POLITICO Playbook: HILLARY’s 1 big debate mistake – ‘SNL’ skits on GOP debate, Hillary meets Palin

Good Sunday morning. Awesome Getty photo of YOLO Hillary returning to the debate stage in Manchester, N.H. last night, after ABC briefly showed her empty podium as the network returned from a break. "Sorry," she deadpanned. Pic https://bit.ly/1RwP4Gl ... 12-sec. video https://politi.co/1YtuFkB

--@BrianEFallon, her press secretary: "Hey, @HillaryClinton knows how to make an entrance" ...@NickConfessore: "There's always a line at the ladies' room, amiright?" ... HuffPost's Amanda Terkel (@aterkel): "This is why women need more stalls in the restrooms!!" ... Josh @Tyrangiel: "Tune in for the next Democratic debate-January 1, 2016 at 12:01 am on ABC Family."

By Mike Allen (@mikeallen; [email protected]) and Daniel Lippman (@dlippman; [email protected])

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TOP TAKEAWAY (plus a little cleanup on Aisle 4) - "Clinton turns hawk as she preps for GOP opponent: But she made one key mistake that could haunt her in a general election," by Politico's Nahal Toosi: "'We now finally are where we need to be,' Clinton said about ... ISIS, suggesting the Obama administration's post-Paris policy had finally gotten on track. 'We have a strategy and a commitment to go after ISIS, which is a danger to us as well as the region, ... and we finally have a U.N. Security Council resolution bringing the world together to go after a political transition in Syria.'

"While Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta told [Glenn Thrush, at the debate hall, that] she was only referring to the U.N. resolution authorizing the start of peace talks on the Syrian civil war, her GOP competition had already pounced." https://politi.co/1QSxY4a

--EXCLUSIVE: Jeb campaign attack video, "Where We Need To Be?" 43-sec. YouTube https://bit.ly/1NwjLaQ

GLENN THRUSH "Off Message" column from Manchester: "Sanders - with a powerhouse fundraising operation and widespread appeal among college-age supporters - remains a significant factor in the Democratic primary but he did little to repulse Clinton's surge ... [S]he was far more explicit in her criticism of [Obama than in the past], saying her strategy was 'not to contain... but to defeat' Islamic terrorism." https://politi.co/1ZiNxoX

SEE THE N.H. Union Leader front page. https://politi.co/1S1CvSW ... HuffPost banner: "2ND STRAIGHT 'NATIONAL SECURITY' DEBATE SKIPS CLIMATE CHANGE!" ... Drudge banner: "IN HER OWN TIME".

--Des Moines Register, bottom of 1A, "Iowa watchers split on who won Democratic debate: Best lines include 'Everybody should,' 'I apologize,'" by Jennifer Jacobs: "The college students said they suspect Iowa caucusgoers were likely more absorbed by the Big Four Classic, a basketball doubleheader at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, especially because of University of Northern Iowa's upset win over undefeated Iowa State University.

"Up next in the 2016 presidential race: The sixth GOP debate will be Jan. 14 in South Carolina. The fourth Democratic showdown will be Jan. 17, also in South Carolina." https://dmreg.co/1PiIwKf

HOW IT'S PLAYING: NYT, top of col. 1 (off-lede), "Clinton's Focus In 3rd Debate Is G.O.P. Field: Parrying Democrats, Swinging at Trump" ... WashPost A1, above fold, "Debate clash on Syria, security: DEMOCRATS WANT GUN RESTRICTIONS -- Strategies differ on stopping Islamic State" ... L.A. Times, 1-col. lead, "A more prickly debate erupts in N.H." ... Chicago Tribune, tease at top of p. 1 to story on p. 31: "Sanders says sorry, Clinton says 'move on.'"

TV THIS MORNING: CNN's "Reliable Sources" (11 a.m.) has Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver.

