Let's Not Make a Deal  —  Back in 2001, former President George W. Bush pulled a fast one.  He wanted to enact an irresponsible tax cut, largely for the benefit of the wealthiest Americans.  But there were Senate rules in place designed to prevent that kind of irresponsibility.

IF TWO WEEKS ISN'T ENOUGH, MAKE IT THREE.... Based on the current schedule, the Senate Democratic leadership intends to wrap the lame-duck session on Dec. 17 — a week from Friday.  Given this extremely tight calendar, and Republican delaying tactics, a whole lot of observers on both sides …

List of facilities ‘vital to US security’ leaked  —  Ningbo port in south-eastern China, one of the facilities on the US list  —  A long list of key facilities around the world that the US describes as vital to its national security has been released by Wikileaks.

Rulings set on Wal-Mart, warming (final UPDATE, 11:58 a.m.)  —  The Supreme Court stepped into two major controversies on Monday, agreeing to sort out when a class-action lawsuit may be filed when employees are seeking back pay for alleged workplace discrimination, and to clarify whether companies claimed …

Kennedy Still Highest-Rated Modern President, Nixon Lowest  —  Jimmy Carter's retrospective approval rating and rank drop from 2006  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Of the nine U.S. presidents who have served in the past 50 years, John F. Kennedy continues to earn the highest retrospective job approval rating from Americans, now 85%.

Mike Huckabee wants some respect  —  Dial down the deafening Sarah Palin buzz for just a moment: The most consequential decision in the 2012 Republican presidential sweepstakes could be whether Mike Huckabee decides to run again - and associates say the former Arkansas governor may well take the plunge.

BERNANKE: Growing Inequality Is Destroying America  —  Ben Bernanke addressed the country's growing wealth-and-income inequality in his 60 Minutes interview.  —  He's not a fan.  —  Here's Sewell Chan in the NYT:  —  When asked about rising inequality in the United States …

Short goodnight expected for the DREAM Act during lame duck  —  The DREAM Act — a priority of Democrats in both Congress and the White House — faces a difficult future in the lame duck.  —  Even as Democrats in both chambers prepare to consider the measure this week …

Dems aim for 100+ bills in 1 swoop  —  Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Environment and Public Worls Committee has threatened to block swift approval of a land and water omnibus bill if it includes, for example, the version of the Chesapeake Bay protection bill that passed …

Gov. Gary Johnson: I Smoked Marijuana from 2005 to 2008  —  The former New Mexico governor and likely 2012 Republican presidential candidate talks to THE WEEKLY STANDARD.  —  Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor and a likely 2012 Republican presidential candidate …

What Obama Needs to Come Back: Nothing Short of Luck  —  The coalition that got Barack Obama elected President just two years ago has been shattered.  Gaming out the trajectory of the next two years can be done any number of ways, but Obama's efforts to rebuild a politically robust alliance will be the most telling.

Right wing declares war on the poor: Kate O'Beirne calls parents of school lunch recipients child abusers  —  I'm speechless.  This little rant by Kate O'Beirne at a Republican strategy session is so evil, so incredibly cold-hearted, and so predictably right-wing that it makes me want to shove …

In visit to Denver, Jeb Bush says he doesn't agree with Arizona's immigration law  —  Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said if his children walked the streets of Phoenix they might look awfully suspicious to police.  His wife, Columba, is from Mexico.  —  Harvard professor Robert Putnam told …

What I've Learned  —  We can't keep politics out of school reform.  Why I'm launching a national movement to transform education.  —  Former Washington, D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee says she's not done fighting.  —  After my boss, Washington, D.C., mayor Adrian Fenty, lost his primary in September, I was stunned.