Drudge wins  —  The weekend collapse of the Administration's airline screening policy is hard to understand as a matter of messaging, with Clinton undermining the TSA's screening regime and the relevant official sending a hazy mixed message on the subject, even as the screening policy remains in place.

There Will Be Blood  —  Former Senator Alan Simpson is a Very Serious Person.  He must be — after all, President Obama appointed him as co-chairman of a special commission on deficit reduction.  —  So here's what the very serious Mr. Simpson said on Friday: “I can't wait for the blood bath in April. ...

U.S. corn ethanol “was not a good policy"-Gore  —  * U.S. ethanol consumes about 40 pct corn crop  —  Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore said support for corn-based ethanol in the United States was “not a good policy”, weeks before tax credits are up for renewal.

On Mrs. Kennedy's Detail  —  IT was with great trepidation that I approached 3704 N Street in Washington on Nov. 10, 1960.  I had just been given the assignment of providing protection for the wife of the newly elected president of the United States, and I was about to meet her for the first time.

The Answer Is No  —  New Jersey governor Chris Christie is denying money to teachers and tunnels, oxygen to Democrats, and intentions to run for president in 2012.  Which is only making him more popular.  —  C  —  hris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, was trolling for clicks.

Palin Won't “Waste Time” With Couric  —  Alaskan tells Hannity she wouldn't do another interview with CBS anchor should she run in 2012.  —  Full interview to air tonight at 9 p.m.  —  Sarah Palin on whether she would do an interview with Katie Couric if she ran for President:

BREAKING: Sources: Plouffe to join White House staff, Axelrod may exit sooner than expected  —  Washington (CNN) - President Obama is planning to bring former campaign manager David Plouffe onto the White House staff at the beginning of January to work alongside senior adviser David Axelrod …

View from Middle East: President Obama is a problem  —  JERUSALEM — Vowing to change a region that has resisted the best efforts of presidents and prime ministers past, Barack Obama dove head first into the Middle East peace process on his second day in office.  —  He was supposed to be different.

FBI Raids Three Hedge Funds Amid Insider-Trading Case  —  Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the offices of three hedge funds as part of a high-profile insider-trading investigation, and more could be on the way, according to people familiar with the matter.

Expansion of Bike Lanes Brings Backlash  —  Over the last four years, the streets of New York City have undergone a transformation: More than 250 miles of traffic lanes dedicated for bicycles have been created, and several laws aimed at promoting cycling have been passed.

Mosque Money Shocker  —  The so-called ground zero mosque recently applied for a $5 million federal grant from a fund designed to rebuild lower Manhattan after 9/11, reports The Daily Beast's John Avlon.  —  Developers of the controversial Park51 Islamic community center and mosque located …

Bombshell evidence may make Waters an ethics nightmare for Dems  —  Apparently, the Charlie Rangel ethics trial was just the warm-up act.  The New York Times reported over the weekend that the House Ethics Committee suddenly postponed the trial of Maxine Waters on ethics violation because it found …

The right way to honor Ronald Reagan  —  President Ronald Reagan speaks at a rally February 8, 1982.  He was born on February 6, 1911. … Washington (CNN) — We're approaching the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Ronald Reagan: February 6, 2011.  It's time to begin thinking seriously …

WHAT GOOD IS WALL STREET?  —  Much of what investment bankers do is socially worthless.  —  A few months ago, I came across an announcement that Citigroup, the parent company of Citibank, was to be honored, along with its chief executive, Vikram Pandit, for “Advancing the Field of Asset Building in America.”

Saudi school lessons in UK concern government  —  Panorama went undercover to obtain the books  —  The government says it will not tolerate anti-Semitic and homophobic lessons being taught to Muslim children in the UK.  —  BBC Panorama found that more than 40 Saudi Students' Schools …

Jerry Brown and the California Exception  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  The prodigal son has returned.  Not that he ever really left for good.  Or was all that prodigal, for that matter.  —  Jerry Brown's long and winding road has led him back to the door to the suite of offices …

Huckabee says ousting of Iowa judges historic move  —  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Sunday that Iowa voters likely launched a national movement when ousting three state Supreme Court justices who agreed with a decision to strike a ban on gay marriage.

Some States Weigh Unthinkable Option: Ending Medicaid  —  Huge budget shortfalls are prompting a handful of states to begin discussing a once-unthinkable scenario: dropping out of the Medicaid insurance program for the poor.  —  Elected and appointed officials in nearly a half-dozen states …

Suck on This  —  Thomas Friedman, July 1, 2005, “Follow the Leapin' Leprechaun”: … As I've said before, the problem with this kind of punditry is that regulating your financial sector poorly so as to generate lots of bum real estate lending really does seem to be a can't lose path to growth in the short term.

When politics of Israel, Cuba collide  —  The incoming chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs helped shut down an unexpected diplomatic opening between Cuba and Israel earlier this year, sources in Jerusalem and Washington confirmed.  —  Israeli leaders reacted warmly …