Obama Team Faces Major Task in Justice Dept. Overhaul  —  Goal Is to Restore Confidence in Law Enforcement Actions  —  As a transition team for the Obama administration begins work on a Justice Department overhaul, the key question is where to begin.  —  Political considerations affected every crevice …

Facing Obama, Iran Suddenly Hedges on Talks  —  Since 2006, Iran's leaders have called for direct, unconditional talks with the United States to resolve international concerns over their nuclear program.  But as an American administration open to such negotiations prepares to take power …

GOP to file suit to undo McCain rules  —  McCain-Feingold limits hurt presidential efforts  —  The Republican Party will file federal lawsuits Thursday seeking to overthrow the McCain-Feingold federal campaign finance regulations, Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M.

No Clamoring for Palin to Become a National Political Figure  —  But she enjoys support of three-quarters of Republicans  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Just 45% of Americans would like to see Sarah Palin become a major national political figure for many years to come, while a slight majority of 52% say they would not.

Klain accepts job as Biden chief of staff  —  Ronald A. Klain, former chief of staff and counselor to Vice President Al Gore, has accepted an offer to be chief of staff to Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Democratic officials said.  —  The position will put Klain, a seasoned political hand, at the heart of West Wing activity.

MSNBC retracts false Palin story; others duped  —  NEW YORK - MSNBC was the victim of a hoax when it reported that an adviser to John McCain had identified himself as the source of an embarrassing story about former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the network said Wednesday.

EDGING TOWARD SIXTY  —  As of early this morning, Democrat Mike Begich has taken a 814-vote lead over Ted Stevens in Alaska.  Since votes have been swinging inexorably toward Begich ever since they started counting absentee ballots, I assume this means he will win the seat.

History Favors Republicans in 2010  —  The 2008 election numbers are not as stark as the results.  —  Political races are about candidates and issues.  But election results, in the end, are about numbers.  So now that the dust is settling on the 2008 presidential race, what do the numbers tell us?

An awkward press conference  —  After much anticipation from a room full of reporters and other curiosity-seekers, Sarah Palin this morning took four questions from reporters in a press conference that lasted 11 minutes.  —  Actually, taking away Texas Gov. Rick Perry's opening statement, the session lasted under 10 minutes.

For a Washington Job, Be Prepared to Tell All  —  WASHINGTON — Want a top job in the Obama administration?  Only pack rats need apply, preferably those not packing controversy.  —  A seven-page questionnaire being sent by the office of President-elect Barack Obama to those seeking cabinet …

8,000 Beduin stake their claim as the lost tribe of Barack Obama  —  A sheikh in Galilee says he has evidence that he and his family are linked by blood to the new President  —  He has a host of relatives in exotic locations from Hawaii to Kenya, and during his run for the American presidency …

Gingrich says GOP is outmatched  —  How bad off is the Republican Party right now?  Ask Newt Gingrich.  —  “The Republican Party right now is like a midsize college team trying to play in the Superbowl,” Gingrich told me Wednesday.  “It is pretty hard to say our losses were because of John McCain's campaign.

After Taking Some Shots, She Fires Back  —  Palin Aims at Detractors In Remaking Her Image  —  Sarah Palin is fighting back against the “jerks.”  —  Cooking moose chili and slicing sandwiches for Matt Lauer and Greta Van Susteren, chatting up Larry King and Wolf Blitzer …

Calif. Speaker's solution for state deficit: U.S. taxpayers chip in billions  —  Not that many people outside of California care, but according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state faces a nearly $25 billion budget deficit.  —  As the rich man that he is, the former movie star favors …

Tolerance fails T-shirt test  —  Catherine Vogt, 14, conducted an experiment in political tolerance at her Oak Park middle school and learned some valuable lessons.  (Tribune photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo / November 12, 2008)  —  As the media keeps gushing on about how America has finally adopted tolerance …

Washington's $5 Trillion Tab  —  Fighting the financial crisis has put the U.S. on the hook for some $5 trillion a report says.  So far.  —  For all the fury over Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's $700 billion emergency economic relief fund, it seems downright puny when compared …

Failure of auto industry could set off catastrophe  —  Advocates: Collapse of US auto industry could set off catastrophic chain reaction  —  DETROIT (AP) — Advocates for the nation's automakers are warning that the collapse of the Big Three — or even just General Motors …

Royal Navy in firefight with Somali pirates  —  Michael Evans, Defence Editor and Rob Crilly  —  Pirates caught redhanded by one of Her Majesty's warships after trying to hijack a cargo ship off Somalia made the grave mistake of opening fire on two Royal Navy assault craft packed with commandos armed with machineguns and SA80 rifles.

Bankruptcy for GM  —  What would it mean to have GM go bankrupt?  A change in ownership and a renegotiation of contracts.  —  The factories, computers, office space, intellectual property and so forth that are now owned by GM would not disappear; they would basically become the property of GM's creditors.

Theater Director Resigns Amid Gay-Rights Ire  —  SACRAMENTO — The artistic director of the California Musical Theater, a major nonprofit producing company here in the state's capital, resigned on Wednesday in the face of growing outrage over his support for a ballot measure this month that outlawed same-sex marriage in California.

7-Year-Old Political Blogger Gets Obama Thank You Letter  —  Edison Park 2nd grader supported President-elect  —  Watch out Politico and First Read.  Competition is on the horizon, albeit a distant one.  —  Stanislaw “Stas” Gunkel may soon be a big name in the political blogosphere.