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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Russ Feingold: An example of courage and conviction in the Senate (Sen. John McCain)  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) delivered the following remarks honoring Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) today on the floor of the U.S. Senate:  —  Mr. President, I want to say a few words about a friend and colleague …

Senate Passes Overhaul of Food Safety Regulations  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday passed a sweeping overhaul of the nation's food-safety system, after recalls of tainted eggs, peanut butter and spinach sickened thousands and led major food makers to join consumer advocates in demanding stronger government oversight.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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.

Economists' Grail: A Post-Crash Model  —  Physicist Doyne Farmer thinks we should analyze the economy the way we do epidemics and traffic.  —  Psychoanalyst David Tuckett believes the key to markets' gyrations can be found in the works of Sigmund Freud.  —  Economist Roman Frydman thinks …