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.

Why has the lame-duck session been so productive?  —  So far, the lame-duck session has managed to pass an $850 billion tax-cuts-and-stimulus deal, the repeal of DADT, the Defense Authorization bill, a continuing resolution to keep funding the federal government, the START treaty …

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 …

Americans See U.S. as Exceptional; 37% Doubt Obama Does  —  Majority believe U.S. at risk of losing status as greatest country in the world  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans widely agree that the United States has a unique character because of its history and Constitution that sets it apart …

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.

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.

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 …

After Early Administration Denials, Director of National Intelligence Admits He Hadn't Been Briefed on Alleged Terrorist Arrests in London  —  After initially suggesting that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's inability to answer a question from ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer …

At Kaplan University, ‘Guerilla Registration’ Leaves Students Deep In Debt  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … Arlen Castillo had just begun an online associate's degree program at Kaplan University when a family emergency forced a change of plans.  Her mother in Florida learned she needed extensive surgery …

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.

Obama: “Prepared to Implement”  —  ADVOCATE EXCLUSIVE OBAMA INTERVIEW: President Obama tells The Advocate the Pentagon is “prepared to implement” repeal of “don't ask, don't tell” and it will take months not years.  He also says he's “wrestling” with the issue of marriage equality.

Barney Frank completely pwns hapless CNS reporter attempting ‘gotcha’ DADT question  —  You can tell that all these reporters for right-wing propaganda organs like the Media Research Center spend waaaay too much time watching Fox News and their army of would-be ambush journalists.

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 …