Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) explains opposition to large spending bills being proposed by the lame duck Congress. Bachmann is an opponent of the tax compromise and the omnibus bill.

"The president is making phone calls saying 'this is the end' of his presidency if he doesn't get this bad deal," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) told CNN. "I don't feel that way. I think this is potentially the end of his possibility of getting reelected if he gets this deal," DeFazio added.

Katrina vanden Heuvel repeats President Obama's claim that the "Republican party is holding this country hostage." Katrina tells "progressives" to stand strong on fighting against the estate tax. Katrina says we must expose Republicans and conservative Democrats for playing politics.

Vice President tells Sen. Jim DeMint and others opposing the ratification of the START treaty: "Get out of the way. There's too much at stake."

"We have to get rid of these old filibuster rules that we have that are strangling the United States Senate," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told MSNBC. Earlier today, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said filibuster reform is

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) says he is trying to "run out the clock" on Democrats passing their supporters' "wish list."

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) personally names Sens. Kyl (R) and DeMint (R) for complaining that the Senate may stay in session during Christmas. Reid then slams Republicans for making the Senate work through the holidays, even though they are an extreme minority. "If they decide to work with us, we can have a happy holiday," Reid said on the Senate fl

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) explains why compromise is good.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) says that polls showing the majority of Americans support a tax compromise are wrong -- because he knows what the "right thing" is for the American people. Weiner is against extending current tax rates for upper-class Americans.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) cries about her career while giving a farewell speech on the Senate floor today.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind), on the House floor today, says make all current tax rates permanent. "Uncertainty is the enemy of our prosperity," Pence said.

FOX News catches Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) claiming to be anti-earmark, while asking for $16 million worth of earmarks in the budget bill (omnibus bill).

"The people of South Carolina want their money back," Gov.-elect Nikki Haley (R-SC) told President Obama in a recent meeting. (source Gateway Pundit)

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) introduces bipartisan legislation to cap federal spending depending on the GDP. Corker explains his plan, which has won the support of Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri).

On "The Lou Dobbs Show," Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) discusses the Democrats' efforts to pass the DREAM Act and repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Daily Show: President Obama leaving Bill Clinton in the White House briefing room is the kind of cool confidence that borders on delusional.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) says changing the Senate rules from the 60-vote requirement to stop a filibuster is on the agenda in the lame duck Congress. Brown said Democrats didn't try to do this before (the lame duck session) because the "right-wing media" would have "squawked" about it.

"FOX & Friends" host calls out Politico CEO Fred Ryan for incorrectly reporting RNC Chair Michael Steele would not seek reelection and labeled the outlets ideology. (source: Daily Caller)

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) says his floor speech yesterday knocking those who are criticizing the tax compromise bill who aren't in the position of voting was not a veiled attack on Mitt Romney.

Forbes is unsure if the tax cut compromise will create jobs, but he believes it will prevent the massive loss of jobs.

AFP: Attorney General Eric Holder said the complaint alleges that "violations of safety and operational regulations" caused the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig, which sent nearly five millions of barrels of oil gushing into the Gulf. "We intend to prove that these violations caused or contributed to the massive oil spill and tha

Time's Richard Stengel announces who earned the cover as the magazine's Person of the Year.

Charles Krauthammer says Sarah Palin is "not practiced in policy." While on the subject of 2012, Krauthammer seems to hint he supports a Gov. Mitch Daniels presidential run.

MSNBC: Michael Moore explains to Countdown’s Keith Olbermann why he contributed bail money for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Bill O'Reilly: It is clear the country has turned against the radical left. Even President Obama has figured that out.

Liberal columnist Howard Fineman says instead of focusing on liberal Democrats opposition to the tax bill, the media should focus on how Democrats are saving the compromise.