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.

Obama calls Levin to urge lame-duck 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal  —  President Barack Obama took steps on Wednesday to force a Senate vote on legislation that would begin to dismantle the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy banning openly gay service members during …

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.

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.

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.

FDA, FTC crack down on caffeinated alcoholic drinks  —  Federal officials began a crackdown Wednesday on potent alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine, warning manufacturers of the increasingly popular but dangerous beverages that the products are illegal.  —  In letters to four companies …

First Thoughts: Unity at last  —  NBC/WSJ poll shows the country is united at last — against the deficit-reduction proposals... Other findings in the poll: The country is pleased by the midterm results, but doesn't think they'll produce real change... Obama's standing and attitudes …

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?

Deficit Proposal Draws Mixed Review  —  President Barack Obama and many lawmakers say they will work to rein in the federal deficit, but a new survey underscores the challenges they face in taking specific steps that could help reduce the red ink.  —  A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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) …

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 …

National Book Award for Patti Smith  —  The rock musician Patti Smith won the National Book Award for nonfiction on Wednesday night for “Just Kids,” a sweetly evocative memoir of her relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe and the romantic days of bohemian New York.

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.

Shaken senators start prep for 2012  —  The 2010 campaign has so rattled senators up for reelection in 2012 that they're already moving quickly to figure out how to survive.  —  Veteran Democrats such as Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico are weighing retirement.