Power in Congress Will Tilt South and West  —  WASHINGTON — The Census Bureau rearranged the country's political map on Tuesday, giving more Congressional seats to the South and the West, and taking away from the Northeast and the Midwest, in largely anticipated changes that will have far …

Conservative bloggers agree: Haley Barbour is toast  —  I noted here yesterday that the real problem with Haley Barbour's comments about the Citizens Councils is that they show an unwillingness to avoid urinating on the third rail of race.  Today several conservative bloggers came …

WHITE HOUSE EXTENDS WELL-DESERVED PRAISE TO JON STEWART.... It's too soon to say for sure whether Republican obstructionism will kill the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  The supermajority appears to be coming together, and Senate Democrats are keeping the pressure on …

Graham: GOP to blame for ‘capitulation ... of dramatic proportions’ in lame-duck  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) lashed out at fellow Republicans Tuesday for a “capitulation ... of dramatic proportions” to Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the lame-duck Congress.

FCC passes first net neutrality rules  —  update: 3:23 p.m. with statement of support from President Obama, plans for Congressional hearings from House Republicans.  —  The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to approve its first ever Internet access regulation …

Specter issues parting blow to Roberts, Alito  —  (CNN) - Sen. Arlen Specter, the outgoing Pennsylvania Republican-turned-Democrat, directed a parting blow Tuesday to members of the Supreme Court's conservative bloc.  —  In his final speech on the Senate floor, Specter …

That snow is what global warming looks like  —  Unusually cold winters may make you think scientists have got it all wrong.  But the data reveal a chilling truth  —  There were two silent calls, followed by a message left on my voicemail.  She had a soft, gentle voice and a mid-Wales accent.

Thanks for the Tax Cut!  —  THERE is a God!  It passed!  The Bush tax cuts have been extended two years for the upper bracketeers, of which I am a proud member, thank you very much.  I'm the last person in the world I'd want to be beside, but I am beside myself!  This is a life changer, I tell you.

Afghan sex practices concern U.S., British forces  —  A document released by WikiLeaks described efforts by high-ranking Afghan officials to quash reports of police officers and other Afghans arrested for “purchasing a service from a child.”  —  The leaked diplomatic cable quoted former Minister …

Transcript: The Assange interview  —  The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been holed up in a mansion in East Anglia since he was released from prison last week.  —  He is under strict bail conditions while he fights extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning about claims of sexual assault.

The NYT spills key military secrets on its front page  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  In The New York Times today, Mark Mazzetti and Dexter Filkins expose very sensitive classified government secrets — and not just routine secrets, but high-level, imminent planning for American covert military action in a foreign country:

Harry Potter actress was beaten and branded a prostitute by her brother after dating man ‘who was not a Muslim’  —  A Harry Potter actress fled her home after her father and brother threatened to kill her for going out with a Hindu man, a court heard yesterday.

A SENATOR SCORNED.... Quick quiz — only one Republican senator has sided with Democrats on DADT repeal, the tax deal, New START cloture, and the DREAM Act in the lame-duck session.  Who was it?  —  The obvious guesses would likely be Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), or Scott Brown (R-Mass.).

The RNC food fight everyone saw coming  —  Jonathan Martin wrote months ago that Republican leaders feared that dumping Michael Steele would lead to a racially charged food fight, and, well, here we go, as former Steele aide and current rival Gentry Collins looks to shake up the race and pick …