‘60 MINUTES’: OBAMA OPEN TO TAX DEAL WITH BOEHNER — Bush's book praises Obama — 43 will be 24-7 — Hoyer likely to hold off Clyburn — FALL BACK: you get an extra hour of sleep — Woodhouse b'day  —  BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Network sources tell Playbook that Keith Olbermann was suspended …

Cantor Refuses To Take Government Shutdown Or Default On U.S. Debt Off The Table  —  In an interview with Fox News Sunday this morning, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the #2 Republican in the House, threatened to take the nation's economy hostage if President Obama does not comply with House GOPers' as yet undefined demands.

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.

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. to Fight Health Law With Purse Strings  —  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 …

Cover Story: Approval Bump?  —  The cover of the November 15, 2010, issue of the magazine is titled “Bumped,” by Barry Blitt.  Obama is in the Oval Office with John Boehner, the Republican from Ohio expected to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.  Boehner is offering his fist, while Obama extends his hand for a shake.

Obama blames economy for losses, says he gets ‘discouraged’ but is resilient  —  President Obama blamed a sluggish economy for heavy Democratic electoral losses on Sunday's “60 Minutes.”  —  “I think first and foremost, [the election] was a referendum on the economy.

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.”

Crist willing to consider Jim Morrison pardon before leaving office  —  In his last two months in office, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is considering a December surprise: A posthumous pardon for Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, for indecent exposure charges after an infamous 1969 Miami concert.

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 …

A Fresh Slate at the Pentagon for Obama  —  WASHINGTON — With critical decisions ahead on the war in Afghanistan, President Obama is about to receive an unusual opportunity to reshape the Pentagon's leadership, naming a new defense secretary as well as several top generals and admirals in the next several months.

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.

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 …