SNEAK PEEK: Jeb Bush to John Dickerson, for today's CBS News "Face the Nation," taped yesterday at the Holy Grail Restaurant in Epping, N.H., re attacking Trump: "I'm trying to point out that he's not a serious candidate. His answer about the nuclear triad, for example, was mind-blowing. ... I mean, he has no knowledge about this stuff. ... [H]e now has come out saying Putin is a strong man and a great guy, when he's trying to destabilize our relationship with our allies. He's not a serious candidate."

DICKERSON: "Some of the people who are supporting you, and who have been wondering about your campaign, say that in this recent mode, where you've been more vocal about Donald Trump, that you have found your voice. Do you see it that way?"

BUSH: ... "To a certain extent, it is a little liberating to be able to post up against a guy who is not qualified to be president."

DICKERSON: "Six months ago, people thought you were the frontrunner."

BUSH: "Yeah, I hated that. ... I feel much better back here. ... I've always thought that there was going to be a high expectation for me. And I totally get it. ... Because I have a brother that was president and a father that was president. And that higher expectation was important to realize. And so, being the frontrunner made me feel like the other guys just dancing right through this.

"I have to go earn it. I have higher expectations on me than people have on me. So it doesn't bother me a bit that the expectations are high. And I want to win, which means that you garner momentum when it matters. And so I feel good about where we are right now."

** A message from Qualcomm: First, we connected billions of phones to the Internet. Now Qualcomm is bringing wireless connectivity to everything- from watches and refrigerators to cars and ultrasound machines-helping deliver intelligence and interoperability to the ecosystem to fully connect every aspect of life. Why Wait?.https://bit.ly/1Gw9FCU **

FROM THE TRAIL - "Cruz launches southern offensive: The 2016 contender gets out of Washington and aims to remind his base just how conservative he is," by Katie Glueck in Daphne, Ala: "The usually unflappable Cruz, prone to delivering eloquent, if lengthy, soliloquies in interviews, stumbled in several major national appearances this week ... On Saturday, Cruz sought to show he was back in command. 'We are going to deport criminal illegal aliens, we are going to pass Kate's Law [requiring mandatory minimum sentencing for illegal immigrants who are deported and then return], we are going to end welfare benefits for those here illegally,' he said, bringing many in the audience gathered here at a civic center to their feet. ...

"Cruz's explanation of his rhetoric on legalization is that in 2013, he offered an amendment designed to kill the comprehensive immigration reform proposal that other senators, including Rubio, were working on, and stopping the pathway to citizenship provided in the measure was his primary focus. The intent to ultimately stop the bill has been corroborated by Cruz's friends and foes alike in the Senate, from [Sen. Jeff] Sessions [of Ala.] to Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat Cruz keeps trying to tie to Rubio.

"But Cruz ... has still found himself having to explain complicated procedural maneuvers, under fire from the Rubio campaign, the center-right press and the mainstream media over seemingly contradictory rhetoric. That comes even as right-wing talk radio has rallied to his side and Rubio has faced his own criticism over his more moderate record on the issue, which is widely seen as a vulnerability for him in the GOP primary." https://politi.co/1m1d87E

--"Cruz summons top fundraisers to Houston to chart final push," by CNN's Teddy Schleifer: "The top bundlers are headed to Cruz's hometown [today] for a two-day powwow ... The retreat in Houston, featuring a Christmas thank-you party, comes as Cruz is expected to post another strong fundraising quarter as he wins fresh looks from donors." https://cnn.it/1m1dkni

--"Bush set to get big New Hampshire endorsement [Beverly Bruce]," by CNN's Ashley Killough and Cassie Spodak: "'Beverly Bruce just said she was going to support me after the holidays,' he told his videographer as other reporters and cameras were present. ... Bruce was Mitt Romney's state finance co-chair in 2012 and remains close friends with the Romneys, and has a well connected network of activists and donors." https://cnn.it/1Yp9Ko3

--"Sanders camp suspends two more staffers over data breach," by Gabe Debenedetti https://politi.co/1Nwmz7R

--" Sanders passes Obama fundraising mark" -- Gabe: "Sanders has gotten more individual donations than any other presidential candidate ever through the campaign's off-year - topping ... Obama's mark of 2,209,636 donations through Dec. 31, 2011." https://politi.co/1J0PnGU

