Lindsey Graham on 2012, Stephen Carter on the Economy, and More Sunday Talk Highlights

Sen. Lindsey Graham is already nervous about 2012, George Clooney talks tough on Sudan’s president, and Stephen Carter says economists may be too short-sighted. That and more in our roundup.

Sen. Lindsey Graham is already nervous about 2012, George Clooney talks tough on Sudan’s president, and Stephen Carter says President Obama should redefine what victory means in Afghanistan. That and more in our roundup.

Lindsey Graham, Already Bracing for 2012

The South Carolina senator made a forecast for 2012 on Meet the Press, saying that if Republicans don't uphold their promises, Americans may be unhappy down the line. He didn't shy away from stating his dissatisfaction with the lame-duck session, either, saying, "I don't understand why Republicans were pushing through policies in the lame duck that could have been made better in the new Congress."

Stephen Carter: Obama Must Redefine Victory

Carter, author of The Violence of Peace: America's Wars in the Age of Obama, stressed that the President should more clearly articulate what counts as a win in Afghanistan on Meet the Press. "President Obama has said several times this is a war of necessity, it's a war that was forced on us, it's a war of self defense, it's a war that must be won. Those are very powerful statements," he said.

George Clooney Talks Tough on Africa

Don’t mess with Batman! On This Week, actor George Clooney had some tough words for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who hopes the International Criminal Court will drop its genocide charges against him. “We’re not even talking about dropping that,” Clooney said. “I don’t think that should even be on the table.”

Ed Henry, Hula Champ?

As CNN's senior White House correspondent, Ed Henry has to go wherever President Obama goes. Which is usually a pretty tough gig, except when it leads him to Hawaii for the president’s uneventful Christmas vacation. That results in Ed Henry hula dancing on-air and other fluff segments. “Defend yourself,” said Howard Kurtz on Reliable Sources. Easy, Henry said—this year, there was no news to cover—uunlike last year’s underwear bomber. Aloha, oy.

McLaughlin Suits Up!

The McLaughlin Group donned their black-tie finest for their predictions for which politicos are destined for stardom in 2011. Is this Marco Rubio’s year? Monica Crowley says yes!

Anthony Weiner: There Are Many Disagreements to Come

New York’s Democratic Rep told Harry Smith on Face the Nation that he and other Democrats are prepared to work with Republicans in the House, but are also ready to challenge them on Social Security and Medicare. "We've heard a lot about what they're against in this campaign. I don't know what they're in favor of," he said.

Should Congress Get Less Time Off?

Rep.-elect Allen West sure thinks so! The Tea Party freshman wrote a letter to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor arguing for Congress to take less time off. "If they believe that the more time that we're spending up here working toward what's best for the American people is a bad thing, then what's our purpose for being here?" he said on Fox News Sunday.

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