DAVID B. OFFER: Collins optimistic that moderation is key to success by Congress  —  The votes were barely counted last week before national columnists and pundits began analyzing the impact of the Republican victories.  Many predicted more gridlock.  —  “Moderate Republicans will be less likely …

Miller sues to force exact spelling rule for write-in votes  —  JUNEAU — GOP nominee Joe Miller is asking a federal judge to keep the state from using discretion in counting write-in ballots in Alaska's hotly contested Senate race.  —  The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, comes …

More federal workers' pay tops $150,000  —  The number of federal workers earning $150,000 or more a year has soared tenfold in the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office, a USA TODAY analysis finds.  —  The fast-growing pay of federal employees has captured the attention …

Wall Street Collects $4 Billion From Taxpayers as Swaps Backfire  —  The subprime mortgage crisis isn't the only calamity Wall Street created that's upending the finances of U.S. states and cities.  —  For more than a decade, banks and insurance companies convinced governments and nonprofits …

Carlson sent fake ‘Olbermann’ emails to Philly columnist  —  Tucker Carlson boasted in July that his site, the Daily Caller, had bought the domain name for liberal MSNBC host Keith Olbermann.  Carlson, a conservative journalist and pundit, even said he would start using the email address keith@keitholbermann.com as a gag.

Obama officials moving away from 2011 Afghan date  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has decided to begin publicly walking away from what it once touted as key deadlines in the war in Afghanistan in an effort to de-emphasize President Barack Obama's pledge that he'd begin withdrawing U.S. forces …

Bush: “I probably won't even vote for McCain”  —  George W. Bush's bombastic return to the world stage has reminded me of my favourite Bush anecdote, which for various reasons we couldn't publish at the time.  Some of the witnesses still dine out on it.  —  The venue was the Oval Office.

Poll: Voters Would Rather Tax The Wealthy Than Cut Social Security  —  Voters last week sent Washington a strong message about fixing the federal budget, according to exclusive numbers from a new poll obtained by TPM: Raise taxes on the wealthy and cut the military budget before you touch …

Interior inspector general: White House skewed drilling-ban report  —  The White House rewrote crucial sections of an Interior Department report to suggest an independent group of scientists and engineers supported a six-month ban on offshore oil drilling, the Interior inspector general says in a new report.

Proposed Cigarette Product Warning Labels  —  Overview  —  The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) requires that cigarette packages and advertisements have larger and more visible graphic health warnings.  —  FDA issued a proposed rule …

LaHood Threatens to Take High Speed Rail Stimulus from OH, WI  —  My favorite cabinet secretary is the one who knows how to play hardball with Republican obstructionists, who knows the leverage he holds and is not afraid to use it.  I guess that's because he's the only Republican in the cabinet*.

Republicans Maneuver to Oust Their Leader  —  WASHINGTON — Turning their attention to the 2012 presidential election, Republican leaders are digging in for a battle over control of the Republican National Committee, judging that its role in fund-raising, get-out-the-vote operations and other tasks …

Room at the top?  Not for young Dems  —  A younger generation of Democrats is chafing at being asked to stand aside and let a triumvirate of elders keep their leadership positions in the wake of a catastrophic midterm election result.  —  Barring an unexpected shake-up …

Why Rush to Cut Nukes?  —  THE sweeping Democratic midterm losses last week raise serious questions for President Obama and a lame-duck Congress.  Voters want government brought closer to the vision the framers outlined in the Constitution, and the first test could be the fate of the flawed …

Matthews: Had You Seen This Hillary Clinton in 2008 She Might Be President  —  Chris Matthews is suddenly getting a thrill up his leg for somebody other than Barack Obama.  —  On Tuesday's “Hardball,” before playing a video clip of the Secretary of State joking around with some comedians in Australia …

Gov. Christie says he's skeptical that global warming is caused by humans  —  TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie says he's skeptical that humans are responsible for global warming.  —  The governor, a new darling of the Republican Party, made the remark at a town hall meeting he hosted in Toms River Tuesday afternoon.

Despite new female faces in Congress, numbers in decline  —  Editor's note: In “The Sweep,” CNN dives deep into issues that are making news and explores why they're in the headlines.  —  Washington (CNN) — Ask Republican Rep.-elect Nan Hayworth how important it is to have women …

Jobs forecast can help Obama — if he can sell it to the nation  —  An exasperated Robert Gibbs said last summer: “Let's just be honest, the economy lost more jobs than it had in the last three recessions combined.  It's hard to message that.”  —  The verdict voters returned last week …

Democrats, Republicans Differ in Views of Compromise in D.C.  —  Democrats more likely to favor compromise; Republicans, holding firm to beliefs  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans think it is generally more important for political leaders to compromise to get things done (47%) …

Bush: “The Wolves of Washington” and the Roberts/Miers/Alito Nominations  —  In his new book “Decision Points,” former President George W. Bush offers some fascinating tidbits about what could be his most lasting legacy: the nominations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Watchdog wants probe of Google's ‘unusually close’ ties to Obama  —  As House Republicans plan an ambitious oversight agenda for the next session of Congress, a watchdog group is calling for a probe into a company that it says is far too cozy with the Obama administration: Google.

Congressmen pay wives from campaign funds  —  Practice is legal, but some see potential for abuse  —  The campaign to re-elect Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., left, has given wife Sandi Jackson's company at least $315,000 for her work.  (Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune / January 7, 2010)

Flight attendants union upset over new pat-down procedures  —  PHOENIX - A flight attendants union with 2,000 members is upset over what it calls “invasive pat-downs” recently implemented by the TSA.  —  “We're getting calls daily about peoples' experiences, our members are concerned,” …

Schools Chief Has Much in Common With Boss  —  Cathleen P. Black earned a reputation in publishing as a tough-minded chief executive who never left her employees guessing what she wanted.  A student of management, she wrote a book about strategies for success in the corporate world.

John King's magical wall sent him over the edge just days before the election  —  Tweet  —  CNN anchor John King's “magic wall” sent him over the edge when his beloved touch screen jammed.  —  The DC-based anchor had a meltdown while anchoring his 7 p.m. show, “John King USA,” …

Bush-Schröder Enmity Continues in Memoirs  —  In the years following former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's rejection of ex-President George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, it became clear that the two could barely stand each other.  Now, Bush's memoirs take aim at Schröder …

Modestly chic: Michelle Obama dons a headscarf as she visits mosque on Indonesia trip  —  Her impeccable dress sense has been praised throughout the world.  —  So it was no surprise that Michelle Obama managed to be stylish and show respect to her Muslim hosts when she visited a mosque on her tour of Indonesia.