Freezing Out Hope  —  After the Democratic “shellacking” in the midterm elections, everyone wondered how President Obama would respond.  Would he show what he was made of?  Would he stand firm for the values he believes in, even in the face of political adversity?

The top ten pundits among Republican activists  —  1,152 Republican activists, as identified by YouGov America and polled by ConservativeHome.com, have chosen their favorite pundits.  —  These pundits, more than any other, will be the talking heads who will influence the choice of the GOP's nominee for 2012.

Harkin: If Obama Caves On Taxes, He Better Pray For Palin In 2012  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … WASHINGTON — The sense of frustration among Senate Democrats over the White House's handling of the tax cut debate has grown throughout the week, culminating in a series of articles …

Scott Brown comes out in favor of DADT repeal  —  This is potentially important.  The statement just out from Senator Scott Brown's office: … A few quick points on this.  First, it shows beyond doubt — as I thought would happen — that Robert Gates's handling of this whole affair …

Defiant Helen Thomas defends remarks that led to exit  —  Striking a defiant tone, journalist Helen Thomas, 90, said today she absolutely stands by her controversial comments about Israel made earlier this year that led to her resignation.  But she stoked additional controversy with new remarks …

Debt plan draws bipartisan support  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Defying expectations, more than 60% of President Obama's debt commission voted Friday in favor of the group's final recommendations for reducing the country's long-term debt.  —  In a strong bipartisan showing, 11 of 18 members voted yes.

Karl Rove Slams Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee Over Bush-Bashing Comments  —  On Laura Ingraham's radio show, Karl Rove defended the Bushes against a series of comments, including Sarah Palin's reference to the Bushes as “blue-bloods” and Mike Huckabee saying the Bushes “weren't for me.”

Disappointing Job Growth in U.S. as Jobless Rate Hits 9.8%  —  In a significant setback to the recovery and market expectations, the United States economy added just 39,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent, according to the Department of Labor.

After Catfood Commission Fails to Meet Mandate, Dem Senators Rally for Austerity  —  Fourteen Democratic Senators have asked Harry Reid for action on reining in the budget deficit, on the same day that the Catfood Commission failed to reach the threshold to deliver an official report.

The sight of women's breasts won't deter Islamists - they're obsessed with sex  —  Denmark's government is being called upon to employ a lethal new weapon in the fight against Islamist extremism: bare breasts.  —  No, I'm not making this up - and also deny outrageous suggestions that I'm looking …

Durbin: DREAM Act will come to the Senate floor next week  —  Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Friday predicted a Senate vote on the DREAM Act will be held next week.  —  “Sen. Reid is going to call it,” Durbin told The Hill shortly after the chamber adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Arizona Cuts Financing for Transplant Patients  —  PHOENIX — Even physicians with decades of experience telling patients that their lives are nearing an end are having difficulty discussing a potentially fatal condition that has arisen in Arizona: Death by budget cut.

What's in those free-trade agreements—and do they really boost exports?  —  On its face, trade policy may seem like pretty stodgy stuff, but don't be fooled.  Since this administration hopes to reduce the deficit and increase employment by growing our exports, the policies that shape that flow of goods and services play a key role.

UN Climate Summit Leader Prays to Mayan Moon Goddess  —  Watch out, Al Gore, your moonbat congregation is starting to direct their prayers elsewhere: … It just makes sense: When you're pushing a myth, there's no more appropriate entity to pray to than a mythical goddess.  Why be inconsistent?

Groupon Annual Revenues Actually $2 Billion  —  According to sources close to the situation, Groupon's actual run rate for this year is clocking in at $2 billion in revenue, rather than the widely quoted $500 million.  —  Who knew hawking spa treatments and stripper-pole lessons could be so lucrative?

Ron Paul stands up for Julian Assange  —  Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is taking a stand as one of Julian Assange's few defenders in Washington, arguing that the WikiLeaks founder should get the same protections as the media.  —  Attorney General Eric Holder said this week that the Justice Department …

Ireland's rescue package: Disaster for Ireland, bad omen for the Eurozone  —  Irish interest spreads did not fall and contagion continues.  Here one of the world's leading international economists explains why.  Short-sighted, wishful thinking by EU and German leadership designed a package …

Feds Warrantlessly Tracking Americans' Credit Cards in Real Time  —  Federal law enforcement agencies have been tracking Americans in real-time using credit cards, loyalty cards and travel reservations without getting a court order, a new document released under a government sunshine request shows.

Montana Republican Numbers  —  On the Montana poll that we released a couple weeks ago we also had some numbers on who Republicans in the state wanted as their candidates for President and Senate in 2012 and we just never got around to releasing them.  So here goes:

For the Record...  I really wonder what's happening, subjectively, inside the heads of people who oppose repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell.  Do any of them think they're on the right side of history here?  That people are going to look back from 2040 and say “if only we'd listened to John McCain thirty years ago?”

What's So Hard About Hardball?  —  Kevin Drum on the Democratic Party's congenital inability to play hardball politics: … The bigger issue, I think, is that Republicans have an astounding level of ideological unity and a keen understanding of the political dynamics at work.

Michele Bachmann: Jesus Had a Right to Life from the Moment of Conception  —  In response to a question from CNSNews.com, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R.-Minn.) said this week that Jesus Christ had a right to life from the moment of conception and that all human beings deserve legal protection from the moment of conception.