Bush, Out of Office, Could Oppose Inquiries  —  WASHINGTON — When a Congressional committee subpoenaed Harry S. Truman in 1953, nearly a year after he left office, he made a startling claim: Even though he was no longer president, the Constitution still empowered him to block subpoenas.

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.

Palin decries ‘extreme partisanship’  —  MIAMI, Florida (CNN) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday argued that she and her fellow Republican governors were ready to put aside “extreme partisanship” and act if Washington fails to provide the leadership America needs.

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.

Begich Leads Stevens by 814 Votes in Alaska U.S. Senate Race  —  Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) — Democratic challenger Mark Begich leads by 814 votes in his bid to oust incumbent Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, according to the state's elections division.  —  Alaska is still counting absentee ballots from the Nov. 4 election.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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?

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Catholic Church cuts off ACORN funding  —  (CNN) — The Roman Catholic Church is cutting off funds to the community organizing group ACORN, citing complaints over its voter registration drives in the November 4 election as part of the reason.  —  The Catholic Campaign for Human Development froze …