Woodward Book Says Afghanistan Divided White House  —  WASHINGTON — Some of the critical players in President Obama's national security team doubt his strategy in Afghanistan will succeed and have spent much of the last 20 months quarreling with one another over policy, personalities and turf, according to a new book.

Paladino Trails Cuomo By 6 Points In New York Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Small Tea Party Movement Backs Republican 4-1  —  Republican Carl Paladino, aided by a 4 -1 margin among Tea Partiers, trails New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic candidate for Governor …

CONFIRMED: Sen. Saxby Chambliss Admits “All Faggots Must Die” Comment Came From His Atlanta Headquarters  —  I've just gotten off the phone with Atlanta Journal-Constitution political writer Jim Galloway who says that Sen. Saxby Chambliss has confirmed that the “All faggots must die” …

Three Reasons You'll Miss Larry Summers  —  The post-election departure of Larry Summers is now official and plenty of progressives seem happy about it.  As the argument goes, Summers has opposed liberals on net neutrality and Wall Street reform, while muffling would-be advisers trying …

O'Donnell: Coons has made ‘some very anti-American statements’  —  Tea Party-backed Christine O'Donnell (R) took aim at New Castle County Executive Chris Coons (D) Tuesday night during an appearance on Fox News.  —  O'Donnell referenced an article Coons wrote in college in which he referred to himself as “a bearded Marxist.”

Harry Reid's botched battles  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hoped the defense policy bill would help make a final pre-election argument for Democrats while energizing the base on gay rights and immigration.  —  But what he got was a failed vote and a mix of frustration and disappointment from the people he was trying to help.

Who You Gonna Believe?  —  I went through my mail today, and got the usual batch of letters declaring that I'm wrong about everything, and that we should do the opposite of anything I say.  Hey, it's a free country.  —  But I found myself wondering, as I often do, about the determination …

THE DRIVE TO BREAK FROM FORCED NEUTRALITY.... Peter Goodman, who's been a rising star at the New York Times, covering the economy and business news, agreed this week to leave the paper and sign on with the Huffington Post.  Goodman's move, a coup for the online outlet, is a reminder …

Murkowski punished over defiance; Burr to get top energy slot  —  Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.) is expected to take over as senior Republican on the Senate Energy panel after Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) lost the position Tuesday.  —  Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) was behind the switch.

Obama: “Mexicans” Were Here “Long Before America Was Even An Idea”  —  “Long before America was even an idea, this land of plenty was home to many peoples.  The British and French, the Dutch and Spanish, to Mexicans, to countless Indian tribes.  We all shared the same land.”

Bill Clinton: Russian immigrants and settlers obstacles to Mideast peace  —  Russian immigrants to Israel have emerged as a central obstacle to achieving a Middle East peace deal, according to former President Bill Clinton.  He voiced fears that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) …

Megachurch pastor accused of sexual coercion  —  (CNN) — Two Georgia men have filed suit claiming that prominent Atlanta pastor Eddie Long coerced them into sex.  —  The suits, filed Tuesday in DeKalb County, Georgia, allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop …

Rep. Jackson: I did nothing wrong but ‘deeply sorry’ over ‘social acquaintance’  —  Chicago congressman vows to remain in office in wake of Sun-Times report regarding fund-raiser  —  U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said Tuesday he is “deeply sorry” for having “disappointed some supporters” …

Ally Financial legal issue with foreclosures may affect other mortgage companies  —  Some of the nation's largest mortgage companies used a single document processor who said he signed off on foreclosures without having read the paperwork - an admission that may open the door for homeowners across …

Why Generic Ballots May Underestimate Democrats  —  In the last couple of posts on our House forecasts, I've noted that the generic congressional ballot tends to show worse results for Democrats than other indicators like polls of individual House races.  The generic ballot, as of last week …