TUESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Just a reminder, the Monthly‘s annual pledge drive is underway. We sincerely appreciate those of you who’ve already shown generous support, and hope other readers will take a moment to help out.
* So far, the reaction to the tax policy agreement among Senate Democrats is quite poor. I continue to think those who assume this will pass are making a mistake.
* Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) believes the defense authorization bill, including the provision repealing DADT, “will get to a vote” in the lame-duck session. Here’s hoping he’s right.
* Boosting hopes for ratification, at least a little, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) all but endorsed the pending arms control treaty, New START, during an interview this afternoon.
* Elizabeth Edwards died today at the age of 61.
* WikiLeaks founder in police custody: “Julian Assange, the founder of the beleaguered WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group, was denied bail by a London court on Tuesday after he was arrested on a Swedish extradition warrant for questioning in connection with alleged sex offenses.”
* On a related note, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) thinks the New York Times should be subjected to a criminal investigation for publishing materials released through WikiLeaks.
* The now-complete bailout of Citigroup generated a $12 billion profit for American taxpayers.
* The Campaign for America’s Future’s Bill Scher, who doesn’t always share the Obama administration’s priorities on economy policy, ran a compelling defense for the tax deal.
* Andy Sabl considers the agreement as it related to the ethics of compromise.
* Jonathan Bernstein: “The truth is that there are a lot of people who just don’t accept that the President of the United States can want something, fight for it, fight effectively and correctly, and still not get it. If it doesn’t happen, it must have been — in Obama’s words — a ‘betrayal.’ Those people are wrong.”
* How should Americans spend public money to get good teachers? Turns out, it’s a big question.
* Today is Dec. 7, known for being Pearl Harbor Day. Disgraced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) encouraged his fans to honor the anniversary by buying his books. What a shameless hack.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
