Assessing midterm losses, Democrats ask whether Obama's White House fully grasped voters' fears  —  President Obama's failure to channel the anxieties of ordinary voters has shaken the faith that many Democrats once had in his political gifts and his team's political skill.

G.O.P. Plans to Use Purse Strings to Fight Health Law  —  WASHINGTON — As they seek to make good on their campaign promise to roll back President Obama's health care overhaul, the incoming Republican leaders in the House say they intend to use their new muscle to cut off money for the law …

Would we be better off under a President Hillary Clinton?  —  As I sat in the East Room last week watching a forlorn President Obama account for his shellacking, I listened with concern as he described the presidency as a “growth process” and suggested that the midterm setback was somehow inevitable.

Barack Obama, Phone Home  —  AFTER his “shellacking,” President Obama had to do something.  But who had the bright idea of scheduling his visit to India for right after this election?  The Democrats' failure to create jobs was at the heart of the shellacking.

While Warning About Fat, U.S. Pushes Cheese Sales  —  Domino's Pizza was hurting early last year.  Domestic sales had fallen, and a survey of big pizza chain customers left the company tied for the worst tasting pies.  —  Then help arrived from an organization called Dairy Management.

John Boehner and the Politics of Crying  —  WASHINGTON — A presumptive new speaker of the House; so much to consider.  Where will John Boehner stand on energy policy?  Will he be able to manage Michele Bachmann?  And how often will he weep?  —  Much hay has been made over Mr. Boehner …

US senator sees ‘confrontation’ with China, war with Iran  —  HALIFAX, Canada — The United States faces a possible war with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions and a “period of confrontation” with China over its currency, a top US lawmaker warned Saturday.  —  Republican Senator Lindsey Graham …

Estate Tax Issue Offers Quick Test for Congress  —  AFTER their election victory on Tuesday, Republican leaders in the House promised progress on many fronts, including a turn toward more fiscal discipline and less economic uncertainty.  —  They have a chance to start work on these goals almost immediately …

West says racism allegations against Tea Party by liberals didn't work  —  Florida's first black Republican congressman credited the Tea Party with standing up against allegations of racism from the left in supporting his successful candidacy.  —  “So I think that the …

Lawrence O'Donnell vehemently denies his own words  —  On Friday morning, I had a somewhat contentious discussion on Morning Joe with MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell regarding the criticism I wrote of his election-night comments.  Salon posted the video last night — it's here for those who haven't seen it …

Mark Shields: Palin Quitting As Governor Is Like Kennedy's Chappaquiddick  —  PBS's Mark Shields on Friday said Sarah Palin's decision to resign as the governor of Alaska is “like Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick.”  —  This astonishingly came moments after he called Nancy Pelosi …

Ofsted praises Islamic schools which oppose Western lifestyle  —  Ofsted and the Charity Commission are today accused of “whitewashing” hardline Islamic schools which are helping to radicalise a new generation of young British Muslims.  —  An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has established …

Exporting Our Way to Stability  —  AS the United States recovers from this recession, the biggest mistake we could make would be to rebuild our economy on the same pile of debt or the paper profits of financial speculation.  We need to rebuild on a new, stronger foundation for economic growth.

The State-Level Tsunami  —  Was the 2010 midterm election a Republican tsunami?  Although pundits waffle because a few Senate races were not won, the clearest proof of a Republican tsunami is found in state legislative elections.  On November 2, 2010, Republicans and Democrats vied for seats in 87 state legislative chambers.