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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Obama to use teleprompter for Hindi speech  —  Namaste India!  In all likelihood that will be silver-tongued Barack Obama's opening line when he addresses the Indian parliament next week.  But to help him pronounce Hindi words correctly will be a teleprompter which the US president uses ever so often for his hypnotising speeches.