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 …

Manchin Fights Rumors of Deal to Switch Parties  —  West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) on Monday evening batted down any suggestion that he is considering a party switch following his scheduled swearing-in next week as the Mountain State's junior Senator.  —  Additionally, a Senate Republican …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Money concerns didn't drive Deepwater Horizon decisions, panel counsel says  —  The chief counsel for the president's oil spill commission said Monday that he had not found any evidence that workers onshore or on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig cut corners on safety for the sake of saving money …

Obama arrives in Indonesia; volcano may shorten stay  —  JAKARTA - President Obama arrived in Indonesia Tuesday for a short stay that may be made shorter by the erupting Mount Merapi volcano.  —  Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, told reporters traveling aboard Air Force …

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 …

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.

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 …

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

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

‘Arizona Style’ Immigration Law Proposed in Texas  —  conservative lawmaker files bill in first hour of filing period for 2011 session  —  Less than an hour after the period began for filing bills for consideration in the 2011 Legislative session, State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball) …