OPINIONS: No Deal on the Tax Deal

• Is Google Too Big?

  The Atlantic Wire – 1 hr 55 mins ago

  WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Post’s Steven Pearlstein wants the federal government to rein in Google. In a widely-read column, the business columnist argues that Google has become too big, moving into e-mail, video, Web browsers and a whole range of mobile and computer software products. “Where I have a problem,” Pearlstein writes, “is in allowing Google to buy its way into new markets and new technologies, particularly when the firms being bought already have a dominant position in their respective market niches.”He largely views Google’s acquisitions as a way to squelch competition and prevent the “next round of creative destruction.” He urges regulators to aggressively enforce anti-trust laws to protect innovation. The column made a splash in the blogosphere but, more surprisingly, garnered a response from Google itself. Reacting to the column, Don Harrison, Deputy General Counsel at Google, writes: Antitrust law is designed to protect consumers, not competitors, and our acquisitions have created great things for consumers. Our 2004 acquisition of Keyhole led to Google Earth, which for the first time provided free satellite imagery for consumers. Our 2005 acquisition of a small company called Android–and our investment in the technology that Andy Rubin was developing–later led to the creation of the Android mobile operating system, which has injected more competition and openness into the smartphone space. Full Story »

Are fat kids a threat to national security?

That’s what Michelle Obama says, prompting some critics to dispute her “idiotic” claim that childhood obesity is endangering the country

Best opinion:Media Matters, Hot Air, Daily Mail

• Bush Tax Cuts: From Bipartisan to Evil

  Larry Elder – Thu Dec 16, 3:00 am ET

  Creators Syndicate – A mere nine years ago, 12 Democratic senators voted for the current tax rates, as well as for a complete phaseout of the estate tax. Twelve! By contrast, ObamaCare and the $800 billion “stimulus” package secured votes from zero Republican senators and zero Republican senators, respectively. Full Story »

• Remembering the Great White Shark of American Diplomacy

  Huffington Post – Wed Dec 15, 8:46 pm ET

  Read Alec Baldwin’s other articles on HuffingtonPost.com Full Story »

• Marijuana Use Has Increased Because Teens Think Pot Is Medicine?

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 8:14 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, the annual federally-funded Monitoring the Future study released its findings on teenage drug use based on responses from more than 46,000 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. This year, the survey sound bite was that marijuana is making a comeback among teenagers, particularly among high school seniors, who are now slightly more likely to have smoked pot than a cigarette within the past 30 days (on a daily basis, however, those numbers apparently fluctuate). Marijuana use is also increasing among 8th graders, eight percent of whom say have tried marijuana, up from 6.5 percent in 2009. After sifting through the study, this is what reporters and commentators have found revealing: Full Story »

• U.S.-Russia Nuke Treaty Could Pass Tomorrow

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 6:02 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – In a vote this afternoon on the New START nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia, the Senate voted 66 to 32 to proceed to formal debate. Nine of the aye votes were from Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid schedule the final vote for tomorrow morning, meaning that the treaty, which President Obama signed this spring in one of the top foreign policy achievements of his administrations, could soon face ratification or defeat. Full Story »

• Get America Working: We Need a Movement to Solve a Crisis

  Huffington Post – Wed Dec 15, 5:40 pm ET

  Read Dylan Ratigan’s other articles on HuffingtonPost.com Full Story »

• Protecting Children and Workers Around the Globe

  Huffington Post – Wed Dec 15, 5:01 pm ET

  Read Sec. Hilda Solis’s other articles on HuffingtonPost.com Full Story »

• Fox News Boss Told Staff to Play Up Climate-Change Skepticism

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 4:35 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – This story comes only days after Media Matters leaked another Sammon e-mail, this one encouraging Fox News staffers to use the term “government option” instead of “public option” when discussing health care reform. Here’s a look at the responses to this latest bit of news: Full Story »

• Fox News Manipulates Climate Coverage

  Huffington Post – Wed Dec 15, 4:33 pm ET

  Read Al Gore’s other articles on HuffingtonPost.com Full Story »

• Top Tweets: Time Magazine’s Person of the Year Edition

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 4:24 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – Time Magazine’s annual Person of the Year issue came out today, with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s face on the cover. Tweeters immediately started commenting on the choice, praising Zuckerberg’s achievement, suggesting better alternatives and predicting next year’s winner.Politico’s Mike Allen noted the Person of the Year’s age. .bbpBox15042901608243200 {background:url(http://s.twimg.com/a/1291318259/images/themes/theme9/bg.gif) #1A1B1F;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block} AP: At 26, Zuckerberg is the youngest TIME “Person of the Year” since the first one chosen, Charles Lindbergh; he was 25 when named in 1927less than a minute ago via webMike Allenmikeallen Full Story »

• The Backlash Against Michael Jackson’s Posthumous Release

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 4:04 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – Fans Protest, reports an ABC news affiliate in California: Full Story »

• Does Inequality Cause Financial Crises?

