Last-Ditch Move to Block Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Fails  —  12:18 a.m. |  Updated Just hours before President Obama planned to sign on Wednesday the repeal of the military's 17-year ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces, Republicans tried one last legislative maneuver to block the change.

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.

Obama administration readies indefinite detention order for Guantanamo detainees  —  The Obama administration is preparing an executive order that would formalize indefinite detention without trial for some detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but allow those detainees …

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 …

In a Sign of Foreclosure Flaws, Suits Claim Break-Ins by Banks  —  TRUCKEE, Calif. — When Mimi Ash arrived at her mountain chalet here for a weekend ski trip, she discovered that someone had broken into the home and changed the locks.  —  When she finally got into the house, it was empty.

Introducing: Your New Congressional Apportionment!  —  It's official: Here are the states gaining and losing seats (and thus electoral votes) in 2011.  I've put states entirely controlled by Republicans in bold and states entirely controlled by Democrats in italics, although in some of these states …

Food Fight Has Mike Huckabee Siding With Michelle Obama  —  HUCK YEAH  —  Huckabee Sides With Obama Over Palin  —  Though he had no comment on the calorie-count of a fried-squirrel platter, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is readily taking sides in a nasty political food war.

GREEN MAKE BELIEVE: VAN JONES ADMITS LEFT IS ‘PRETENDING’ NEED FOR REGULATIONS IN GREEN MOVEMENT  —  GEAUXALREADY  —  Why does he still breath free air?  —  Report Post »  —  Log in to Reply  —  CULTUREWARRIORS  —  Where is the MSM?  Why are they not interested in exposing the communist among us?

CIA launches task force to assess impact of U.S. cables' exposure by WikiLeaks  —  The CIA has launched a task force to assess the impact of the exposure of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables and military files by WikiLeaks.  —  Officially, the panel is called the WikiLeaks Task Force.

Steve Wozniak to the FCC: Keep the Internet Free  —  To whom it may concern:  —  I have always loved humor and laughter.  As a young engineer I got an impulse to start a Dial-a-Joke in the San Jose/San Francisco area.  I was aware of such humor services in other countries, such as Australia.

Government liabilities rose $2 trillion in FY 2010: Treasury  —  (Reuters) - The U.S. government fell deeper into the red in fiscal 2010 with net liabilities swelling more than $2 trillion as commitments on government debt and federal benefits rose, a U.S. Treasury report showed on Tuesday.

CNN Exclusive: Despite voting against its creation, Boehner will keep independent ethics panel  —  Washington (CNN)- Although he opposed its creation, incoming House Speaker John Boehner will keep an outside ethics watchdog- the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) - intact when the GOP takes control …

Obama's Overall Job Approval Steady at 46%  —  Dip in support from liberal Democrats offset by boost from moderate/liberal Republicans  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's approval rating held steady in the mid-40s during the week ending Dec. 19, his 100th week in office and the week …

Obama wants to give America back to the Indians  —  President Obama likes the “U.N. Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”  He says it can “help reaffirm the principles that should guide our future.”  —  The State Department added helpfully that although the declaration is not legally binding …

U.S. Director of National Intelligence on London terror arrests: Er, what terror arrests?  —  If you thought the gaffes in Diane Sawyer's interview with our counterterror brain trust couldn't get worse than “364 days a year,” skip ahead to 3:35 and brace yourself.

Manchin Admits Mistake and Apologizes  —  Senator Manchin Apologizes For Skipping Votes  —  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin apologized to his constituents Tuesday for missing two key votes over the weekend.  —  Manchin has caught heat from friends and foes alike for failing to be on the Senate floor Saturday …

Rep. Holt: Sen. McCain Objected To My Military Suicide Prevention Bill  —  What's Your Reaction: … WASHINGTON — In 2008, a young sergeant named Coleman S. Bean took his life.  After completing his first tour of duty in Iraq, he had come home and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Pigford: How to Get $50k from the Government for ‘Attempting to Farm’  —  The Pigford scandal is big enough that there's no reason to overstate the case or get the facts wrong.  Understanding what actually happened should be sufficient to make anyone deeply troubled.

E-Mail's Big Demographic Split  —  In an article in Tuesday's Times, I wrote about the changing status of e-mail.  Once it was cool to merely have an e-mail account (or several), but many young people now think of it as old school, and much prefer the zip of texting, instant messaging and social networks.

Fox News' Shep Smith Shames Coburn For Blocking 9/11 Bill: ‘This Is The Senator’ Blocking ‘Necessary Funding’  —  It appears even loyal Fox News has turned on Senate Republicans for their obstruction of the 9/11 first responders bill.  Fox & Friends demanded the bill be passed …