GOP should take on Palin  —  Republicans have a problem.  The most-talked-about figure in the GOP is a reality show star who cannot be elected.  And yet the same leaders who fret that Sarah Palin could devastate their party in 2012 are too scared to say in public what they all complain about in private.

Where we and Democrats can work together  —  When congressional leaders of both parties meet at the White House today, all of us will have an opportunity to show the American people that we got the message of the elections earlier this month.  —  Republicans heard the voters loud and clear.

In slideshow, Rep. Joe Barton declares war on the Obama administration  —  If the Obama administration was hoping to see hints of bipartisanship from the Hill, it might want to skip over the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  —  The committee's ranking Republican, Rep. Joe L. Barton …

WikiLeaks founder could be charged under Espionage Act  —  Federal authorities are investigating whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange violated criminal laws in the group's release of government documents, including possible charges under the Espionage Act, sources familiar with the inquiry said Monday.

The WikiLeaks effect  —  Prominent pundits of Mideast affairs have argued Israel alone was pushing for military attack on Iran, WikiLeaks debunked these theories.  —  Talkbacks (5)  —  In recent years, prominent pundits of Middle East affairs such as Foreign Policy's Marc Lynch …

Pentagon report will leave opponents of DADT repeal little to work with  —  Okay, I've got some more detail for you on the findings in that forthcoming Pentagon report on the impact repeal of Don't Ask Don't tell will have on the military.  The upshot: It will leave GOP moderates with no reasons left to oppose repeal.

Tea Party Nation President Says It ‘Makes A Lot Of Sense’ To Restrict Voting Only To Property Owners  —  Every week, the Tea Party Nation hosts a weekly radio program, calling itself a “home for conservatives.”  Two weeks ago, Tea Party Nation President Judson Phillips hosted the program …

OFA Tries to Get Supporters to Write Letters to the Editor Praising a Federal Worker Pay Freeze  —  We've officially gone around the bend.  —  OFA, the organizing arm of the DNC, originally began its life as an organization trying to get someone elected on the platform of hope, change, and progressive policies.

Senate passes sweeping food safety bill  —  The Senate on Tuesday approved the biggest overhaul to the nation's food safety laws since the 1930s.  The 73-to-25 vote gives vast new authorities to the Food and Drug Administration, places new responsibilities on farmers and food companies …

Sen. Murray to head DSCC for 2012 cycle  —  Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will take the helm of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2012, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the decision.  —  Murray previously headed the DSCC in 2002, a year that saw Republicans net two Senate seats.

Where Anonymity Breeds Contempt  —  THERE you are, peacefully reading an article or watching a video on the Internet.  You finish, find it thought-provoking, and scroll down to the comments section to see what other people thought.  And there, lurking among dozens of well-intentioned opinions, is a troll.

Celebrating Secession Without the Slaves  —  ATLANTA — The Civil War, the most wrenching and bloody episode in American history, may not seem like much of a cause for celebration, especially in the South.  —  And yet, as the 150th anniversary of the four-year conflict gets under way …

Cantor: Popular parts of health law will be tackled in GOP repeal plan  —  House Republicans are looking to repeal the healthcare reform law and replace it with one of their own early next year without interrupting two popular parts of it that the administration has already begun to be implement.

Comcast Busted: New Tolls for Netflix Aren't All You Should Worry About  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  In the past 24 hours Comcast has been exposed committing blatant abuses of its power over all things media.  —  The New York Times reported last night that the cable giant has threatened …

Suspect in sex assault case won pardon in 2008  —  Cleared by a panel that included Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Jeremy Giefer is now accused of assaulting a second girl hundreds of times before and after he received his pardon.  —  Two years ago, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and two other officials pardoned Jeremy Giefer …

Wonkbook: Dem compromise would extend 90% of Bush tax cuts; food-safety bill comes to vote; federal-pay freeze  —  President Obama is meeting with the Republican congressional leadership today, but it's hard to imagine much progress being made at the powwow: Obama has already embraced …

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson asks staff for resignations  —  House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson has asked for the resignation of his entire staff, anticipating deep budget cuts as his party goes into the minority.  —  Larson, a Connecticut Democrat …

Yodelling offends praying Muslims, say judges  —  An Austrian has been fined for yodelling while mowing his lawn, according to a report.  —  The Kronen Zeitung newspaper claims Helmut G. was told by a court in Graz, Styria, that his yodelling offended his next-door Muslim neighbours.

Has NASA discovered extraterrestrial life?  —  Here's a curious press release from NASA: … I did a little research on the news conference participants and found:  —  1. Pamela Conrad (a geobiologist) was the primary author of a 2009 paper on geology and life on Mars

Judge Reinhardt Is Obligated To Disqualify Himself from Prop 8 Appeal  —  Judge Stephen Reinhardt, the arch-activist selected to be one of the three members of the Ninth Circuit panel hearing the appeal in the Prop 8 case, is obligated to disqualify himself from participation in the case.  —  Why?