Don't topple economy by rejecting tax deal, Obama tells the Dems  —  President Obama warned his fellow Democrats on Wednesday that they risk plunging the country into a double-dip recession if they reject his tax-cut deal with Republicans.  —  As the White House intensified pressure …

LEAKED EMAIL: Fox boss caught slanting news reporting  —  At the height of the health care reform debate last fall, Bill Sammon, Fox News' controversial Washington managing editor, sent a memo directing his network's journalists not to use the phrase “public option.”

Palin in Progress: What Does She Want?  —  For the longest time, Sarah Palin was leery of Facebook.  Some of the comments left on her page during the 2008 vice-presidential campaign were so withering and unpleasant that it took months of coaxing by her staff and her daughters Bristol and Willow …

Most Americans Say They're Worse Off Under Obama: Poll  —  More than 50 percent of Americans say they are worse off now than they were two years ago when President Barack Obama took office, and two-thirds believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, a Bloomberg National Poll shows.

Exclusive: Sarah Palin Under Cyber-Attack from Wikileaks Supporters in 'Operation Payback'*  —  The website and personal credit card information of former Gov. Sarah Palin were cyber-attacked today by Wikileaks supporters, the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate tells ABC News in an email.

The end of the settlement freeze gimmick is not the end of the world, or the possibility of peace  —  For many months now I have been in predicting that the US would probably be able to secure a three or four-month settlement freeze extension, allowing for the resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Block That Metaphor  —  Mark Zandi of Moody's has released his estimate of the effect of the tax-cut deal; it shows a fairly big boost to growth in 2011, with most of that boost given back in 2012.  My guess is that the actual numbers will be smaller: I suspect that Zandi's multipliers assume …

The night Chris Matthews told the truth  —  I was watching Hardball tonight and came up with this when Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer said Republicans are for the “wealthy rich,” as opposed — I suppose — to the wealthy poor.  —  I hope you like it.  The transcript follows:

Sarah Palin's Reading List: Political Star Insists She's Well-Informed  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the only person to make the Most Fascinating list three consecutive years in a row.  Palin tells Walters that she is seriously considering a run for the White House and believes she can beat President Obama in 2012.

House of Representatives narrowly approves Dream Act; Senate must now vote on immigration bill  —  In a last-ditch showdown on immigration relief for illegal migrants, the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly approved the so-called Dream Act that would offer …

GOP gets queasy over earmark ban  —  After agreeing to kill earmarks, some of the most conservative GOP lawmakers are already starting to ask themselves: What have we done?  —  Indeed, many Republicans are now worried that the bridges in their districts won't be fixed …

Iran Placing Medium-Range Missiles in Venezuela; Can Reach the U.S.  —  Iran is planning to place medium-range missiles on Venezuelan soil, based on western information sources[1], according to an article in the German daily, Die Welt, of November 25, 2010.  According to the article …

New York taxi advocate suggests drivers use race profiling  —  (Reuters) - The head of a New York taxi driver organization came under fire on Wednesday for suggesting that cab drivers should racially profile passengers before picking them up to help avoid getting attacked.

US Treasuries hit by biggest sell-off in two years  —  By Richard Milne in London and Michael Mackenzie in New York  —  US Treasuries suffered their biggest two-day sell-off since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, following a torrid month that has seen borrowing costs for western governments soar.

Rep. Weiner: Obama More ‘Negotiator-in-Chief’ Than ‘Leader of Our Country’  —  After his behind closed doors sparring match with Vice President Biden last night, Congressman Anthony Weiner still had some fight in him this morning on “GMA.”  —  “Unfortunately I think that President Obama sees …

New Republican lawmakers are hiring lobbyists, despite campaign rhetoric  —  During his campaign to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate, GOP nominee Ron Johnson accused Democratic incumbent Russell Feingold (D) of being “on the side of special interests and lobbyists.”

Obama takes his case to the independent center  —  It took a month for Barack Obama to make clear what he has learned from the midterm election “shellacking,” but the time has not been wasted.  Future political historians are likely to trace his recovery - and reelection, if that's what happens - back to decisions made in December.

No Deficit of Courage  —  IS it, in fact, 1994-95 all over again?  The atmospherics are certainly familiar.  We have a Democratic president who appears to be tacking to the center to work with Republicans after being battered in the midterms.  Jilted liberals, meanwhile …

Collins Hands Reid A Final Offer On Don't Ask, Don't Tell  —  Here's what Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that she needs to support a full Senate debate on the defense authorization bill (the vehicle for Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal): 15 guaranteed votes on amendments …

Examiner Editorial: Obama uses labor board to revive Card Check  —  When labor lawyer Craig Becker's nomination to the National Labor Relations Board was rejected by a bipartisan vote of the Senate in February, it was due to fears on both sides of the aisle that the former counsel for the AFL-CIO …