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.

Incoming GOP senators demand say on New START  —  Ten of the new incoming Republican senators Thursday are planning to demand they get a say on the New START treaty, adding ten new voices to the growing cacophony pushing for a delay in consideration of the treaty until next year.

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 …

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 …

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?

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.

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 …

BELIEVING WHAT THEY'RE TOLD TO BELIEVE.... A new report this week from the Pew Research Center shows what we probably could have guessed: conservatives in America reject evidence of global warming.  But Pew study also raises an important related point: it didn't use to be this way.

Senate Democrats back TSA ‘virtual strip searches’  —  Foes of the Transportation Security Agency's new air-screening procedures, including law enforcement-style pat-downs and what have been called “virtual strip searches,” had hoped that today's Senate hearing would lead to a privacy outcry on Capitol Hill.

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.

Food-safety bill clears key Senate hurdle  —  After a year of waiting in line, legislation to promote food safety on Wednesday moved toward passage during the Senate's lame-duck session.  —  Almost a year to the day after a unanimous committee vote, the long-stalled food-safety bill …

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 …

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 …

Listen to people on banning earmarks  —  The incoming House Republican majority has pledged to cut spending and change the way Washington spends taxpayer dollars.  —  As a new freshman class descends on Washington for orientation this week, joining with current leaders, now is the time to begin this effort.

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.

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.

Low-tax states will gain seats, high-tax states will lose them  —  Migration from high-tax states to states with lower taxes and less government spending will dramatically alter the composition of future Congresses, according to a study by Americans for Tax Reform

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.