Obama plans combative turn  —  President Barack Obama plans a combative response if, as White House aides fear, Democrats lose Tuesday's special Senate election in Massachusetts, close advisers say.  —  “This is not a moment that causes the president or anybody who works for him to express any doubt …

After the Massachusetts special election  —  I don't know who will win today's special election in Massachusetts.  But I do know what should happen — and what can happen — after the votes are counted and the winner is seated: Democrats should pass health-care reform.

FBI broke law for years in phone record searches  —  The FBI illegally collected more than 2,000 U.S. telephone call records between 2002 and 2006 by invoking terrorism emergencies that did not exist or simply persuading phone companies to provide records, according to internal bureau memos and interviews.

Joe Scarborough Slams ‘Reckless’ Olbermann for Unhinged Personal Attacks on Scott Brown!  —  Here is what the infamous, deplorable Keith Olbermann spewed tonight (via The Right Scoop):  —  Moments later, in a rare example of criticism from his own colleagues, his diatribe was blasted by MSNBC's Joe Scarborough:

Poll: Most Don't Want Sarah Palin to Run for President  —  Posted by Kevin Hechtkopf A new CBS News poll finds that a large majority of Americans say they do not want former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to run for president.  —  Specifically, 71 percent say they do not want the former …

US accused of ‘occupying’ Haiti as troops flood in  —  France accused the US of “occupying” Haiti on Monday as thousands of American troops flooded into the country to take charge of aid efforts and security.  —  The French minister in charge of humanitarian relief called on the UN to …

A Looming Landslide For Brown  —  Democrats can stop hoping at this point.  —  I can see no alternative scenario but a huge - staggeringly huge - victory for the FNC/RNC machine tomorrow.  They crafted a strategy of total oppositionism to anything Obama proposed a year ago.

VIDEO: Why is this woman handing out blank absentee ballots?  —  These appear to be blank absentee ballots being handed out in Lawrence, MA.  Developing....

Abercrombie in slight lead for governor  —  U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is slightly ahead of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the race for governor, according to a new survey of registered voters.  —  The poll taken by telephone Jan. 8-12 among 800 registered voters across the state has a margin …

Obama's Discontents  —  Bernard Avishai on the election in Massachusetts: … The frustration on the left with Obama — and with healthcare reform specifically — was almost inevitable.  During the campaign, a lot of people chose to see in him what they wanted to see …

Hinkle: TORTURE: Where's the Conservative Skepticism?  —  Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed attempt to blow up a jetliner over Detroit on Christmas Day has resurrected the debate over torture.  A Rasmussen Poll at year's end found a solid majority of Americans favor using …