A New Leader for the Democrats  —  Nancy Pelosi has been an extremely effective speaker of the House for four years, shepherding hundreds of important bills toward passage and withstanding solid Republican opposition.  Her work in passing health care reform and strong ethics oversight achieved …

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.

President Obama isolated ahead of 2012  —  President Barack Obama has performed his act of contrition.  Now comes the hard part, according to Democrats around the country: reckoning with the simple fact that he's isolated himself from virtually every group that matters in American politics.

Suspended Keith Olbermann Demanded MSNBC Apology, Will Return Tuesday  —  It might have been Keith Olbermann who got suspended from MSNBC after breaking company rules regarding making contributions to political candidates, but now sources tell me it's Keith himself whose demands have been met …

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 …

I Am a Blogger No Longer  —  This is my final blog post for The Atlantic.  Five years ago, as a way to boost the competitive metabolism of The Hotline, Chuck Todd hired me away from ABC News to create “Hotline On Call.”  I was to be the first political reporter working for a mainstream news …

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 …

Palin to Bernanke: ‘Cease and Desist’  —  As President Obama prepares for the G20 summit in South Korea this week, Sarah Palin is challenging the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, which will likely be a key issue at the talks.  On Monday, in a keynote address at a trade-association convention in Phoenix …

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.

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.

The uncalled House races: GOP leads in five of nine  —  There are nine House races that have still not yet been called, and a few are almost certainly headed for recounts.  All the seats are currently held by Democrats.  Republicans lead in five.  The GOP made historic gains of 60 seats …

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.

Criminal barbering?  Raids at Orange County shops lead to arrests, raise questions  —  Customers watch a movie and collegiate football game at Strictly Skillz Barbershop in Pine Hills, on Saturday, October 9, 2010.  In the African-American community, beauty and barbershops are a cornerstone …

Standing For Nothing.  —  The Wall Street Journal reports Democrats are ready to cave on DADT in the lame duck: … Look, if Democrats can't repeal a policy more than two thirds of the American people, including a majority of conservatives want gone then they can't expect people to vote for them.

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

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 …

What if states ditch Medicaid?  —  The Medicaid expansion was meant to be one of the hallmark accomplishments of health-care reform.  The Affordable Care Act will expand the program rapidly by subsidizing insurance for all Americans up to 133 percent of the poverty line, which will add an estimated 16 million new Medicaid enrollees.

Gov. George Pataki ‘Looking at’ Run for President; Peekskill ‘Twice the Size of Wasilla’  —  ABC News' Rick Klein reports:  —  Sarah Palin isn't the only former governor/former mayor who's mulling a run for president in 2012.  —  On ABC's “Top Line” today, former Gov. George Pataki …

California: The Lindsay Lohan of States  —  Sacramento is headed for trouble again, and it shouldn't expect a bailout.  —  Listen up, California.  The other 48 states—your cousin New York excluded—are sick of your bratty arrogance.  You're the Lindsay Lohan of states …

The Unready Republicans  —  When a political party suffers two consecutive thrashings at the polls, its supporters can usually look forward to a long period of exile — a time to lick wounds, settle scores, feud over policy and gradually map out a road back to relevance.  —  Not so the Obama-era Republicans.