Serious Questions about the Obama Administration's Incompetence in the Wikileaks Fiasco  —  We all applaud the successful thwarting of the Christmas-Tree Bomber and hope our government continues to do all it can to keep us safe.  However, the latest round of publications …

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.

GOP pushed pay freeze months ago  —  Washington Democrats have antagonized House Minority Whip Eric Cantor with the nickname “Dr. No.” But the White House may have to amend that to “Dr. Know” after reversing course and calling for the very same federal pay freeze Cantor promoted earlier this year with his oft-ridiculed YouCut program.

Say, About That Old ‘Bush Lied’ Trope, Looks Like Wikileaks Proved Obama Repeatedly Lied About Middle East Policy  —  Runner-up headline: Obama lied, diplomacy died  —  Anyone remember that exactly one year ago President Obama's original deadline for Iran expired?

Nuclear scientist killed in Tehran was Iran's top Stuxnet expert  —  World Exclusive from DEBKAfile's intelligence sources:  —  Prof. Majid Shahriari, who died when his car was attacked in North Tehran Monday, Nov. 29, headed the team Iran established for combating the Stuxnet virus rampaging through its nuclear and military networks.

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.

Netflix Partner Says Comcast ‘Toll’ Threatens Online Video Delivery  —  Level 3 Communications, a central partner in the Netflix online movie service, accused Comcast on Monday of charging a new fee that puts Internet video companies at a competitive disadvantage.

A Witness Lies, the Court Shrugs and Veterans Are Outraged  —  Elven J. Swisher wore a replica of a Purple Heart on the witness stand when he testified that the defendant had tried to hire him to kill three federal officials.  —  Asked about the medal, Mr. Swisher pulled a document …

China ‘ready to abandon North Korea’  —  Leaked dispatches show Beijing is frustrated with military actions of ‘spoiled child’ and increasingly favours reunified Korea  —  China has signalled its readiness to accept Korean reunification and is privately distancing itself from the North Korean regime …

In Which I Become a Conservative  —  Ross Douthat, an Atlantic alumnus, contends in the NY Times that the recent controversy over “enhanced” TSA procedures illustrates the dominance of partisan reflex in today's politics.  Liberals complained about excessive state power when Bush and Cheney were in charge …

Rangel hopes punishment will come in writing rather than on House floor  —  In the curious annals of congressional drama, this week's debate on the fate of New York Rep. Charles B. Rangel will be odder than most.  The House will agonize, and Rangel will emote, over this question:

Smithsonian Christmas-Season Exhibit Features Ant-Covered Jesus, Naked Brothers Kissing, Genitalia, and Ellen DeGeneres Grabbing Her Breasts  —  WARNING: This story contains graphic photographs of items on display in an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery.

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 …