Christmas eve edition. peace on earth and good will to all men. Emphasis on "all".
National Journal:
The lame-duck session that wrapped up Wednesday was a lot like the 111th Congress that it capped: contentious, messy, and remarkably productive. The result reflects the no-nonsense approach of its chief architect...
While many reviews of the lame duck and the entire session have focused on President Obama’s role, the legislative success was overseen less by the White House than by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and particularly Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., whose brawling but effective style appeared to be reflected in the Congress he dominated.
Politico:
Earlier this week, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, among the most independent Senate Republicans, expressed disgust that the GOP leadership allowed Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to enjoy the most successful lame-duck session in decades.
"Harry Reid has eaten our lunch," Graham told Fox News radio. "This has been a capitulation in two weeks of dramatic proportions of policies that wouldn't have passed in the new Congress."
Charles Krauthammer:
The great liberal ascendancy of 2008, destined to last 40 years (predicted James Carville), lasted less than two. Yet, the great Republican ascendancy of 2010 lasted less than two months. Republicans will enter the 112th Congress with larger numbers but no longer with the wind - the overwhelming Nov. 2 repudiation of Obama's social-democratic agenda - at their backs.
"Harry Reid has eaten our lunch," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, lamenting his side's "capitulation" in the lame-duck session. Yes, but it was less Harry than Barry. Obama came back with a vengeance. His string of lame-duck successes is a singular political achievement. Because of it, the epic battles of the 112th Congress begin on what would have seemed impossible just one month ago - a level playing field.
Apparently much of the political opposition to DADT repeal is to an Obama win of any kind. The term "asshole" doesn't even begin to describe those people.
NY Times:
Eighteen months after the recession officially ended, the government’s latest measures to bolster the economy have led many forecasters and policy makers to express new optimism that the recovery will gain substantial momentum in 2011.
That's a big effin' deal. If it's true. But it has to be true to be a big effin' deal.
Gallup: Obama approve 49, disapprove 45. And note that Congress is at 13. Remember that, Republicans, when you act like you own the place.
The Hill:
Two state Republicans, Attorney General Jon Bruning and Treasurer-elect Don Stenberg, enjoy early leads over [Ben] Nelson, according to a Magellan Research Group poll conducted last week.
If the 2012 election were held today, Bruning would best Nelson, 52-38 percent, with 10 percent undecided.
David Frum:
Heading toward 2012, Republicans will be tempted by all three mistakes. How can you avoid negativity when you are seething with rage? How can you address the future when your top priority is to repeal a piece of legislation previously enacted? How can you reach the middle when your primary voters will not tolerate any whiff of compromise?
But those three things must happen for Republicans to win.
WaPo:
"We're locking up people that take a couple of puffs of marijuana, and the next thing you know they've got 10 years," [Pat Robertson] the controversial pastor said on "The 700 Club" on Dec. 16, in a clip unearthed by bloggers this week. "I'm not exactly for the use of drugs - don't get me wrong - but I just believe that criminalizing marijuana, criminalizing the possession of a few ounces of pot and that kind of thing, I mean, it's just, it's costing us a fortune and it's ruining young people."