An Open Letter to Republican Freshmen Members of Congress  —  Welcome to all Republican Freshmen and congratulations!  —  Congratulations to all of you for your contribution to this historic election, and for the contributions I am certain you will make to our country in the next two years.

House Dems Avert Leadership Battle  —  WASHINGTON — House Democrats averted a messy leadership struggle Friday night, clearing the way for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to remain in a top position and preventing a battle between other representatives as the party becomes the minority.

WHEN THE 'WATER'S EDGE' STANDARD DISAPPEARS.... If our political system made more sense, this would be an astounding scandal that would dominate the discourse. … This just isn't normal.  Laura Rozen called the meeting itself “unusual, if not unheard of.”  But it's what Cantor said that's astounding.

Obama's iPad: iReggie  —  Washington (CNN) - Apparently President Obama doesn't need an iPad; he's got an aide for that: iReggie.  —  At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' retreat in Yokohama, Japan, on Saturday, a print pool reporter was within earshot of a brief exchange between …

Myanmar frees opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi  —  The Nobel laureate greets a jubilant crowd outside her home after being held in detention for 15 years by the country's military rulers.  She promises to speak at greater length Sunday.  The conditions of her release are not immediately clear.

American Narcissus  —  The vanity of Barack Obama  —  Why has Barack Obama failed so spectacularly?  Is he too dogmatically liberal or too pragmatic?  Is he a socialist, or an anticolonialist, or a philosopher-president?  Or is it possible that Obama's failures stem from something simpler: vanity.

Cindy McCain is a hater - reverses self on DADT 24 hours after doing video linking the gay ban to gay youth suicide  —  With all due respect, Cindy McCain is a liar.  The only question is when she lied - today, or yesterday.  —  Yesterday, Cindy McCain - the wife of US Senator John McCain …

Expert: past 10 days have been worst of President Obama's ‘political life’  —  WASHINGTON - President Obama is coming home from his overseas trip pretty much empty-handed.  —  After watching his party take a beating in the midterm elections, Obama wasn't able to secure even a symbolic victory …

Growing backlash against TSA body scanners, pat-downs  —  (CNN) — A growing pilot and passenger revolt over full-body scans and what many consider intrusive pat-downs couldn't have come at a worse time for the nation's air travel system.  —  Thanksgiving, the busiest travel time of the year, is less than two weeks away.

Emanuel kicks off Chicago mayoral campaign  —  Rahm Emanuel kicks off his mayoral campaign today.  (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune)  —  Posted by John Chase and Rick Pearson at 11:55 a.m.; last updated at 1:41 p.m. with Chico comments  —  Rahm Emanuel formally kicked off his campaign …

Lawyers Depart Alaska as Miller's Chances Dim  —  JUNEAU, Alaska - The lawyers have started leaving.  —  That is perhaps the surest sign that Joe Miller's chances of becoming the next senator from Alaska are evaporating.  With each passing day that election workers here in the state capital …

HONEST CRITIQUE: JON STEWART CLASHES WITH RACHEL MADDOW  —  In a primetime interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Thursday evening, comedian (and stomach flu patient) Jon Stewart gave a candid assessment of the 24-hour cable news “arms race” and how they've missed the point of his “Rally to Restore Sanity.”

Missing from 2012 presidential field: Military service  —  The resumes of the Republicans most frequently mentioned as potential presidential candidates are studded with impressive accomplishments and experience at the highest levels of government.  —  Yet nearly all of them are missing …