Caroline Kennedy to Seek Clinton's Senate Seat  —  Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided to pursue the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.  The decision came after a series of deeply personal …

‘Shoedenfreude’ and Shame: Reaction From Around Iraq  —  Hitting someone with a shoe is a strong insult in Iraq.  It means the person is as low as the dirt underneath the sole of a shoe, and the actions of Muntader al-Zaidi, a correspondent for an independent Iraqi television station …

Salazar poised to head Interior  —  Colorado's senior senator is said to be a leading contender for a Cabinet post that is vital to Western issues.  —  U.S. Senator Ken Salazar answers questions during a press conference in March.  (Special to the Post |  William Woody)

Biden TIME  —  Outgoing newsmag bureau chief Jay Carney to be assistant to the vice president and his director of communications.

Sarah Palin: Blagojevich's nerve?  —  Sarah Palin, Republican governor of Alaska, says she has wondered how long Rod Blagojevich, Democratic governor of Illinois, thought he might “get away with” an alleged scheme to sell the Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama of Illinois.

Review shows no contact with Blago  —  Below is a statement from Obama Transition Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer:  —  “At the direction of the president-elect, a review of Transition staff contacts with Governor Blagojevich and his office has been conducted and completed and is ready for release.

Cheney: Obama ‘not likely to cede authority’  —  Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that President-elect Barack Obama will “appreciate” the expansions of executive power achieved during the Bush administration and is unlikely to cede authority back to Congress.

Obama Picks Arne Duncan for Education Post  —  President-elect Barack Obama will name Arne Duncan, the superintendent of schools in Chicago, to be his Secretary of Education, a senior Democratic official and a second person close to the decision said.  —  Mr. Duncan is a Harvard graduate whose friendship …

On Making Mitch McConnell Wet His Pants  —  User B.R. writes in: … B.R. raises several interesting points, but they ultimately point back to one thing: Harry Reid has been exceptionally ineffective as the Democrats' majority leader.  —  The number of cloture votes skyrocketed …

Senate Democrats May Return Thousands In Madoff Contributions  —  Bernard Madoff built a major investment shop largely on smoke and mirrors — convincing investors that his fund was a safe and consistent return when it was mostly a house of cards.  —  And yet the relationship between Bernard …

PATERSON IN A BLIND RAGE OVER ‘SNL’ SKIT  —  Gov. Paterson didn't see the humor in a “Saturday Night Live” bit that mocked his blindness.  —  During the “Weekend Update” segment of NBC's irreverent comedy show, actor Fred Armisen played Paterson, imitating his wandering eye, gravelly voice and blunt, self-effacing demeanor.

PRESIDENT |  VICE PRESIDENT |  FIRST LADY |  MRS. CHENEY |  NEWS  —  Thank you for joining us for “A Red, White and Blue Christmas” at the White House!  —  This year's theme celebrates the patriotic spirit that unites us as Americans.  During this hopeful season we are reminded …

Accelerant poured around Palin's church  —  WASILLA - Whoever torched Gov. Sarah Palin's home church tried to start fires in several places around the building, the federal agency assisting in the investigation said Monday.  —  Accelerants were found in multiple locations on the outside …

Ask Dr. Helen: How Can I Keep My Students From Becoming Little Marxists?  —  It's not easy to keep young minds open to a variety of political views.  —  Scott from North Carolina is concerned with the radical views of his students: … Dear Scott:  —  You are correct to be concerned.

Urgent, just reported: Al-Zaidi in U.S. run Camp Cropper prison  —  Iraqi TV al-Sharqiya just reported on the news that AL-Zaidi is transferred to Camp Cropper prison [the Airport prison, managed by the American forces].  —  The TV Channel announced that Al-Zaidi is in a difficult condition …