SAUSAGE

GOPers and the conservative chattering classes complain that votes during a lame duck session are somehow illegitimate (Dick Morris: “This is an illegitimate, lame-duck session of people who are not entitled to vote because they were defeated.”) Have they forgotten about the Clinton impeachment hearings in 1998?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/blame-the-lame-duck-republicans-find-a-new-excuse-for-no-votes.php

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/righties-are-mad-so-much-got-done-du

The most productive Congress in decades

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027230.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/the_forgotten_accomplishments.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/22/AR2010122205996.html

But filibuster reform is still needed

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/23/senate_still_broken
Don't kid yourself: The Senate's still broken

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/111th-senate-breaks-one-filibuster-record.php
111th Senate Breaks A Filibuster Record

Will it happen? http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/report-reid-devising-a-plan-for-filibuster-reform.php

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/23/reid-devising-senate-rules-reform/

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/filibuster-reform-legacy

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/returning-senate-dems-unanimous-time-

Contrarian Matt Yglesias doesn’t like the filibuster OR the lame duck session

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/the-lameness-of-the-duck/
The lengthy presidential transition period is problematic, but it’s a bit difficult to know how to avoid it given the other parameters of our system. With congress, by contrast, I don’t see any logistical barrier to the new congress going into session within days of the election. . . .

The press, swallowing moonshine, talks about the incoming GOP’s “strict” new budget rules. They’re actually weaker

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/80380/rules-republican-radicals

More of the same: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/gop-transparency-rules-may-not-be-very-transparent.php
Ahead of the November elections, one of the House GOP's biggest promises to its base was that it would make sure legislation was publicly available online for three days before putting it on the floor for a vote. From the Pledge to America: "We will ensure that bills are debated and discussed in the public square by publishing the text online for at least three days before coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives."

However, in a draft of their proposed rules for the House in the 112th Congress, they reportedly left themselves quite a loophole . . . [read on]

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/chamber-of-commerce-derivatives.html
[Chris in Paris] How long before the GOP apologizes to Wall Street for regulation? Somehow this doesn't sound like the direction most Americans want. Outside of Congress and Wall Street, not many people are demanding an easier ride for the Wall Street gamblers who created the recession. Brace yourself for another step in the wrong direction . . . [read on]

It’s about to get worse . . .

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/the_morning_plum_157.html
The New York Times reminds us this morning that the GOP's takeover of the House next year will enable them to "take the offensive and challenge Mr. Obama and Senate Democrats by initiating conservative bills in the House and pushing for Senate floor votes."

Key takeaway: Even if those bills never become law, they will be selected with an eye towards making the case for GOP control of the Senate and, of course, the White House. . . .

Mitch McConnell’s candor

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027226.php
[Steve Benen] There's something to be said for candor. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said this week that he has every intention of taking the unprecedented obstructionism of recent years and making it even worse next year.

This is the latest in a streak, of sorts. The comments come on the heels of McConnell admitting that destroying the Obama presidency is his top priority; he'll only consider negotiating with the White House if they agree to give him everything he wants; and he demands unanimous GOP opposition to everything as a way of making ideas unpopular.

While none of this is surprising anymore, there is a certain oddity to the candor -- political leaders rarely ever talk this way. Traditionally, Americans have come to expect those in leadership positions to at least pay lip-service to finding common ground, working constructively with those they disagree with; being open-minded and respectful of rivals' ideas; etc.

McConnell just doesn't bother with any of this. . . . [read on]

John McCain’s politics of spite

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027225.php

Haley Barbour’s amnesia

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/22/perlstein_barbour_amnesia

More: http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/haley-barbour-and-republican-confederacy-of-dunces

Sarah!s ghost writer

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027233.php

Putting a price tag on Iraqi, Afghan lives . . . literally

http://www.slate.com/id/2278387

Will Hispanics save the Democrats?