CLICKER -- "What you didn't see on TV: Behind the scenes of the Democratic debate": 12 picshttps://politi.co/1NESnoT

TOP DEBATE TWEETS:

--Jonah Goldberg @JonahNRO: "I'm kinda liking @GStephanopoulos & @jonkarl as Cotton McKnight and Pepper Brooks." https://bit.ly/22hzgen

--"14 key moments from the Democratic debate," by Politico's Daniel Strauss: "Bernie tells Clinton he's sorry. O'Malley hammers away on guns. And not surprisingly, Trump is mentioned." https://politi.co/1J0Mnu3

--@daveweigel: "Why won't Hillary say the words: Radical Jedi Extremists?"

--@ZekeJMiller: "Obama is not watching the debate, he just returned to his vacation home from a round of golf."

--@TheFix: "It's interesting that Hillary Clinton keeps going after Bernie in the debate. Suggests the Clinton folks are still sort of nervous. ... The big winner tonight is David Muir's hair. It is beautiful. And amazing. Beautifully amazing. Amazingly beautiful."

--@davidaxelrod: "Republicans say they're spoiling for a fight with @HillaryClinton on national security, but she seems utterly comfortable on this turf ... @HillaryClinton is debating @marcorubio long distance on advisability of ground troops to fight ISIS .... @HillaryClinton turning in very solid performance tonight. Soon HER folks are going to be complaining about obscure time slots for debates! ... In invoking his embrace of Muslim-Americans, @HillaryClinton did something no one on varsity GOP stage in Vegas did: praise George W. Bush. ... After Wall Street and Big Pharma, @sensanders trains his guns on big college football."

--@neeratanden: "I'm partial but Hillary is rocking it."

--Stuart Rothenberg @StuPolitics: "Clinton talks like a president. Sanders talks like an angry MSNBC viewer."

--@Snowden: "Sanders unexpectedly more credible on foreign policy than OM and Clinton, who repeat conventional wisdom that failed for a decade.".

SOCIAL - Per Twitter: Share of #DemDebate Twitter conversation: @HillaryClinton 44% ... @BernieSanders 44% ... @MartinOMalley 12%.

--Most-Tweeted moments: "1. Clinton signs-off with 'May the force be with you' ... 2. On corporate America, Clinton 'everyone should love me' and Sanders 'they won't love me.' ... 3. Clinton discusses encryption."

FACEBOOK: "Top social moment ... The three candidates criticize Donald Trump's positions on Muslims and offer their prescriptions to prevent terror attacks. ... Top social moment for Hillary[:] ... Clinton's comments on the minimum wage and free tuition. ... Top social moment for Bernie[:] ... Sanders' comments on the heroin epidemic in New Hampshire. Top social moment for O'Malley[:] remarks on comprehensive gun legislation. "

LATE-NIGHT BEST - "SNL" cold open, on last week's GOP debate: "Wolf Blitzer": "Let's go to the surging Ted Cruz. Senator, you said you'll relentlessly carpet-bomb ISIS. Is this a real strategy?"

"Cruz": "Well, Wolf, if I'm president, ISIS will hate me. And how do I know? Because everyone who knows me, hates me. Democrats hate me. Republicans hate me. I have what doctors call a punchable face. Politico actually did a poll and I was voted the candidate most people wanted to throw a beer at. So look out ISIS. I'm going to crash your party and just like every party I go to, I'm going to ruin it." ...

"Wolf": "Mr. Bush, go ahead and say out loud what you've been quietly muttering to yourself."

"Jeb": "Trump. This guy's the chaos candidate am I right? Chaos. Is he for real? No, man."

"Trump": "Jeb, you're a very nice man, but you're basically a little girl. Folks, this is true. I got hold of Jeb's birth certificate and full disclosure, his real name is Jebra." ...

"Wolf": "Senator [Rubio]: a few weeks ago, you were many people's pick as the most electable candidate. Tonightyou're in fourth place. Are you resonating with voters?"

