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.

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?

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC Should Take FOX News, MSNBC Off Airwaves  —  SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV): “There's a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to FOX and to MSNBC: ‘Out.  Off.  End.  Goodbye.’ It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work …

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.

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 …

Fox News Chief Blasts NPR ‘Nazis’  —  Roger Ailes slams Jon Stewart as a conservative-basher, explains why he rode to Juan Williams' rescue—and sees NPR as taxpayer-funded propaganda.  Part II of Howard Kurtz's interview.  —  When Jon Stewart was appearing on the O'Reilly Factor a few weeks back …

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 …

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.

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 …

Irish Republic to get bail-out loan, says central bank  —  International officials are meeting in Dublin to discuss the Irish debt crisis  —  Irish Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan has said he expects the Irish Republic to accept a “very substantial loan” as part of an EU-backed bail-out.

Meg Whitman's former maid gets $5,500 in back wages  —  Ending an ordeal that may have doomed her race for governor, Meg Whitman on Wednesday agreed to pay her former maid back wages of $5,500, an amount dwarfed by the political fallout created when the illegal-immigrant housekeeper came …

Growth: The Ultimate Deficit Reducer  —  As David Leonhardt observes, ultimately the state of the public fisc depends an enormous amount on the rate of economic growth.  The growth rate, in turn, depends to an extent on the existence of credible fiscal plans.  But it's important to keep an eye on growth.

What will insurance in the exchanges look like?  —  I was talking with some very nice insurance company executives and managers yesterday, and asked them about what they might offer in the exchanges.  It's worth sharing some thoughts.  —  The media, and thus the country, are fixated on the politics at a national level.

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 …

Swedish Court to Seek Arrest of WikiLeaks Founder  —  LONDON — A Swedish prosecutor said on Thursday that she would seek a court order for the arrest of Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks whistle-blower's Web site, for questioning on charges of rape and other offenses.

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.

Republicans Block An Up-Or-Down Vote On The Paycheck Fairness Act  —  What's Your Reaction: … WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats were unable to overcome a Republican filibuster of the Paycheck Fairness Act on Tuesday, with the chamber falling two votes short of the 60 needed to end debate …

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.

Dem Senators Want Major Changes to HAMP  —  So here's a major breakthrough in the foreclosure crisis and in particular the failed HAMP program.  It doesn't mean anything's going to happen, but it means a significant chunk of the majority caucus in the Senate wants a radical overhaul of HAMP.

GOP Elevates Some New Faces  —  Freshman House Republicans Pick an African-American and a Woman for Roles in Leadership  —  WASHINGTON—House Republican freshmen chose Reps.-elect Tim Scott and Kristi Noem for new leadership positions Wednesday, as the party looked to capitalize …