Report: Olbermann Was Suspended For Refusing To Apologize On Camera  —  Politico's Mike Allen added another layer of speculation to Keith Olbermann's sudden and indefinite suspension on Friday: Olbermann was suspended for refusing to apologize on air.  From Playbook:

Our Banana Republic  —  In my reporting, I regularly travel to banana republics notorious for their inequality.  In some of these plutocracies, the richest 1 percent of the population gobbles up 20 percent of the national pie.  —  But guess what?  You no longer need to travel to distant …

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 …

Cantor: Dems 'just didn't get the message' if Pelosi is made leader  —  House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Sunday that Democrats “just didn't get the message from the voters this election” if they make Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) their next majority leader.

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.

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 …

To Hell With the Press  —  Rick Perry won an unprecedented third term as Texas governor while actively shunning the press corps.  Mark McKinnon on the GOP's trendy tactic—and how newspapers are fighting back.  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry beat Democratic challenger Bill White …

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 …

Drafting Mitch  —  The Mitch Daniels draft movement has begun.  —  I spoke this morning to John McKay, a Chicago-area businessman who runs Switch2Mitch.org, which has launched a petition drive to get the Indiana governor into the race for president.  —  “We need him more than any other person,” said McKay.

Texas Considers Medicaid Withdrawal  —  Some Republican lawmakers — still reveling in Tuesday's statewide election sweep — are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state's estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program.

Is your laptop cooking your testicles?  —  (Reuters Health) - Whoever invented the ‘laptop’ probably didn't worry too much about male reproductive health.  —  Turns out, unsurprisingly, that sitting with a computer on your lap will crank up the temperature of your nether regions, which could affect sperm quality.

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.

Sunday Reflection: Republicans should seek clarity by listening to voters  —  With the election over, Republicans are arguing about whether they should address Democrats via compromise, or confrontation.  Both have their places, but I have a different suggestion.  —  Clarity.

Exclusive: Officials Worried President Obama May Have to Cancel Indonesia Trip Due to Indonesian Volcano  —  ABC News: Ann Compton reports:  —  ABC News has learned that because of the dangerous clouds of ash spewing from an Indonesian volcano, 48 hours before Air Force One is due to touch …

The Facebook Skeletons Come Out  —  AMONG the many firsts in the 2010 elections, it is safe to assume that the following words had never before been uttered about a future member of Congress, “This is a candidate who is probably best known for getting drunk and having sex on television.”

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.

Republicans won the midterm elections.  Now can they survive?  —  The United States has just witnessed its third straight rubber band election.  Once again, Americans had their patience stretched, fired a Washington run amok and now want their new leaders to snap back to attention.