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 3:59 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – What caused the Great Recession? This question, not surprisingly, is proving divisive. Just today, The Huffington Post reported that the Republican members of the congressionally-appointed Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission have decided to splinter off from the bipartisan committee and issue their own report, blaming the government (for inflating the housing bubble by encouraging subprime mortgages) and downplaying Wall Street’s responsibility for the meltdown. Full Story »

• Here Comes the Omnibus–Batten Down the Hatches!

  The Atlantic Wire – Wed Dec 15, 3:22 pm ET

  WASHINGTON, DC – Senators anticipating the coming belt-tightening from the new conservative Congress have apparently come up with a last-ditch effort to fund various projects into next year. Hawaiian Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye led the Senate Appropriations Committee in crafting a $1.2 trillion omnibus bill, containing over 6,000 earmarks that they hope can be passed before the end of the current session. The bill was introduced yesterday, after the House had already passed a continuing resolution “that includes no earmarks and would cap discretionary spending at $1.089, the same as fiscal 2010,” reports Humberto Sanchez at The National Journal. Full Story »

• US-UN Relations, Foreign Aid to Come Under Fire in New Congress

  The Nation – Wed Dec 15, 12:17 pm ET

  The Nation — While President Obama was just beginning to make headway against the often cynical approach to human rights at the United Nations, and had begun to repair US-UN relations and the image of the United States globally, Republicans were warming up for another chance to bully the world. Full Story »

A real cure for HIV?

December 16, 2010, at 6:45 AMA patient in Germany appears to be the first person cured of the virus that causes AIDS. Does this mean there is hope for others?

Why No Labels makes sense

December 15, 2010, at 5:18 PMI’m proud to remain a Republican. The object is to address the issues that can’t be reduced to party dogma

Hollywood’s celeb split epidemic: Why now?

December 15, 2010, at 4:15 PMZac and Vanessa, Scarlett and Ryan, the “Dexter” siblings, Liz Hurley and… Mr. Hurley. Why are all these famous couples breaking up?

Do Richard Holbrooke’s last words matter?

December 15, 2010, at 3:50 PMThe State Department says the diplomat was joking when he said “stop this war in Afghanistan” just before he died. Is it that simple?

6 Comments

The Navy’s ‘weirdly modest’ syphilitic vampire

December 15, 2010, at 3:35 PMThe U.S. government created a public service announcement in the 1970s warning against the dangers of STDs. It’s back — and it’s strange

Why Oprah shouldn’t do Dickens

December 15, 2010, at 3:10 PMFor the good of literature — and her audience — the talk show queen’s book club should steer clear of “Great Expectations” and “A Tale of Two Cities,” says Hillary Kelly in The New Republic

Are fat kids a threat to national security?

December 15, 2010, at 3:00 PMThat’s what Michelle Obama says, prompting some critics to dispute her “idiotic” claim that childhood obesity is endangering the country

12 Comments

The iPad’s first iAd: Revolutionary?

December 15, 2010, at 2:29 PMApple has rolled out a new movie commercial made specifically for its popular tablet. Is the iAd for Disney’s “Tron: Legacy” the future of advertising?

Does Mark Zuckerberg deserve to be Time’s ‘Person of the Year’?

December 15, 2010, at 1:16 PMThe Facebook founder beat out WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange to be named the planet’s most influential human. Was he the right choice?

6 Comments

Justice Scalia: Teaching lawmakers ‘Constitution 101′

December 15, 2010, at 12:23 PMMichele Bachmann has asked the Supreme Court justice to lead a seminar on the Constitution. Is that really appropriate?

9 Comments

Could conservatives kill Obama’s tax-cut deal?

December 15, 2010, at 12:18 PMSome GOP leaders, led by Mitt Romney, oppose the compromise deal to temporarily extend the Bush tax cuts. Could they sink the bill?

The evangelical ‘Bed Intruder’ Christmas carol

December 15, 2010, at 11:28 AMInternet star Antoine Dodson’s rant gets the reverent church-choir treatment… and the results are surprisingly “beautiful”

8 Comments