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.

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 …

GOP unveils strict new House rules  —  The new House Republican majority will force lawmakers to vote when they want to raise the nation's debt ceiling, publish committee attendance records, ban former members from lobbying in the House gym and require new mandatory spending to be offset by cuts to other programs.

Huck: Palin wrong, FLOTUS right  —  Potential GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says Sarah Palin's wrong and Michelle Obama's right, at least when it comes to the first lady's push to combat childhood obesity.  —  “With all due respect to my colleague and friend Sarah Palin …

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.

The rise of the Petulant Party  —  The lame-duck session of Congress has introduced Americans to the three-party system of government: the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Petulant Party.  —  Eight founding fathers of the Petulants took the stage Tuesday morning in the Senate TV studio …

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.

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.

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 …

The Net Neutrality Coup  —  The campaign to regulate the Internet was funded by a who's who of left-liberal foundations.  —  The Federal Communications Commission's new “net neutrality” rules, passed on a partisan 3-2 vote yesterday, represent a huge win for a slick lobbying campaign run by liberal activist groups and foundations.

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?

Jim DeMint and the war on Christmas vacation  —  South Carolina GOP Sen. Jim DeMint repeated today his claim that “millions of Americans” are “outraged” that Congress would dare work on major legislation, namely New START, this close to Christmas.  He previously called it “sacrilegious.”

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 …

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.

Is Rudy Giuliani a 2012 dark horse?  —  As a 2008 primary front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tanked.  But as a 2012 dark horse, he could do surprisingly well.  —  It's not because Giuliani has shifted; it's because the Republican Party has.

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 …

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.

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.

South Korea Begins New Round of Military Drills  —  SEOUL, South Korea — Despite previous warnings of retaliation from North Korea, the South Korean military continued to defy the North on Wednesday by launching a three-day naval drill in the Sea of Japan and scheduling an exercise by the army …

House poised to vote on 9/11 healthcare bill  —  House lawmakers are expected to vote Wednesday on legislation providing health coverage to rescue workers who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.  —  Lower-chamber lawmakers had hoped to adjourn Tuesday for the year …

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.