Obama Returns to End-of-Life Plan That Caused Stir  —  WASHINGTON — When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over “death panels,” Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system.  But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, starting Jan. 1.

Bundle Up, It's Global Warming  —  THE earth continues to get warmer, yet it's feeling a lot colder outside.  Over the past few weeks, subzero temperatures in Poland claimed 66 lives; snow arrived in Seattle well before the winter solstice, and fell heavily enough in Minneapolis to make the roof …

The Looming Crisis in the States  —  For most of this year, the state of Illinois has lacked the money to pay its bills.  Some of its employees have been evicted from their offices for nonpayment of rent, social service groups have laid off hundreds of workers while waiting for checks …

The U.S. gives Israel billions of dollars every year  —  Our tax dollars are being used to pay for:  —  King County officials Thursday cancelled the previously accepted bus ad  —  from the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign.  Stay tuned for follow up.  —  See Seattle Times article See Seattle PI article

Coburn: Get ready for “apocalyptic pain”  —  Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) warned Sunday of “apocalyptic pain” if the government does not change course on its spending patterns.  —  “I told you the other evening, if we didn't take some pain now, we're going to experience apocalyptic pain.

IT DEPENDS ON THE MEANING OF ‘EXTRAORDINARY’.... The head of the Republican Party in Palm Beach County, Florida, recently told Time that [shameless criminal] Gov.-elect Rick Scott (R) “is going to be within six months of taking office one of the most extraordinary national figures we've seen in years.”

Cables Portray Expanded Reach of Drug Agency  —  WASHINGTON — The Drug Enforcement Administration has been transformed into a global intelligence organization with a reach that extends far beyond narcotics, and an eavesdropping operation so expansive it has to fend off foreign politicians …

Banks and WikiLeaks  —  The whistle-blowing Web site WikiLeaks has not been convicted of a crime.  The Justice Department has not even pressed charges over its disclosure of confidential State Department communications.  Nonetheless, the financial industry is trying to shut it down.

Even after shellacking, 2012 looks OK for Obama  —  On Boxing Day, it's worth noting that Barack Obama is down but not out.  —  You could tell as much from the contrast between his petulant postelection press conference and his peppy pre-Christmas press conference.

Napolitano: Invasive scans, pat-downs unlikely to change  —  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday that controversial new airport security procedures are likely to remain in place since they have been effective.  —  Some airline passengers and lawmakers have objected …

Jarrett: Obama to spend more time outside of Washington in 2011  —  President Obama will spend more time outside of Washington, D.C., next year engaging with he public, according to a top White House adviser and close friend of the president.  —  One year before Obama faces reelection …

Daniels: Presidential hopefuls must address debt  —  INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said he will be looking to see whether 2012 presidential candidates are adequately addressing the nation's ballooning debt as he decides whether to enter the race for the Republican nomination.