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12:40 PM ET, December 28, 2012

Top Items:

Jonathan Allen / Politico:

Why they want to go over the cliff — Washington's Democratic and Republican power brokers have sent the message to the nation that going over the fiscal cliff is a worst-case scenario. But they're not acting that way, not at all. — Instead, many of them have calculated that it's better …

Discussion: Washington Post, Salon, The Week, AMERICAblog, Taegan Goddard's …, Politicker, neo-neocon, Business Insider, Connecting.the.Dots and The Caucus

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

The logic of House GOP intransigence — The unruly House Republicans who emasculated Speaker John Boehner as the country flirts with fiscal havoc might've seemed like they were doing their best “Lord of the Flies” rendition. — But last week's mayhem had a certain logic — the logic of politicians wanting to keep their jobs.

Discussion: CNN, Booman Tribune and Washington Examiner

Steven T. Dennis / Roll Call:
Pessimism Abounds as White House Calls Cliff Meeting

Discussion: The Other McCain

Deirdre Walsh / CNN:
TRENDING: Hoyer compares GOP debt limit tactics to hostage taker threatening to shoot child

Discussion: Politico, Twitchy, Mediaite, Taylor Marsh, Sister Toldjah, Weasel Zippers and The Reality-Based Community

Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times:
Mitch McConnell lies low as ‘fiscal cliff’ nears

Discussion: The Maddow Blog, ABCNEWS, Mother Jones, Roll Call and New York Times

Politico:
Fiscal cliff: House will come back on Sunday

Discussion: his vorpal sword, The Strata-Sphere, Business Insider, The Impolitic, The National Memo, Guardian, Daily Kos, BuzzFeed, Hot Air and CNN

Robert D. McFadden / New York Times:

Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Commander in Gulf War, Dies at 78 — Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the American-led forces that crushed Iraq in the 1991 Persian Gulf war and became the nation's most acclaimed military hero since the midcentury exploits of Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, americanthinker.com, The Week, Twitchy and National Review

Matt Schudel / Washington Post:

Retired Gen. Schwarzkopf dies at 78 — H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the four-star Army general who led allied forces to a stunningly quick and decisive victory over Saddam Hussein's Iraqi military in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and who became the most celebrated U.S. military hero of his generation, died Thursday in Tampa.

Discussion: neo-neocon, American Spectator, Gawker and Foreign Policy

Associated Press:
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, coalition forces leader during Persian Gulf War, dies

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Conservatives4Palin and Tim Blair

Associated Press: Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf dies

CNN:
Desert Storm's Gen. Schwarzkopf dies

Discussion: LewRockwell.com Blog

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:

Summoned Back to Work, Senators Chafe at Inaction — WASHINGTON — Senators bid hasty goodbyes to families, donned ties and pantsuits in lieu of sweat pants and Christmas sweaters and one by one returned to the Capitol on Thursday to begin the business of doing nothing in particular.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, ABCNEWS and Taegan Goddard's …

Chelsea Karnash / CBS Philly:

3 Officers Wounded After Suspect Opens Fire At Gloucester Township Police Station — CLEMENTON, NJ (CBS) — Police and rescue crews responded to the Gloucester County Municipal Building on Chews Landing Road this morning after shots were fired inside the Gloucester Township police station.

Discussion: Runnin' Scared, The Raw Story, Gawker and The Hinterland Gazette

WPVI-TV:

3 officers injured, gunman dead after NJ police station shooting — camden county, new jersey, shooting, police, local/state — Three officers were injured after gunfire erupted inside Gloucester Township police headquarters Friday morning. — Medics responded around 5:30 a.m. to the station …

Discussion: WFTS and ABCNEWS

Gregory L. White / Wall Street Journal:

Putin Signs Ban on U.S. Adoptions — Children at an orphanage in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. A new law would ban Americans from adopting Russians. — MOSCOW—President Vladimir Putin signed a bill Friday banning U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children, raising tensions with Washington …

Discussion: Politico

CNN:
Russia's Putin signs anti-U.S. adoption bill

Discussion: The Heritage Foundation and The Gateway Pundit

David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
Putin Says He Will Sign Law Barring U.S. Adoptions

Discussion: Hit & Run, Associated Press, Power Line, BuzzFeed and The Week

Des Moines Register:

Mississippi's low levels could halt river traffic — A shutdown of commercial use could come by next week, a group says — The feared shutdown of commercial traffic on the Mississippi River due to low water levels could happen as early as next week, a waterways group said Thursday.

Discussion: The Reaction

Niti Central:

Taliban wants Sharia in Pakistan, war with India — The Pakistani Taliban has made a conditional ceasefire offer to the Pakistan Government which calls for an end to Pakistan's participation in the Afghan war, the imposition of Sharia law in the country, and to avenge the embarrassing defeat …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

Frank Newport / Gallup:

NRA Has 54% Favorable Image in U.S. — Republicans most positive about NRA; Democrats most negative — PRINCETON, NJ — Fifty-four percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association, while 38% have an unfavorable opinion. The public's ratings of the NRA …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Hill, Politico, Hot Air, Post Politics, Outside the Beltway and Jammie Wearing Fools

Harry J Enten / Guardian:

The top five polling lessons from the 2012 election — Cellphones, internet tactics and other vital things we should take with us as we close the books on last month's election — The 2012 election is in the books, and as we head into the new term filled with new elections, there are polling lessons we should take with us.

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Taegan Goddard's …

Larry Downing / Al Akhbar English:

Saudi detains dozens for “plotting to celebrate Christmas” — Saudi religious police stormed a house in the Saudi Arabian province of al-Jouf, detaining more than 41 guests for “plotting to celebrate Christmas,” a statement from the police branch released Wednesday night said.

Discussion: Elder of Ziyon, Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

Matt Canham / Salt Lake Tribune:

Incoming Utah lawmaker open to limited gun control — Politics » Rep.-elect Chris Stewart calls arming educators “a bad idea,” skeptical on armed guards. — | The Salt Lake Tribune — Congressman-elect Chris Stewart is willing to support some limited gun-control measures …

Discussion: The Hill, Post Politics and AMERICAblog