"Rubio": "Wolf, let's remember one thing. I am by far, the most attractive person on this stage. I'm a hard seven, baby. I'm young, Cuban and let's face it, I'm the only one up here who you'd swipe right on. So why am I losing to this guy who's fast asleep [Carson]?"

"Wolf": "Before we go to commercial, we'll go to Jeb for one last chance to make an impression."

"Jeb": "Guys, listen. If we work together, we can stop Donald Trump. If you combine my numbers, with yours, yours, and yours, we'd almost win."

"Trump": "Yeah, no kidding; none of us are, genius." 6-min. video https://bit.ly/1k9TAvS

"SNL": HILLARY AND SARAH! Opens with Hillary (played by Kate McKinnon) singing to herself in the mirror at "The Clinton Residence, Christmas Eve."

"Hillary": "I'm dreaming of a White ... House. Merry Christmas, Hillary. Oh, in just eleven months, you're going to finally get your present. No one can stop you now. The Republicans are bozos, the DNC is sabotaging Bernie, I think you're going to sleep well tonight. ... Let's just get tucked into bed here all nice and cozy, for a night of productive dreaming." 

Then she wakes up to SNL Hillary from 2007/8 (played by Amy Poehler) appearing in her bedroom: "I'm here to warn you, on Christmas Eve 2007, I was cocky too and someone named Barack Obama stumbled out of a soup kitchen with a basketball and a cigarette and stole my life."

"Hillary" 2015: "I remember, I remember. But it's different this time. I'm running against Bernie 'never heard of him' Sanders."

"Hillary" 2007: "What, Bernie? We love Bernie. He's a great Senator."

"Hillary" 2015: "Bernie Sanders is a human Birkenstock. Mama's got this presidency in the bag, so let's pound to that. ..."

Then in comes Sarah Palin (played by Tina Fey): "Oh Jeez, looks like I went through time and space again." 

The Hillarys: "Hello Sarah." 

"Palin": "Well what the heck? I landed in the bedroom of a lesbian couple." 

The Hillarys: "We're not lesbians. We're Hillary Clintons." 

"Palin": "Oh yeah, we ran for president together. Oh you poor thing. I heard after you lost, you had to become a secretary." 

"Hillary" 2015: "Of State."

"Palin": "Oh God. That was a real fun election, I was paired up with that real cute John McCain fellow, may he rest in peace, I'm guessing." 6-min. video https://bit.ly/1Ih8jBc

BONUS GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman, filing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:

--"The First Person to Hack the iPhone Built a Self-Driving Car. In His Garage," by Bloomberg Businessweek's Ashlee Vance: "George Hotz is taking on Google and Tesla by himself [with an Acura]." https://bloom.bg/1T7QjJU

--"52 things I learned in 2015," by Tom Whitwell on Medium: "1. Every day, WhatsApp handles twice as many messages as the entire global SMS system - around 40bn messages ... 3. More than half of the world's feed crops will soon be eaten by Chinese pigs." https://bit.ly/1msOZXC

--"What the Führer means for Germans today" - The Economist: "Seventy years after Adolf Hitler's death, how Germans see him is changing." https://econ.st/1lYLF6B (h/t TheBrowser.com)

--"Has Europe Reached the Breaking Point?" by Jim Yardley, cover of today's N.Y. Times Magazine: "A refugee crisis, a Greek debt showdown, Russian aggression and terrorism in the streets. How 2015 has threatened to undo the European Union." https://nyti.ms/1O0bNs2

--"The Siege of Miami," by Elizabeth Kolbert in The New Yorker: "As temperatures climb, so, too, will sea levels." https://bit.ly/1QfTvp3

--"Survival of the Scruffiest," by Christopher Oldstone-Moore in The New Republic: "Charles Darwin and the evolutionary mystery of the beard." https://bit.ly/1If6TXS (h/t ALDaily.com)