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/hispanic-majority-districts-boon-or-burden-for-democrats/
Hispanic-Majority Districts: Boon or Burden for Democrats?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/23/931158/-Republican-presidential-hopefuls-skipping-Hispanic-forum
Republican presidential hopefuls skipping Hispanic forum

Rove assumes Obama will be reelected

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/23/931254/-Rove-accidentally-predicts-Obama-reelection

I love seeing the Wall Street Journal whine about the political activities of “wealthy left-wing groups”

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/why-do-conservatives-hate-constitution

Our out-of-touch press

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/press-and-social-security.html

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

WIN WIN (WIN)

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/obama-press-conference-will-cap-day-of-accomplishment/
President Obama arrived Wednesday morning to formally repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy with an ear-to-ear grin. He strode across the stage. . .

The day got even better for the president a few hours later, as the Senate gave final approval to the New Start nuclear treaty with Russia, which the administration had negotiated, and passed a medical benefits bill for 9/11 first responders, which Democrats had pushed. The votes capped one of the busiest lame-duck sessions in decades.

Did Coburn win? http://www.samefacts.com/2010/12/watching-conservatives/911-first-responders-health-care-did-coburn-win/
[TPM] Coburn’s price: a reduction of the price tag from $6.2 billion to $4.2 billion.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/22/coburn_responders_bill
The bill, which already went from $7.4 to $6.2 billion in benefits and compensation, is now down to $1.5 for benefits and $2.7 for compensation. In addition to the cut in funding, the fund will now permanently close after five years. . . .

[NB: Yes, Coburn’s a doctor, and yes he is sapping money from a bill designed to assist 9/11 responders with health issues caused in the course of their heroic efforts to help people.]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027222.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/congress-passes-911-first-responders-bill-video.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/senate-ratifies-start-treaty.php

Et tu, Rudy?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/conservatives-finally-turn-their-own
The remarks by Mr. Giuliani capped several days of withering criticism from all corners of the political spectrum as it appeared that Congress could depart for the year without voting on the first responders bill because of Republican efforts to block it. . . . [read on]

DADT fighter Lt. Dan Choi gets his West Point ring back

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/powerful_video.php

First DADT, next DOMA?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/obama-doma-should-be-repealed-lawyers-looking-at-whole-range-of-options.php
President Obama, although he still supports civil unions over same-sex marriage, said yesterday that he believes the Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed. . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/22/930914/-Whats-next-for-gay-rights-under-President-Obama

Not so lame

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/obama-touts-lame-duck-session-accomplishments-i-am-persistent.php
Obama Touts Lame-Duck Session Accomplishments: 'I Am Persistent'

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/22/930899/-Poll:-Lame-duck-boosts-Obama;-GOP-slips

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/obama_won_the_lame_duck_sessio.html

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/congress-works-huzzah

Enjoy the holiday mood: for a while, at least, Obama and the Dems look like winners and the GOPer’s sound like cranks

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/jim-demint-is-still-upset_n_799997.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027206.php

Especially THIS guy

http://bltwy.msnbc.msn.com/politics/john-mccains-lasting-anger-1670138.story
John McCain's Lasting Anger

More: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/frc_claims_mccain_will_keep_leading_pro-dadt_fight.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/rush-holt-john-mccain-blocking-military-suicide-prevention_n_799798.html

Will the Dems change the Senate filibuster rules at the start of the new session?

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/22/all-senate-democrats-but-dodd-sign-letter-demanding-senate-rule-changes/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/22/931032/-HUGEAll-returning-Democratic-Senators-support-reforming-the-filibuster

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/12/uncategorized/filibuster-reform-omfg/

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/filibuster-reform-warms

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027223.php

The Gitmo mess

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/guantanamo-conundrum
[Karoli] The Guantanamo prison is a problem with no solution. On the one hand, Congress has stripped all funds to relocate detainees to U.S. prisons. On the other, diplomatic efforts to relocate them to other countries has been an abysmal failure. Despite the administration's best efforts to find an answer to an increasingly frustrating situation, there doesn't appear to be one.

