HAVE YOU NOTICED? Nothing succeeds like failure in the Obama administration. (To be honest, it's not just an Obama administration problem; the Obama administration is just the worst example.)

YOU MIGHT FREEZE TO DEATH, but at least you won't pollute the atmosphere.

GREGORY KANE: The annual Chutzpah Awards. President Obama was both second and first runner-up.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: An Anatomy of a Most Peculiar Institution. As the first in my family to graduate from college, and as the only one (so far) to hold a Ph.D., I find myself in the peculiar position of believing that my granddaughters will be better off not to bother with the University and go instead to a for-profit school for vocational or technical training.

Aristotle, Plato, and Dante may be better understood on a quiet night at home than in a University classroom.

CONSERVATIVE SENATOR: ‘This Place is a Joke’. Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey could do a better job -- and it would be more enjoyable.

DEMOCRAT SENATOR DICK DURBIN: If we don't pass the tax cut bill, taxes will go up for all Americans. Well, fine. Over 50% of 'all Americans' are Democrats -- let them pay taxes, too.

MONA CHAREN: Return of the Credibility Gap.

The Obama administration's credibility gap makes the Grand Canyon look miniscule.

WELL, FORGET ABOUT REALISM: "American foreign policy is most truly realistic when it is rooted in the ideals that have made America such a beacon."

RANDOM THOUGHTS from the retirement lane on the day after the narcissistic tinpot wannabe dictator took to the White House podium to gloat:

After witnessing the President's arrogance this afternoon, I urge you to give up any attempt at a tax deal and let the Democrats go over the cliff.

Yes, it'll hurt me, but that's a price I'm willing to pay.

Let the nation know that the Democrats demanded tax hikes without spending cuts, and they got them - in spades. Tell the Democrats that they made the bed, now they get to sleep in it. Sweet dreams, y'all.

Then tell President Obama that in the next Congress, the Republicans (who still have the House) will consider letting the Democrats reduce taxes, but ONLY as part of tax reform, ONLY with dollar-for-dollar (or more) spending cuts, and ONLY after the spending cuts are locked in place.

It's time for Republicans to take the offensive. We know from the last four years that nice guys finish last, and I, for one, am tired of finishing last. If Republicans have to be a tough-as-nails SOBs to win, then so be it.

To the cliff. No apologies.

Sent to House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and my Virginia congresscritters.

BILL TATRO: DC Pols Can't Even Cut 3 Percent.

GENERATION OBAMA: Unemployed, Debt-Ridden, and Homeless.

Well, you voted for him. Deal with it. Don't look to me to bail you out. My sympathy fund is empty.

WIRED: The Year’s Most Audacious Private Space Exploration Plans.

THE STYLISH MAN'S guide to concealed carry. What about the non-stylish man?

SURPRISED? When government tries to help, it often makes a mess.

Thank your liberal neighbor.

JOHN BROWNE: Now It's Time for the Entitlement Cliff. Based on Congress' response to the fiscal cliff (unless the House refuses to go along), I'm not optimistic that any solution is possible.

The U.S. is soon to become a third-world welfare state.

TECHWISE CONVERSATIONS: the end of the POTS (plain old telephone system).

IF GUN OWNERS are such dangerous nuts, why is the left so eager to provoke them? [via Instapundit]

Trust me, Mr./Ms. Progressive, when that crazed left-wing nutjob comes to take you out, I won't waste a bullet to protect you.