Stinging Talk About Obama?  Never Mind Now  —  That whole anti-American, friend-to-the-terrorists thing about President-elect Barack Obama?  Never mind.  —  Just a few weeks ago, at the height of the campaign, Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota told Chris Matthews of MSNBC that …

Palin and Africa, Etc.  —  I talked to Steve Biegun, the former Bush NSC aid who briefed Sarah Palin on foreign policy, and he considers the leaks against her on the international stuff “absurd.”  —  He says there's no way she didn't know Africa was a continent, and whoever is saying she didn't must be distorting “a fumble of words.”

McCain Campaign Autopsy  —  Chief strategist Steve Schmidt talks about the moment—back in September—when he knew McCain was doomed.  Plus, his surprising view on gay marriage, and more scoop on leaks.  —  Reached on a long-planned vacation outside the country, former McCain campaign chief …

Coleman campaign requests halt of absentee ballot count  —  Republican Sen. Norm Coleman sought an injunction to stop the opening and counting of 32 absentee ballots in Minneapolis, according to a copy of the court documents filed today provided to the Pioneer Press by Democrat Al Franken's campaign.

Real Time: The Hard Core Republican Base Is Like A Stalker-Rejection Just Makes Them Crazier  —  From Real Time Nov. 7, 2008.  New Rules.

An Obama Tilt in Campaign Coverage  —  The Post provided a lot of good campaign coverage, but readers have been consistently critical of the lack of probing issues coverage and what they saw as a tilt toward Democrat Barack Obama.  My surveys, which ended on Election Day, show that they are right on both counts.

‘Do What You Got Elected to Do’  —  The incoming chief of staff says expect a pragmatic White House.  —  Detroit  —  In Rahm Emanuel's telling, the Democratic victories on Tuesday were a continuum of what began in the 2006 midterm elections, when his party won majorities in the House and the Senate for the first time in 12 years.

Is reported here: A McCain campaign postmortem.  —  Las Vegas As she dealt one losing hand after another at Mandalay Bay's $10 blackjack tables early Wednesday evening, Trisha, a chatty dealer from Bloomington, Minnesota, changed the subject from cards to Barack Obama.

The Saturday Cartoons  —  It's a big day for the Saturday Cartoons... Our historic week and the election of President-elect Obama — love that new title — has made our cartoonist friends so prolific this week that I'm running more 'toons than I ever have.  —  In addition, I am delighted …

Memo to the POTUS-elect  —  Congratulations, Senator Obama.  You ran a good campaign, and you racked up an historic victory.  As you get ready for your new responsibilities, let me suggest four ways for you to become a reliable steward of the economy:  —  Listen to your economists.

Back Home, Palin Finds a New Landscape  —  ANCHORAGE — Gov. Sarah Palin has returned to Alaska fully recast and amplified.  —  Adored by many national conservatives, Ms. Palin is a prospect for a presidential run in 2012, supporters say.  Caricatured by opponents, she is a candidate for political oblivion, say others.

C&L Movie Review: Che by Steven Soderbergh  —  Che … There is a silent fragment of a scene in Guerrilla, the second part of Steven Soderbergh's epic cinematic experience, Che that is very telling.  Che Guevara, portrayed brilliantly by Benicio Del Toro, is trying to motivate a group …

Senate runoff a test for Obama  —  President-elect Barack Obama may risk some of his newly earned political capital in Georgia, where a Dec. 2 Senate runoff could move Democrats a step closer toward a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority in the upper chamber.  —  The race is between Republican …

Obama Positioned to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions  —  Stem Cell, Climate Rules Among Targets of President-Elect's Team  —  Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone …

2012 SPECULATION?  ALREADY?.... As far as I can tell, there was very little positioning among Republicans for the next presidential race for about 48 hours after Barack Obama became the president-elect.  But with only 1,460 or so shopping days until Election Day 2012, that apparently didn't last long.

Take a Bow, America  —  The markets are battered and job losses are skyrocketing, but even in the midst of a national economic crisis, we should not lose sight of the profound significance of this week and what it tells us about the continuing promise of America.