Therefore, we can expect a new executive order allowing indefinite detention of prisoners with periodic reviews. A solution that's no solution at all for a problem with no clear answer. . . . [read on]

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/12/22/obamas-eo-on-indefinite-detention-wanting-bud-mckeons-cake-and-eating-it-too/

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/22/the-obama-indefinite-detention-regime/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/obama_embraces_indefinite_dete.html

It’s over, Joe – and has been for quite some time

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/alaska-supreme-court-rules-against-joe-miller.php
Alaska Supreme Court Rules Against Joe Miller

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/22/931020/-Alaska-Supreme-Court-says-Its-not-so,-Joe

Heh: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/23/murkowski_goes_rogue.html
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who won re-election as a write-in candidate after losing the Republican primary "is already showing a fierce independent streak," Politoco reports, becoming the only Republican to cast votes for all four items on President Obama's lame duck session wish list: a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," a tax cut compromise, the START treaty and cloture for the DREAM Act.

More on the Net neutrality decision

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/splitting-baby-half-net-neutrality-and-fcc

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/net-neutrality-fever

Fox News is notorious for graceless graphics and chyron text – but this has to be the worst

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/fox-news-graphic-labels-holocaust-survivor-h

Obviously Jon Stewart deserves credit for heightening public awareness about the 9/11 responders bill, and the GOP’s obstruction of it. Fox News finds this outrageous and unacceptable

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/fox-friends-appalled-daily-show-gets

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027205.php
Eric Boehlert noted this morning, "There's a special place in hell for these people."

Haw haw haw: Fox News is so eager to defend Haley Barbour’s comments on race that their excuses come out just before he apologizes for them

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/oops-fox-nation-said-barbour-easily-fends-off-left-wing-racial-smears.php
Oops: Fox Nation Said Barbour Easily 'Fends Off Left-Wing Racial Smears'

More: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/barbours-clarification-white-citizen

Glenn Beck wants to repeal the 20th Century (you think I’m joking?)

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/fox-news-and-repeal-of-20th-century.html

Bonus item: TPM’s Golden Dukes – the reader vote

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/golden_dukes_readers_choice_edition.php

Extra bonus item: Sarah! meets Rudolph

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/23/rudolph_meets_sarah_palin.html

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

COMPROMISES

New START treaty passes hurdle

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/senate-breaks-gop-filibuster-on-start-nuclear-treaty.php

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/new-start-treaty-clears-cloture-with-67-votes-passage-nearly-assured/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027198.php

Heh: http://www.slate.com/id/2278869/
Republicans picked a silly fight over START, and they lost badly.

Sarah! is confused: http://crooksandliars.com/jason-sigger/sarah-palin-not-serious-about-nationa
“We cannot and must not give up the right to missile defense to protect our population . . .”

Haley Barbour suddenly remembers that he’s trying to run for President

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/barbour-segregationist-citizens-councils-that-i-praised-were-totally-indefensible.php
Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), the potential presidential candidate who has come under fire for comments praising the segregationist Citizen Councils that operated during his youth in the South, has now released a statement fully condemning the organizations . . .

Too late! http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/21/930716/-Barbour-backtracks-on-Citizens-Councils,-but-is-it-too-little,-too-late

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/barbours-spokesman-wants-specifics-r

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027193.php

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/21/haley_barbour_2012
Why this will sink Haley Barbour in 2012

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/conservative_bloggers_agree_ha.html
Conservative bloggers agree: Haley Barbour is toast

Noooooooooooo!

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/white-house-drafts-executive-order-for-indefinite-detention-1.php
White House Drafts Executive Order for Indefinite Detention

More: http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/indefinite-detention-executive-orders-we-can-believe-in/

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/obama-formalizes-his-indefinite-detention-black-hole/

The roots of our current financial crisis are in REPUBLICAN policies

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/attempt-re-write-george-bushs-home-owne

http://www.tnr.com/article/magazine/79739/washington-gop-opposition-quantitative-easing

Will the Senate reform the filibuster?

http://mydd.com/users/main-street-insider/posts/s01e15-the-merkley-proposal-season-finale

Tell me again why this guy is considered to be a hero of bipartisanship?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/graham-berates-gop-for-capitulation-of-dramatic-proportions-in-lame-duck.php
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is not happy about the recent productivity of the lame duck Congress, and blamed the GOP for allowing it to happen. "When it's all going to be said and done," he said on Fox News Radio today, "Harry Reid has eaten our lunch. This has been a capitulation in two weeks of dramatic proportions of policies that wouldn't have passed in the new Congress." . . .

