Taliban Leader in Secret Talks Was an Impostor  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — For months, the secret talks unfolding between Taliban and Afghan leaders to end the war appeared to be showing promise, if only because of the appearance of a certain insurgent leader at one end of the table …

White House Fights Pat-Down Backlash  —  The administration is quietly and aggressively defending airport security policies against what they see as a media frenzy of distorted information.  —  The White House and the Department of Homeland Security indicated today that they won't yield …

North and South Korea Exchange Fire, Killing Two  —  SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire on Tuesday after dozens of shells fired from the North struck a South Korean island near the countries' disputed maritime border, South Korean military officials said.

Woman who told Obama her financial fears has lost her job  —  Nobody is safe.  —  Velma Hart, who burst onto the media scene after telling President Obama she was scared about her financial future, has been laid off.  Hart was let go as the chief financial officer for Am Vets, a nonprofit Maryland-based veteran services organization.

Pentagon: No gays were discharged in past month  —  SAN FRANCISCO — No U.S. service members have been discharged for being openly gay in the month since the Defense Department adopted new rules surrounding the “don't ask, don't tell” policy, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Monday.

Zogby Interactive: Obama Falls to 39%, As Support from Democrats Continues to Slide; He Trails Romney, J. Bush & Gingrich in '12  —  Those Saying U.S. on Wrong Track Hits High Under Obama of 69%  —  UTICA, New York - President Barack Obama's job approval rating has dropped to the lowest point …

VIDEO - Palin: I Will Not Waste My Time With Katie Couric  —  In an interview tonight with Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin opens up about the mainstream media and whether she would sit down for another interview with Katie Couric.  —  See what she has to say in the video below …

Empty promises on health care will haunt Obama  — TAGS: - aaron carroll - american medical association - Byron York - center for medicare and medicaid services - Gallup - indiana university school of medicine - New York Times - patient protection and affordable care act

BARBARA BUSH EXPLAINS MISCARRIAGE ANECDOTE  —  George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush appeared on CNN's “Larry King Live” Monday night, and George said that the two were “living a quiet life” (even though George said he still planned on sky-diving in 2014 to mark his 90th birthday, an endeavor he undertakes every year).

New poll undercuts GOP claims of a midterm mandate  —  WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans want the Congress to keep the new health care law or actually expand it, despite Republican claims that they have a mandate from the people to kill it, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll.

The unholy (s)election of Bristol Palin  —  I feel for Bristol Palin.  Here's a plucky young woman who signed up for “Dancing With the Stars” knowing she had no chance to win but thinking it might be an adventure.  Bristol had never danced and was up against some world-class dancers.  That takes guts.

Editorial Boards to the Little People Complaining About the TSA: Bend Over and Take it Like a Man!  —  More evidence for Radley Balko's thesis that the media is more statist than liberal (and for my contention that the unsigned newspaper editorial should go the way of the dodo bird):  —  Los Angeles Times:

Sarah Palin's Mike Huckabee problem  —  1. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Monday that Sarah Palin might well “run away” with the Republican nomination for president.  —  It's funny Huckabee should say such a thing, because he's got a lot of say over whether she does just that.

Left's pressure moves Pelosi toward clashes with Obama  —  When President Obama meets with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi next year, he may face a lot more resistance than he's used to from his longtime ally.  —  The shift from Speaker to opposition leader will undoubtedly change Pelosi's …

Ortiz concedes District 27 race to Farenthold  —  U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz conceded late Monday to Congressman-elect Blake Farenthold.  —  Noting that the recount of more than 106,000 votes had been completed in the district, Ortiz said: “Therefore, with great respect and admiration …

Sarah Palin's Mystery Research Firm  —  Why's an incendiary Dutch journalist on the payroll of the ex-Alaska governor's political action committee?  A Mother Jones investigation.  —  Post Comment  —  In recent months, Sarah Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC …

Defenders of Earmarks Point to Urgent Needs That Would Not Be Met  —  ST. LOUIS — With their vote last week to support a moratorium on earmarks, House and Senate Republicans are taking aim at a popular target: the much-criticized system for distributing federal money that reflects politicians' clout …

Cunningham, attorney differ on effectiveness of defense  —  Disgraced ex-congressman from Rancho Santa Fe gives his first media interview  —  Randy “Duke” Cunningham, the disgraced former congressman from Rancho Santa Fe, said in an interview from prison that he regrets pleading guilty almost five years ago …

SPLC Designates American Family Association, Family Research Council, Illinois Family Institute As Hate Groups  —  The Southern Poverty Law Center today updated its list of designated hate groups, and this year is significant in that some of the larger anti-gay outfits have made the cut.

Union that represents airport screeners urges agency to protect employees  —  Below:  —  Airline passengers aren't the only ones complaining about the Transportation Security Administration's new enhanced security procedures.  Many TSA employees aren't too happy, either.

Blacks, Jews most likely victim of US hate crimes: FBI  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) - Blacks and Jews were the most likely victims of hate crimes driven by racial or religious intolerance in the United States last year, the FBI said Monday in an annual report.  —  Out of 6,604 hate crimes committed …