White House open to Democratic outside groups in 2012  —  The White House is bracing for an onslaught of $500 million or more in spending by outside Republican groups opposed to President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election, prompting Obama advisers to give the green light to big Democratic donors …

Spencer Bachus: Sarah Palin cost GOP control of U.S. Senate  —  COLUMBIANA — Shelby County's congressman, U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., said former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin likely cost the Republican Party control of the U.S. Senate.

Olbermann Apologizes to Viewers, But Not to MSNBC  —  6:15 p.m. |  Update In an aggressive statement questioning the legitimacy of his two-day suspension from MSNBC, Keith Olbermann addressed his fans Monday night, saying that they were responsible for his scheduled return to the air on Tuesday …

Grief counseling after the wipeout  —  A staffer for a congressional Democrat who came up short on Tuesday reports that a team of about five people stopped by their offices this morning to talk about payroll, benefits, writing a résumé, and so forth, with staffers who are now job hunting.

Netanyahu faces embarrassment in U.S. over new Jerusalem building plan  —  Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee published details of program that will allow 930 new housing units to be built beyond the Green Line.  —  New embarrassment threatened to cast a cloud …

Interview with Hamish and Andy  —  University of Melbourne  —  QUESTION: Madam Secretary, thank you so much for joining us.  —  SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you for having me.  —  QUESTION: It's very exciting.  And we start with a gift.  —  SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, excellent.

Johnny Dollar takes Rachel Maddow to school  —  It's becoming clearer by the hour that the hallowed halls of MSNBC are in utter chaos.  Johnny Dollar provides further proof via the simple method of repeating their own words back to them:  —  You tell 'em, Keith!  Much more at Johnny Dollar's Place.

5th Circuit Rules That High School Cheerleader Is Required To Cheer For Her Alleged Rapist  —  Fifth Circuit Judge Priscilla Owen and former President George W. Bush  —  The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, one of the most right-wing courts in the country …

Challenger Wiggins pulls closer to Justice Sanders  —  Incumbent Justice Richard Sanders watched his lead over challenger Charlie Wiggins shrink in Monday's vote-counts for a contested seat on the state Supreme Court.  —  Meanwhile, in an e-mail headlined “Don't Let Wiggins Steal This Election …

Today's Power Play: GOP Sweetens its Offer to Manchin  —  ((Get politically powered up each day with exclusive analysis and content with Fox News' AEHQ iPhone app))  —  Early Intel — GOP Sweetens its Offer to Manchin  —  Republicans are making some big promises to try …

Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Faces Struggle in Congress  —  WASHINGTON — Prospects for Congress to authorize repeal of the “don't ask, don't tell” policy face new uncertainties as time runs out for the Senate to act and strong objections remain among Republicans and the most senior ranks of the military.

Palin's Dollar, Zoellick's Gold  —  An unlikely pair elevate the monetary policy debate.  —  It would be hard to find two more unlikely intellectual comrades than Robert Zoellick, the World Bank technocrat, and Sarah Palin, the populist conservative politician.

Fimian will concede defeat to Connolly in 11th district  —  This post has been updated to include a statement on Rep. Connolly's health.  —  Republican Keith Fimian will concede defeat Tuesday in the congressional race in Virginia's 11th district, paving the way for Rep. Gerald Connolly (D) to serve a second term in the seat.

Black Caucus mum on Tea Party Republican who wants to join  —  Rep.-elect Allen West (Fla.) said last week, “I'm gonna find out when they meet, and I will be a member.”  —  The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is staying silent about a Tea Party Republican's bid to join the group.

Darrell Issa plans hundreds of hearings  —  California Rep. Darrell Issa is already eyeing a massive expansion of oversight for next year, including hundreds of hearings; creating new subcommittees; and launching fresh investigations into the bank bailout, the stimulus and, potentially, health care reform.

Wife of terrorism convict pleads guilty; will have to leave U.S.  —  Alexandria, Virginia (CNN) — The Ugandan wife of an American-born man who pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists entered her own guilty plea on Monday.  —  Proscovia Kampire Nzabanita …

Rubio's party loyalty is clear: GOP not tea  —  Marco Rubio's winning Senate campaign message got early traction with tea party backers, but he appears to be firmly linked to the Republican Party leadership.  —  WASHINGTON — When a French TV station set out to understand the American phenomenon known …

Is Rand Paul Already Selling Out?  —  On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal ran this piece on senators-elect Rand Paul and Roy Blunt.  The piece is organized to contrast Blunt, who's been around for a long time, with first-timer Paul.  One is presented as being comfortable with compromises …

New GOP governors will affect health law  —  Republicans' consolidation of power in state capitols is likely to expand the number of states that employ a far more limited, free-market-oriented approach to implementing the nation's new health-care law than the robust regulatory model favored by its supporters.

Obama acknowledges decline of US dominance  —  MUMBAI: Implicitly acknowledging the decline of American dominance, Barack Obama on Sunday said the US was no longer in a position to “meet the rest of the world economically on our terms”.  —  Speaking at a town hall meeting in Mumbai, he said …

Rep. Alec Baldwin?  Maybe, if Bishop Loses  —  Actor Alec Baldwin may be mulling a run for Congress.  —  America's favorite fictional mogul could be looking to move his office from 30 Rock to Capitol Hill, MSNBC reported today.  —  The network is quoting sources close to actor Alec Baldwin …

Steele: 'They don't want me in this job'  —  Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said Monday that many party members still “don't want me in this job.”  —  Coming off a cycle in which the Republicans took control of the House with a whopping net gain of 60 seats …

GOP leadership creating new post for freshmen GOPers — may be occupied by Tea Partyer  —  Now this is interesting: With many wondering how the House Republican leadership will accommodate the newly elected House GOPers who are soon to arrive in Washington, many of whom are Tea Party-backed …

Obama's speech, his teleprompter, the reaction  —  He thrilled them by calling for India to have a permanent seat on an expanded U.N. Security Council.  He reassured them by demanding that Pakistan bring those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks to justice.  He flattered them by recalling India's

Now It's All About Pelosi  —  Republicans are gleeful.  Sober Democrats are horrified.  But many liberal columnists — the very ones who cheered on ObamaCare, ignored and disparaged the Tea Party, and rooted for Obama in 2008 — are rushing to defend her.  It's all about Nancy Pelosi.