WEDNESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Hoping to prevent a disaster in Ireland: “A top British finance official said Wednesday that his country would help prop up Ireland’s ailing finances – even as a team from the International Monetary Fund and European Union prepared to travel here to address the crisis and the Irish government signaled, for the first time, that it might be willing to accept a bailout.”
* It wasn’t as one-sided as some had guessed, but House Democrats today chose Nancy Pelosi to be the House Minority leader next year. She won with 150 votes from caucus members, 107 more than Heath Shuler received.
* On the other side of the aisle, House Republicans unanimously chose their leadership team today, including John Boehner for Speaker and Eric Cantor for Majority Leader.
* A big day for GM tomorrow.
* Is “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal dead? Not just yet.
* It looks like a real long-shot, but President Obama thinks Congress can and should pass the DREAM Act during the lame-duck session.
* More petty gamesmanship: “House Republicans announced Wednesday they plan to force a floor vote on defunding NPR in response to the firing of analyst Juan Williams last month.”
* Warren Buffett uses an op-ed to thank government, specifically the Bush administration, for pulling the country back from financial doom during the financial crisis of 2008.
* All of those far-right cranks worried about inflation? They’re deeply confused.
* I’m starting to think some of the far-right’s opposition to President Obama is racist. Take Rush Limbaugh, for example.
* Birtherism in the Texas legislature is very likely a sign of things to come.
* Good question: “Exactly what … would be an inappropriate amount of money to spend on college?”
* “Negotiation,” by Clay Bennett, is one of my favorite political cartoons of the year.
* I’m really sorry to see the Washington Independent close its virtual doors. It did some amazing work over the last three years, served as a launching pad for some terrific journalists, and it’ll be missed.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
