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4:30 PM ET, December 22, 2009

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Josh Kraushaar / The Politico:
House Dem blames leaders for party switch  —  Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith announced Tuesday that he's switching parties - saying he can no longer align himself “with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy and drives us further and further into debt.”
RELATED:
Erick Erickson / RedState:
BREAKING: Rep. Parker Griffith switches to GOP  —  Rep. Parker Griffith, an Alabama Democrat is switching to the GOP today.  —  That is a huge blow to Barack Obama.  Griffith was an extremely endangered Democrat.  —  We should now hope him be an extremely endangered Republican in a primary.
Josh Kraushaar / Scorecard's Blog:
Griffith getting primaried  —  Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith may be switching parties to improve his reelection prospects, but he'll be facing a competitive Republican primary against a GOP elected official already in the race.  —  Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks will be remaining in the race …
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Parker Griffith Switching Parties
Quinnipiac University:
U.S. Voters Oppose Health Care Plan By Wide Margin, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Say 3-1, Plan Should Not Pay For Abortions  —  As the Senate prepares to vote on health care reform, American voters “mostly disapprove” of the plan 53 - 36 percent and disapprove 56 …
RELATED:
John McCormack / Weekly Standard:
Reid Bill Says Future Congresses Cannot Repeal Parts of Reid Bill  —  Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) pointed out some rather astounding language in the Senate health care bill during floor remarks tonight.  First, he noted that there are a number of changes to Senate rules in the bill …
Erick Erickson / Erick's blog:
We Are No Longer a Nation of Laws.  Senate Sets Up Requirement for Super-Majority to Ever Repeal Obamacare  —  If ever the people of the United States rise up and fight over passage of Obamacare, Harry Reid must be remembered as the man who sacrificed the dignity of his office for a few pieces of silver.
William Kristol / Weekly Standard:
Kristol: It Could Still Go Down  —  I've assumed for the last couple of days that the Democrats would succeed in passing the health care bill, and that our job was to make sure it turned out to be a Pyrrhic victory.  Now I'm not so sure the legislation can't still be derailed.  —  Two reasons:
Megan McArdle:   The Process of Passing Health Care
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Reid: Senate needs to have a ‘Rodney King’ moment
Discussion: TPM LiveWire
Ralph Z. Hallow / Washington Times:
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-RNC chiefs rip Steele speaking fees  —  Party chairman charging $8,000 to $20,000  —  Michael S. Steele, Republican National Committee chairman, is using his title to market himself for paid appearances nationwide, personally profiting from speeches with fees of up to $20,000 at colleges …
RELATED:
Row 2, Seat 4:
RNC Chair Alleges, Without Proof, White House Took CBO to …
Discussion: The Hill and Political Punch
WTOP.com:
Obama makes ‘surprise’ call to Gov. Kaine  —  WASHINGTON - Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine received an unusual phone call while taking calls on WTOP's Ask the Governor program Tuesday.  —  It was President Barack Obama.  —  Kaine, unaware that caller “Barry from D.C.” would be Obama, reacted with surprise when the president said who he was.
Discussion: Weekly Standard
RELATED:
Amy Gardner / Washington Post:
Va. Republicans aim to take 4 Democrats' congressional seats
Discussion: Washington Monthly and Commentary
Natalie Angier / New York Times:
Sorry, Vegans: Brussels Sprouts Like to Live, Too  —  I stopped eating pork about eight years ago, after a scientist happened to mention that the animal whose teeth most closely resemble our own is the pig.  Unable to shake the image of a perky little pig flashing me a brilliant George Clooney smile …
Lesley Clark / Naked Politics:
The Diaz-Balarts withdraw Charlie Crist endorsement  —  Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart have pulled their endorsement of Gov. Charlie Crist for the U.S. Senate.  —  Lincoln offered few details as to why, just that Crist had “left us no alternative and he knows why.”
RELATED:
Tony Romm / The Hill:
Diaz-Balarts withdraw support of Crist in Florida Senate race
Discussion: GOP 12
Scott Wilson / Washington Post:
Obama rejects criticism on health-care reform legislation  —  President Obama rejected in an interview Tuesday the criticism that he has compromised too much in order to secure health-care reform legislation, challenging his critics to identify any “gap” between what he campaigned on last year …
Sean Higgins / Investor's Business Daily:
Trial Lawyers Win Added Clout From Democrats In Health Bill  —  The Senate health care bill includes a gift to trial lawyers: a five-year, $50 million program to encourage states to consult with them on “alternatives” to malpractice claims.  —  Though presented as a reform …
Discussion: PointOfLaw Forum
RELATED:
Charles Dharapak / Truthdig:
Michele Bachmann: Welfare Queen  —  Michele Bachmann has become well known for her anti-government tea-bagger antics, protesting health care reform and every other government “handout” as socialism.  What her followers probably don't know is that Rep. Bachmann is, to use that anti-government slur, something of a welfare queen.
United States Senator:
Ensign, DeMint to Force Vote on Health Care Bill Unconstitutionality  —  Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) and John Ensign (R-Nevada), raised a Constitutional Point of Order on the Senate floor against the Democrat health care takeover bill on behalf of the Steering Committee, a caucus of conservative senators.
David Brooks / New York Times:
The Protocol Society  —  In the 19th and 20th centuries we made stuff: corn and steel and trucks.  Now, we make protocols: sets of instructions.  A software program is a protocol for organizing information.  A new drug is a protocol for organizing chemicals.  Wal-Mart produces protocols for moving and marketing consumer goods.
Jeralyn / TalkLeft:
Number of Federal Prosecutions Rise to Highest Level  —  A new report shows that federal prosecution of crimes is at an all-time high.  The increase is due to the number of immigration-related crimes.  The breakdown by agency: … So the FBI and DEA together now account for only 18.2% of federal proseuctions.
RELATED:
Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Paul leads big  —  If there was any doubt Rand Paul is a serious candidate for the Republican Senate nomination in Kentucky it can be cast away.  Our first poll of the race finds him leading Trey Grayson 44-25.  —  Paul is, as the conventional wisdom suggests, drawing his strongest support …
 
 
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 More Items: 
Victoria McGrane / The Politico:
Lobbyists on pace for record year
Maura Flynn / Big Government:
Build-A-Climate-Scare: Why You Should Boycott Build-A-Bear
BBC:
Why did Copenhagen fail to deliver a climate deal?
Discussion: The Huffington Post and Truthdig
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Top House Liberal Suggests He Could Accept Deal On Senate Bill
Carol E. Lee / The Politico:
POTUS's outlook on black America
Discussion: Politics Daily
 Earlier Items: 
Anthony Faiola / Washington Post:
In Ireland's deep budget cuts, an omen for a heavily indebted United States?
Discussion: Beat the Press
Chris Frates / The Politico:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Republican style
Discussion: The Note