News Nuggets 253

Obama at the Fort Hood ceremony yesterday where gave a very good speech - from the New York Times

Pyongyang's Temper Tantrum from the National Interest

"Whatever the cause of the North’s actions, it is unlikely to significantly change either the American or South Korean approach to the North. There is widespread agreement among all types of analysts in the United States that the current policies are appropriate, and that Washington should not be offering concessions to a North Korea that has obviously violated international norms."

Iran's Moves Reveal Leadership Rift (Gerald Seib) from the Wall Street Journal

"The bizarre back and forth from Iran in the aftermath of a nuclear negotiating session in Geneva on Oct. 1 has only confirmed the sense that the regime, always thought to be split by factionalism, is now only more so. "

Obama Has Busy Itinerary on Whirlwind Asian Tour from Reuters

"U.S. President Barack Obama leaves on Thursday on his first Asian trip since becoming president on Jan. 20. ... Issues getting the most attention on the trip will be North Korea, Iran, the economy, climate change, energy, human rights,"

A Crib Sheet for Obama's Upcoming Asian Summitry from Foreign Policy Magazine

"Despite the hype surrounding the rise of China, it is the United States that provides the public goods for order, security, and prosperity in EastAsia; China in many respects free-rides on these public goods to sustain its focus on internal development."

What He Said: President Obama's Small Masterpiece of a Speech at Fort Hood (John Dickerson) from Slate

"President Obama's speech at Fort Hood, Texas, was a small masterpiece—less than 15 minutes—in part because it was so modest. The president had great material and he knew not to get in its way."

Reid Says Health Bill Will Be Done by Christmas from the New York Times

"He expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas."

Win Some, Lose Some (John Dickerson) from Slate

Haven't seen a Slate article among the Nuggets for months -- today we have TWO, both by Dickerson.

"A guide to the shifting political factions in the health care debate"

Health Reform: The Cost of Doing Nothing (Karen Tumulty) from Time Magazine

"According to Shapiro, if things keep going the way they are headed, the typical middle class family could find itself paying one-third of its income for health care within five to six years."

Health Care Bill with Public Option to Hit Senate Floor Next Week from Open Left

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will send a health care bill with an opt-out public option, and without Stupak amendment language, to the floor of the Senate next week. ... Reid announced two weeks ago that this bill will contain a public option. Yesterday morning, he declared that it would not contain the Stupak amendment."

2010 a Year of Primaries (Markos Moulitsas) from The Hill

"It wasn’t long ago that progressives were in the deep minority, but we won back Congress and the White House by expanding our tent. It’s doubtful the conservatives’ novel “addition by subtraction” strategy will be as successful."

Hi, I'm Marty, and I'm a Recovering Republican from Salon

"I was a feminazi-hating, liberal-bashing loudmouth who tried to befriend Bill O'Reilly. Man, I was such a douche."

American Legion and VFW Posts Struggle from USA Today

Good riddance - especially to the American Legion, an organization that was at the forefront of red-baiting, commie-hunting extremism going back to the 1920s.

"As national membership in the VFW dips — down from a peak of 2.5 million in 1992 to 1.5 million as of June — VFW posts have to change."

VETERANS DAY NUGGET!!

Dogs (and kids) Welcoming Home Soldiers from the Huffington Post