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/lindsey_graham_senators_should.html
Lindsey Graham: Senate owes Jon Kyl an apology for moving forward with New START

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/21/lindsey_graham_pique
You can't win with the Senate's most sensitive negotiator . . .

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027203.php

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/their-way-or-highway.html

How do these guys get away with it? We let them

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/fec_ignored_its_general_counsel_in_letting_ensign.php
When the Federal Election Commission decided in November to close a complaint against Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), it ignored the recommendation of its general counsel.

According to just-released documents, in March the general counsel -- a non-partisan office of the FEC -- found that there was "reason to believe" that Ensign's parents had broken campaign finance law by giving the family of Ensign's former mistress and staffer $96,000 in April 2008. . . .

More: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/doj_were_not_gun-shy_on_prosecuting_politicians_we_just_cant_prove_our_cases.php
DOJ: We're Not 'Gun-Shy' On Prosecuting Politicians, We Just Can't Prove Our Cases

The Tea Party scam

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/tea_party_express_pac_keeps_funneling_money_to_gop_consulting_firm.php
For the Tea Party Express, old habits die hard. TPE's PAC, Our Country Deserves Better, continued through the election cycle with its track record of raising money in support of grass-roots tea party candidates and then funneling those donations to the Republican consulting firm that founded it. . . .

Weakened Net neutrality rules will pass the FCC

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/12/fcc_poised_to_adopt_network_neutrality_rules.php
"The actions by the Federal Communications Commission fall far short of what they could have been," said Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge. "Instead of strong, firm rules providing clear protections, the commission, created a vague and shifting landscape open to interpretation." . . .

http://www.cnbc.com/id/40769415
Winners & Losers

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/fccs-new-net-neutrality-rules-are-sam
“Flawed”

http://my.firedoglake.com/eli/2010/12/21/the-fccs-totally-convincing-explanation-for-leaving-wireless-out-of-sham-net-neutrality-compromise/
“Sham”

http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2010/12/21/fake-net-neutrality-what-does-corporate-capture-look-like/
“Fake”

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/fake-net-neutrality-proposal-to-get-rubber-stamped-today/
“Fake”

More: http://www.freepress.net/press-release/2010/12/21/free-press-fcc-net-neutrality-order-%E2%80%98squandered-opportunity%E2%80%99

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/21/930768/-No-constituency-for-Network-Neutrality-compromise

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/fcc-net-neutrality-rule-passes-franken-reacts/

More credit where it’s due

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/shep-smith-names-every-goper-who-wouldnt-come-on-his-show-to-talk-911-first-responders-bill.php
Fox News' Shep Smith is continuing to hammer Republican senators who wouldn't pass the 9/11 first responders bill, this time calling out by name those who wouldn't appear on his show to discuss the issue. . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/21/shep_smith_coburn
Shepard Smith attacks Tom Coburn for blocking 9/11 first responders bill

The Repubs are scared to death: http://www.latimes.com/sc-dc-1221-911-healthcare-20101220,0,5690886.story
GOP under pressure for opposition to 9-11 responders bill

Jon Stewart piles on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/stewart-911-responders-bill_n_798114.html

Sad, really: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/white-house-is-hoping-jon_n_799736.html
White House Is Hoping Jon Stewart Can Help Them Out With The 9/11 Responders Bill

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027196.php

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/dems_want_obama_to_push_harder.html
[Greg Sargent] In a surprisingly aggressive statement, a key New York lawmaker is demanding that President Obama take a more aggressive public and private role in prodding Congress to pass the 9/11 health bill, insisting that he "speak up and get personally involved" in getting it done.

Dem Rep. Carolyn Maloney, in a statement sent my way, seized on the emergence of Jon Stewart as the chief voice urging passage of the bill to argue that the President himself should match the energy and involvement displayed by a mere comedian. . . .

Another vote today: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/21/930784/-9-11-bill-will-get-a-vote-tomorrowwill-Senate-Republicans-continue-to-block-it

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/21/930679/-Will-Senate-Republicans-continue-to-block-health-care-for-9-11-responders

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/21/senate-should-get-it-together-and-vote-on-911-health-care-bill/

Bonus item: TPM announces the Golden Duke nominees!

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/12/your_nominees_for_the_2010_golden_duke_awards.php

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