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.

Tax Cut Timing Is Proving Problematic for Democrats  —  WASHINGTON — When one party controls the White House and Congress, it controls the calendar for what gets done and when.  So how is it that Democrats ended up in such a fix over what to do about the expiring Bush-era tax cuts?

A New Bush, a Lot Like the Old One  —  He said he still felt sickened that no weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq.  Yet former President George W. Bush said that his worst moment in the Oval Office came when the rap star Kanye West claimed that the president didn't care about black people.

House Democrats split on direction  —  Two vying to be Pelosi's No. 2  —  Representative Steny Hoyer.  —  WASHINGTON — The expectation that House Democrats will soon confirm Speaker Nancy Pelosi as their new minority leader, despite her leading role in last week's disastrous midterm elections …

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.

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.

In Alaska, a preview of the GOP's future  —  Alaska is darker in winter, colder all year and less densely populated than any other state.  Alaskans are unique, too: They enjoy a higher level of per capita federal spending than anyone else in the union, as well as a state constitution …

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.

TRENDING: Schwarzenegger admission: Who cares if you smoke pot?  —  (CNN) - With only a couple months left in office, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger apparently feels free to speak his mind - at least when it comes to marijuana.  —  Appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday …

Obama Visits a Nation That Knew Him as Barry  —  JAKARTA, Indonesia — The two houses where he spent part of his boyhood stand pretty much the way they did when he went back to Hawaii four decades ago.  The two schools he attended have grown larger but, in spirit, remain unchanged.

Tony Hayward says BP was ‘not prepared’ for the Gulf oil spill  —  Former BP boss Tony Hayward says the company was “not prepared” to deal with media scrutiny over the Gulf oil disaster  —  The former boss of BP Tony Hayward has admitted that the company was “not prepared” …

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.

Poll: New Jersey Gov. more popular than Obama in home state  —  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is more popular in the heavily Democratic Garden State than is President Obama, but New Jersey voters still don't think he should make a run for president in 2012.

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.

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.

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 …

Oklahoma Shariah Ban Is Blocked  —  A federal judge blocked Oklahoma officials Monday from implementing a voter-approved referendum that singles out Islamic religious law, or Shariah, as a threat to the state.  —  Chief Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, of U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City …

The absurdity of Olbermann's sin  —  My first job as an editor was at the Washington Monthly, then, as now, a small, lovable, money-losing magazine that counts the editor-in-chief of POLITICO himself as one of its more distinguished alumni.  The Monthly's editor, Charlie Peters …

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 …

Gay Couples Begin Attack on U.S. Marriage Law  —  Joanne Pedersen tried to add her spouse to her federal health insurance on Monday.  She was rejected.  Again.  —  The problem is that while Ms. Pedersen is legally married to Ann Meitzen under Connecticut law, federal law does not recognize same-sex unions.

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 …

Ted Rall Book Excerpt: Let's Kill Some Christians and Tea Partiers  —  Ted Rall has a new book out titled The Anti-American Manifesto.  In it he makes an explicit call for a violent socialist revolution from within.  In case you think this is all a big joke, here's an excerpt from the book:

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 …

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 …

Fed Global Backlash Grows  —  China and Russia Join Germany in Scolding; Obama Defends Move as Pro-Growth  —  NEW DELHI—Global controversy mounted over the Federal Reserve's decision to pump billions of dollars into the U.S. economy, with President Barack Obama defending the move as China …