This morning the New York Times' David Carr accused the Wall Street Journal of moving its news division to the right under the ownership of Rupert Murdoch.

The WSJ's Managing Editor Robert Thomson responded:

From: Thomson, Robert
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 11:06 AM
Subject: Statement by Robert Thomson on The New York Times

The news column by a Mr David Carr today is yet more evidence that The New York Times is uncomfortable about the rise of an increasingly successful rival while its own circulation and credibility are in retreat. The usual practice of quoting ex-employees was supplemented by a succession of anonymous quotes and unsubstantiated assertions. The attack follows the extraordinary actions of Mr Bill Keller, the Executive Editor, who, among other things, last year wrote personally and at length to a prize committee casting aspersions on Journal journalists and journalism. Whether it be in the quest for prizes or in the disparagement of competitors, principle is but a bystander at The New York Times.

Robert Thomson, Editor-in-Chief, Dow Jones.

After falling behind Republicans by four points in the generic Congressional ballot last month, a new Gallup survey in December shows Democrats have rebounded to a three point lead over the GOP, 48 to 45.

The move comes after Independents surged toward the GOP during the 2009 election, giving Republicans a whopping 52-30 advantage last month. This month Independents are much more evenly divided, leaning slightly Republican by a four point margin, 44 to 40.

The bottom line according to Gallup:

The current generic-ballot results are similar to those Gallup found in July and October of this year, and indicate that the Republican gain observed just after the Nov. 3 elections was not sustained. Shifts in candidate preference for Congress typically occur primarily among independents, whose "unanchored" status makes them much more vulnerable to short-term events in the political environment than are those who claim allegiance to either major party.

Still, despite the expected short-term fluctuations, the story over the last three months has been the relatively close standing of the two parties in Gallup's monthly trial-heat election ballots. If this continues to be the case next November, Republicans' normal turnout advantage could propel them on Election Day 2010 to a positive margin of the congressional vote over Democrats, with a resulting pickup in House seats. Gallup is tracking the generic House ballot monthly between now and the November 2010 elections; the next update will be in early January.

George W. Bush responsible for overpopulation in Africa.

Yes, he said it. And as far as giving the President a grade for his first year in office, Ryan said, "I'm not a big grader, but it'd be below a C, I'll tell you that."

Lawmakers who voted against the financial reform legislation last week collected, on average, 70 percent more from commercial banks since 1989 compared to those representatives who supported the measure, according to a new report from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Correlation does not prove causation, in statistics and politics. But the correlation is news worthy, if also unsurprising.

Still, the gap between supporters and opponents is not immense. On commercial banks alone: supporters received on average $77,800 and opponents $133,200.

Read the report here:

Though tons of ink has already been spilled on the Tiger Woods fiasco, James Surowiecki has a sharp take that's worth reading.

Just got more bizarre. This is a local story that has garnered some national interest, but for those who aren't aware, a quick recap. Michael Scott was the Chicago School Board President, member of the Olympic bid committee, real estate developer and close friend of confidant of Mayor Daley who was found floating in the Chicago river with a bullet in his head a couple of weeks ago.

Scott's death was ruled a suicide, but the news stunned a lot of folks in the community who had no idea he was tormented to the point of taking his own life.

Now the Sun-Times is reporting that while Scott was on the Olympic bid committee he was also being paid an undisclosed sum to serve as a consultant to a company working on a $3.5 billion real estate development deal on the lake front.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett (R) looks to be a strong favorite in the race to succeed Ed Rendell (D) as Pennsylvania's governor. A new Rasmussen poll (500 LVs, 12/10, MoE +/- 4.5%) shows Corbett's status as a prominent statewide officeholder helps him in the race against lesser-known Democratic foes.

General Election Matchup
Corbett 43 -- Wagner 30 -- Und 20
Corbett 48 -- Hoeffel 26 -- Und 17
Corbett 44 -- Onorato 28 -- Und 21
Corbett 46 -- Doherty 23 -- Und 22

Corbett does have a primary challenger in U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R). A Rasmussen survey last month showed him comfortably ahead at that point, however.

Wagner is the state Auditor General, a lower-profile post but one that does give him a slight edge in name recognition on the Democratic side.

Favorable Ratings
Corbett 59 / 18
Wagner 37 / 30
Onorato 30 / 32
Hoeffel 26 / 35
Doherty 30 / 28

Documents show Iran has been working on a trigger for a nuclear bomb.

Abdon Pallasch of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Rep. Jackson shrugged off any concerns about the federal investigation of his interest in Illinois' Senate seat that prompted the House Ethics Committee to suspend its own investigation of Jackson in September.

"The Sun-Times says, 'The feds are turning up the heat on Jackson.' I don't feel any heat. I'm not looking for any heat," Jackson said as he watched grocery bags being passed out at St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church. "I continue to believe we've done nothing wrong. I made no offers to the governor in connection with the Senate seat." Neither did any emissaries on his behalf, Jackson said.