The Honeymoon Is Over  —  After five days of giddiness, Democrats express dismay that their new House leader has thrown herself into the fight to become her Number 2, creating a potentially lose-lose situation where she could either be defeated in her first public contest since the election, or brand herself as a dove.

RWN's Mark Steyn Interview #3  —  John Hawkins: Give people who haven't read your book yet a quick description of what you think Europe is going to look like in, let's say, 20 years because of declining birth rates, the enormous social benefits they pay out, and the enormous number …

Post-Thumpin' Politics  —  The "thumpin'" that the Republican Party received last week will make profound changes in policymaking in Washington and in presidential politics.  On the policy side, we have already seen something in the nature of parliamentary government: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld lacked …

Fla. Senator Mel Martinez to Chair RNC  —  Sen. Mel Martinez, the first-term lawmaker who previously served in President Bush's Cabinet, will assume the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, GOP officials said Monday.  —  Martinez, 60, will replace current chairman Ken Mehlman …

California man arrested for mail threats to celebs  —Text+WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A California man suspected of mailing threatening letters containing a suspicious white powder to celebrities and U.S. politicians has been arrested and could face federal charges on Monday, the FBI said.

Stupid party decides  —  WASHINGTON — The depleted House Republican caucus, a minority in the next Congress, convenes at 8 a.m. in the Capitol Friday on the brink of committing an act of supreme irrationality.  The House members blame their leadership for tasting the bitter dregs of defeat.

Bush's post-election approval hovers near lowest of presidency  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush's job approval ratings have slumped in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup poll, with the president's rating hovering near the lowest of his tenure.  —  In the poll, taken Thursday through Sunday …

A True Blue Libertarian  —  Stan Jones, the Also-Ran Who Changed the Hue of Politics  —  BOZEMAN, Mont. — Stan Jones, a Montana libertarian widely known for his peculiar blue skin, can arguably be said to have recast the political complexion of the U.S. Senate, turning it from Republican red to the same color as his face.

The House that Rahm Built  —  Rahm Emanuel, Chicago's profane, ruthless, savvy operative, remade the Democrats in his image—and helped the party overcome 12 years of humiliation  —  Rahm Emanuel was seething.  —  He was hurtling down an asphalt road in upstate New York on the 47th trip …

For Conservatives, It's Back to Basics  —  THE morning after the Republican drubbing in the midterm elections, Ken Mehlman, chairman of the party, headed to the weekly coalition meeting where limited government conservatives, Christian traditionalists and gun-rights groups gathered to plot strategy.

China sub secretly stalked U.S. fleet  —  A Chinese submarine stalked a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group in the Pacific last month and surfaced within firing range of its torpedoes and missiles before being detected, The Washington Times has learned.  —  The surprise encounter highlights …

Democrats: Identify pork sponsors  —  WASHINGTON — Democrats aim to open the next Congress in January with a new rule that identifies lawmakers who use legislative "earmarks" to help special interests — a change Republicans promised but didn't implement.  —  House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi …

Olbermann taps a well of discontent as the anti-O'Reilly  —  Keith Olbermann just needed to find his voice.  He'd been a droll sportscaster, a serious news anchor and a bickering critic of Fox News host Bill O'Reilly.  But none of those personas really clicked.  —  Then he found one.

The rise of the Mommy Party  —  Pelosi's at the helm, Hillary's in the wings and - for now - Bush is in the doghouse  —  With Democrats seizing control of the House and Senate, a debate has started over how significant their victory was.  Does it potentially mark a generational power shift?

Midterm Election Leaves Political Landscape Blurry  —  As Both Parties Face Unresolved Questions and Internal Disputes, the 2008 Campaign Looks to Be a Crucial One  —  Rarely has an election result been delivered with such force and clarity, and still left so many unanswered questions in its wake, as that of the 2006 midterm campaign.

The Prodigal Returns  —  Supporting Cast: Bush 41's national-security team, in 1991.  From far left, Scowcroft, Gates, Cheney, Quayle, Baker, Bush and Powell.  —  George Herbert Walker Bush is a proud father; tears easily come to his eyes when he thinks of his children, all of them …

The Case for Primaries  —  Mark Schmitt notes a few instances of districts featuring vulnerable Republicans where the "wrong" Democratic candidate prevailed in the primaries against an establishment-backed moderate, only to have the establishment write the seat off (at least temporarily), and then the Democrats won the seat anyway.