The Uncertainty Meme  —  Why does the economy continue to suck?  The LA Times is hosting a symposium on the topic today, and USC business professor Ayse Imrohoroglu says the answer is uncertainty: … OK, let's take these one by one:  — Interest rates will remain very low for a very long time.

Tea Party irks new members with tactic to promote its event  —  A Tea Party tactic to pressure new lawmakers not to attend a privately sponsored orientation event in D.C. this weekend was unwarranted, according to frustrated incoming GOP House members.  —  Competing freshmen lawmaker orientation events …

BUSH: ‘CLINTON AND I ARE BUDDIES’  —  Despite their political differences, the Bush family has really taken to Bill Clinton.  (Clinton has worked with both the 41st and 43rd presidents on humanitarian efforts.)  —  And CNN's Candy Crowley, during her Sunday interview with George W. Bush and his brother …

Paul Krugman Recommends ‘Death Panels’ to Help Balance Budget  —  Although he was likely taking a swipe at former governor Sarah Palin with the reference, Paul Krugman on Sunday recommended “death panels” as a means of helping to balance the federal budget.  —  In a Roundtable discussion on ABC's …

Obama to Redouble Effort on Core Principles  —  From Tahman Bradley:  —  En route back to Washington after a 10-day trip overseas, President Obama was introspective about his first two years in office.  The president told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had an “obsessive focus” …

Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco  —  We here at TLC realize that our fabulous new hit series Sarah Palin's Alaska may not appeal to all our viewers.  We understand that a substantial segment of the population has no interest in watching Sarah Palin or taking a tour of Alaska.

NY1 Exclusive: Rangel Feels “Confident” About Upcoming House Ethics Trial … In a rare House ethics trail set to start Monday morning, Congressman Charles Rangel will be defending himself against 13 alleged ethics violations, and he is going to do it on his own.

McCain Moves The Goal Posts Again On DADT, Now Claiming The Pentagon Study Isn't Good Enough  —  This week, Cindy McCain caused a stir when she seemingly broke with her husband, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy when she appeared in an ad calling for repealing the ban on gays serving openly.

TSA Opt-Out Day, Now with a Superfantastic New Twist!  —  November 24th, as many of you already know, is National Opt-Out Day, when airline passengers should refuse to submit themselves to those privacy-invading, genital-picture-taking, radiation-delivering back-scatter imaging machines now installed at many American airports.

G.M. Retirees Weigh Buying Its Stock Again  —  DETROIT — John Christie, who worked for 36 years building Chevrolet and Cadillac cars, once thought owning General Motors stock was a safe bet.  —  Mr. Christie of suburban Detroit now says he cannot afford to make the same mistake twice.

Boehner tells freshmen to stay humble, fight big government  —  House Republican Leader John Boehner told members of the incoming GOP class Sunday that the No. 1 goal for House Republicans over the next two years is to end the federal government's “spending binge” and “job-killing policies.”

Shuler on Pelosi: If 'she doesn't step aside, I will challenge her'  —  Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) countered Pelosi would stay, saying she led Democrats to the land “of milk and honey” back in 2006.  —  Blue Dog Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.) said on Sunday that he will run …