Swindle of the year  —  Barack Obama won the great tax-cut showdown of 2010 - and House Democrats don't have a clue that he did.  In the deal struck this week, the president negotiated the biggest stimulus in American history, larger than his $814 billion 2009 stimulus package.

Chuck Schumer vs. President Obama  —  It wasn't on the White House's official schedule, but on Nov. 22 Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) quietly slipped into the Oval Office on a self-appointed mission to steel Barack Obama for the tax cut fight.  —  Schumer, the newly anointed message guru …

Profanity, Anger Spill Over in House Democratic Caucus Meeting  —  The frustration with President Barack Obama over his tax cut compromise was palpable and even profane at Thursday's House Democratic Caucus meeting.  —  One unidentified lawmaker went so far as to mutter “f— the president” …

BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL  —  Obama honors Nobel winner with statement about himself  —  There was an extraordinary scene at the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo Friday morning.  The prize went to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who was barred by the Chinese government from attending the ceremony.

Dems show signs of abandoning Obama elsewhere after frustration with tax deal  —  Incensed over President Obama's tax compromise, House Democratic leaders are showing signs of abandoning the administration and going their own way on critical issues such as national security.

Why I Support the Ryan Roadmap  —  Let's not settle for the big-government status quo, which is what the president's deficit commission offers.  —  The publication of the findings of the president's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform was indeed, as the report was titled, “A Moment of Truth.”

Assange Lawyers Prepare for U.S. Spying Indictment  —  Attorney Says American Indictment Related to Espionage Act Imminent for Wikileaks Founder  —  Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the man behind the publication of more than a 250,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables …

Big Patent Firm Sues Nine Tech Firms  —  Technology companies on Wednesday received troubling news that some had feared for years: Intellectual Ventures LLC has started suing.  —  The secretive firm co-founded by former Microsoft Corp. Chief Technology Officer Nathan Myhrvold has raised $5 billion …

Americans in Poll Want Deficit Cut With Entitlements Secured  —  Americans want Congress to bring down a federal budget deficit that many believe is “dangerously out of control,” only under two conditions: minimize the pain and make the rich pay.  —  The public wants Congress to keep …

Obama's tax-cut deal upsets many major donors  —  Some say they will withhold funds for the next election.  Even if they come around before the campaign kicks into gear, the initial backlash could hurt early Democratic efforts to counter GOP-allied groups.  —  Reporting from Washington …

Slim Majority of Americans Would Vote for DREAM Act Law  —  Fifty-four percent favor granting legal status to illegal immigrants brought to U.S. as children  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans are more likely to say they would vote for than against a law that would grant legal status …

Drudge Report owner sued by Righthaven  —  Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC on Wednesday filed its second copyright infringement lawsuit over Denver Post material, this time suing a big target: Drudge Report operator Matt Drudge.  —  The suit, filed in U.S. District Court …

Could Charles and Camilla have been better protected?  —  A small group of protesters surrounded the car and threw paint at it  —  The image of the Duchess of Cornwall open-mouthed in shock as her car came under attack has already come to define the tuition fees protests.

Stuxnet Worm Still Out of Control at Iran's Nuclear Sites, Experts Say  —  Aug 21: The first fuel is loaded into the reactor building at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran.  —  EXCLUSIVE: Iran's nuclear program is still in chaos despite its leaders' adamant claim …

Obama's Very Good Week  —  Over the past week we've seen the big differences between cluster liberals and network liberals.  Cluster liberals (like cluster conservatives) view politics as a battle between implacable opponents.  As a result, they believe victory is achieved through maximum unity.

Santorum: A 2012 long shot tests the water  —  GOFFSTOWN, N.H. - It was pushing 10 p.m., and Rick Santorum was sitting at the corner table in a near-empty Dunkin' Donuts.  The garishly lit scene might have been lifted straight from the movie “Primary Colors.”

A New Year's wish for the community: Joe Solmonese's resignation  —  I'm sure you know that's been my position for some time, but in harmony with Autumn's post last night that summarized the complete Senate legislative fail yesterday, it's simply too easy to point the finger at just Harry Reid …

Transcript: Obama On Taxes, Economy And START … PRESIDENT OBAMA: All right, fire away.  —  STEVE INSKEEP: OK, we'll jump right into it here.  Mr. President, what do you intend to do about the House Democrats who have said that they are not going to bring your plan to a vote in its current form?

Defacing the Cenotaph, urinating on Churchill... how young thugs at student protest broke every taboo  —  In a grotesque insult to those who championed the very freedoms which allowed them to stage their protest, a baying rabble of masked and hooded troublemakers turned a student demonstration into anarchy yesterday.

Cablevision, Netflix, others added to S&P 500  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Standard & Poor's on Thursday announced several changes to three of its indices.  —  The changes to the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and SmallCap 600 will take affect after the close of trading on Dec. 17, the company said.

The dirtiest word in politics: Has Barack Obama been caught triangulating?  —  The naughty word is “triangulation,” and it does indeed sound like something that in some conservative locales might still be against the law, even if rarely prosecuted when practiced by consenting adults.

Manchin votes against 'Don't ask' repeal, then apologizes  —  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) appeared to take a stand on the repeal of “Don't ask, don't tell” Thursday, becoming the only Senate Democrat to vote against a procedural motion to move the measure forward.

Companies Cling to Cash  —  Coffers Swell to 51-year high as Cautious Firms Put Off Investing in Growth  —  Corporate America's cash pile has hit its highest level in half a century.  —  Rather than pouring their money into building plants or hiring workers, nonfinancial companies in the U.S …

Obama lights the National Christmas Tree, says ‘Merry Christmas’ three times  —  President Obama's words at lighting of National Christmas Tree, as provided by the White House  —  THE PRESIDENT: Merry Christmas, everybody!  —  AUDIENCE: Merry Christmas!  —  THE PRESIDENT: Happy holidays.