Detainee Acquitted on Most Counts in '98 Bombings  —  The first former Guantánamo detainee to be tried in a civilian court was acquitted on Wednesday of all but one of more than 280 charges of conspiracy and murder in the 1998 terrorist bombings of the United States Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Sarah Palin Says She Could Beat Obama  —  In Interview With Barbara Walters, Palin Says She Is Seriously Considering Entering Race in 2012  —  Sarah Palin says she is seriously considering a run for the White House, and she believes she could beat President Obama in 2012, the former Alaska governor told ABC News' Barbara Walters.

Reid to Push to Allow End of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'  —  WASHINGTON — In a direct challenge to Republicans who support the “don't ask, don't tell” policy barring gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada …

George Soros Tells Progressive Donors Obama Might Not Be The Best Investment  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … WASHINGTON — At a private meeting on Tuesday afternoon, George Soros, a longtime supporter of progressive causes, voiced blunt criticism of the Obama administration …

Justices Are Long on Words but Short on Guidance  —  WASHINGTON — In June, the Supreme Court issued a decision on the privacy rights of a police officer whose sexually explicit text messages had been reviewed by his employer.  Ever since, lower court judges have struggled to figure out what the decision means.

Democrats Press GOP Lawmakers to Turn Down Government Health Care  —  A group of House Democrats has released a letter to Republican congressional leaders calling on them to announce which of their members will be forgoing their congressional benefit health insurance (which is subsidized by the government) …

Nancy Pelosi survives Democratic revolt  —  With the worst behind her, Speaker Nancy Pelosi must now find a way to unite a fractured House Democratic Caucus as the party prepares for the 112th Congress.  —  That may not be so easy.  —  In a nearly six-hour marathon, closed-door meeting …

GOProud on the Willow Palin “Controversy”  —  For Immediate Release  —  Statement of Tammy Bruce - Chair of the GOProud Advisory Council  —  (Los Angeles, CA) - “Willow Palin is a 16 year old girl who, like all 16 year olds is going to make mistakes and say things she shouldn't have.

Reid's new chief of staff is also his top donor  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) new chief of staff is a heavy-hitting Democratic donor, who's contributed at least $35,000 to Reid himself.  —  David Krone, a former Comcast executive and telecommunications lobbyist whom Reid tapped …

White House backs ‘Four Loko’ ban  —  The White House on Wednesday threw its support behind a ban on beverages that infuse alcohol and caffeine.  —  Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske said he welcomed a ruling by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would effectively ban drinks like Four Loko and Joost …

Obama: GOP successfully outplayed us on health reform  —  One last nugget from Richard Wolffe's new book on the Obama White House.  In an interview with Wolffe, the President seemed to acknowledge that in pursuing bipartisan support for health reform, he and Democrats got snookered …

Ohhh, America, you're so strong  —  Oooh, you're so strong, baby, so handsome.  You're the greatest.  —  I'm talking about you, America.  You're . . . why, you're exceptional!  —  Does anyone else think there's something a little insecure about a country that requires its politicians to constantly declare how exceptional it is?

Top governors turn against Michael Steele  —  SAN DIEGO - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's prospects for a second term dimmed Wednesday as Republicans went public with their concerns about the committee's fundraising and two prominent governors indicated a preference for new leadership atop the party.

Don't Get Cocky, GOP  —  Obama is weak, but it is always difficult to defeat a sitting president.  —  It has been a brutal month for President Obama.  The historic electoral rebuke delivered to his party was followed at the G-20 meeting by a public rebuff of the Federal Reserve's QE2 program …

GOP to force vote on NPR defunding  —  House Republicans announced Wednesday they plan to force a floor vote on defunding NPR in response to the firing of analyst Juan Williams last month.  —  House GOP Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and Rep. Doug Lamborn (Colo.) said that cutting funds …

U.S. appears ready to acknowledge a long haul in Afghanistan  —  As NATO leaders meet in Lisbon this weekend, the U.S. is expected to endorse a plan for slow withdrawal and gradually handing over security responsibility by 2014.  —  Reporting from Washington — President Obama built …

Leader of TSA offers pat-downs to senators  —  The head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offered on Wednesday to have airport screeners come to Capitol Hill to give senators a pat-down so they could fully understand the mechanics of the newly deployed, controversial technique.

Beheading suspect says jail deputies tortured him  —  A court hearing Wednesday on whether a television reporter must turn over notes of an interview with accused killer Muzzammil “Mo” Hassan instead became a forum for Hassan to accuse his jailers of torturing and plotting to kill him.

A Hedge Fund Republic?  —  Earlier this month, I offended a number of readers with a column suggesting that if you want to see rapacious income inequality, you no longer need to visit a banana republic.  You can just look around.  —  My point was that the wealthiest plutocrats now actually control …

Lugar rebukes own party for avoiding New START debate, wants to force vote now  —  In a stunning rebuke to members of his own caucus, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) said on Wednesday that the GOP is intentionally trying to put off a vote …