--"Homo Spaciens: Our new life off Earth: Why Mars should be independent from Earth," by Rose Eveleth on BBC: "If we build a colony on Mars, should its citizens be their own masters? BBC Future considers the case for the Red Planet's declaration of independence."  https://bbc.in/1NuMHQC

--"Your Brain Is Hard-Wired to Love Trump," by Politico Magazine's Katelyn Fossett: "How our stone-age psychology explains our love for lies and demagoguery in modern politics." A Q&A with Rick Shenkman, author of "Political Animals: Why Our Stone Age Brains Get in the Way of Smart Politics" (out Jan. 5) https://politi.co/1TVFniq ... Pre-order Amazon $20.91 https://amzn.to/1JlxqO8

WEEKEND WEDDING: Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, former counsel at the RNC and NRCC, was married last night to Boyce Johnson, who's in the agricultural business, in front of family and friends at the Lafayette Building in downtown Little Rock. They met at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention in Dec. 2013. Pichttps://bit.ly/1MoQoDq

--SPOTTED: Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin (former congressman), Rep. French Hill, former Rep. Ed Bethune, state Supreme Court Justices Courtney Goodson, Karen Baker, Josephine Hart, Judd P. Deere.

CONGRATULATIONS to legal entrepreneurs Lynn and Stephen Glasser on their 50th anniversary. The maid of honor and best man from their wedding attended a party in Montclair, N.J., last night, along with about 70 other people. Susan Glasser, eldest of their four children, moderated. Her son, Theo, and others delivered tributes. 

BIRTHDAYS: DNAinfo's Murray Waas is 47 ... Susan Neely, president/CEO at the American Beverage Association ... AP's Mary Clare Jalonick ... Reid Kellam, son of Susan Kellam and Dick Keil ... Scott Feinberg, awards columnist at The Hollywood Reporter ... HuffPost's Jen Bendery ... Megan Nathan, associate at GBSM and an alum of AIPAC and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition ... Joshua New, policy analyst at ITIF's Center for Data Innovation (h/t Samantha Greene) ... Mandi Rogers Thorpe ... Bo Creason, Southern candidate fundraising director at the DCCC and a DNC alum ... 

... Henry Hanna ... Campbell Massie, senior PR manager at AT&T and a CTIA alum ... David Pollak, an OFA alum ... Tamer El-Ghobashy, a WSJ Middle East and North Africa Correspondent ... Donald Lathbury, comms director for Rep. John Garamendi ... Jordan Emont ... Jean Carnahan ... Megan Vilmain ... Bob McDaniel ... former Missouri Sen. Jean Carnahan ... former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue ... Michelle Brooks ... Bush 43 WH alum Marisa Etter ... Marilisa Palumbo ... Scott Rickard ... Kathy Albers ... Mary Pat Moore of Toledo ... Stephen Crockett ... Stephen Souza ... John Herr ... Jennifer J. Smith ... actor John Hillerman is 83 ... original Mouseketeer Tommy Cole ("The Mickey Mouse Club") is 74 ... psychic/illusionist Uri Geller is 69 ... producer Dick Wolf ("Law & Order") is 69 ... David Cook ("American Idol") is 33 ... Jonah Hill is 32 ... Bob Morley ("The 100") is 31 ... singer JoJo is 25 (h/ts AP)

DESSERT -- "The Beatles Set to Stream on Christmas Eve," by Billboard's Andrew Flanagan: "The Beatles ... one of the most persistent holdouts in the digital age of music listening -- are set to finally arrive on streaming services ... While Billboard has received conflicting reports on the timing of the Fab Four's arrival to streaming platforms, there's a strong indication that fans will be able to hear 'Hey Jude' on Thursday." https://bit.ly/1QxWcCD

** A message from Qualcomm: When will the future arrive? While the rest of the world wonders when, Qualcomm is at work developing cutting-edge wireless technologies today. We are the inventors, the restless innovators continually pushing forward. When Qualcomm connected the phone to the Internet, the phone became smart. When we connect billions more things, our lives will be even smarter. Why Wait?. https://bit.ly/1Gw9FCU ** 

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