Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Europe: “Expectations remained high on Friday that European leaders were trying to craft a bolder solution to the region’s financial crisis, despite clear signals from French and German officials that they have sharp differences heading into an important weekend summit in Brussels.”
* Questions remain on the circumstances surrounding Gadhafi’s death: “Libyan authorities on Friday prepared to bury slain former leader Moammar Gaddafi amid calls for an investigation into the circumstances of his death, which came after he begged for his life and scolded the enraged revolutionary fighters holding him, according to new video footage.”
* The price tag for the U.S. mission: “According to the Pentagon, that was the cost to U.S. taxpayers for Muammar el-Qaddafi’s head: $1.1 billion through September, the latest figure just out of the Defense Department.”
* Annie Lowrey on the economy: “Everything is getting better. No, no, I know. It seems as if everything is getting worse again…. Even so, a spate of new data suggest that the trends, at the least, might be looking up for now, and the possibility of a double-dip recession might be fading.”
* ABC News thinks it’s found a big new scandal involving a U.S. loan that boosted manufacturing in Finland. ABC’s report is really, really, really, really misleading.
* Wingnut welfare: “Former Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina may have not have been able to run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination after his 2009 cheating scandal, but he will at least get to talk about the campaign on national television — as a paid contributor on Fox News, the Caucus has learned.”
* Seems like a good question: “Can an academic administrator go around calling himself “doctor” if he holds only an honorary doctorate?”
* Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) told a local news outlet this week, “Privately, John Boehner … doesn’t want someone like me around.” Joe, Boehner’s not the only one who doesn’t want someone like you around.
* And Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain reflected this week on an important part of his foreign-policy vision: “My strategy for China is three words: Outgrow China.” Herman, that’s two words.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
