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.

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 …

Who Killed the Disneyland Dream?  —  OF the many notable Americans we lost in 2010, three leap out as paragons of a certain optimistic American spirit that we also seemed to lose this year.  Two you know: Theodore Sorensen, the speechwriter present at the creation of J.F.K.'s clarion call to …

Gibbs: 'It's going to be a while' before Gitmo prison is shut down  —  Even though nearly a year has passed since the administration's self-imposed deadline to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Sunday the facility will not go away any time soon.

Surprise Representative Plans Surprises of His Own in Washington  —  Joe Walsh's anonymity is dissipating and, by the time it's gone, we may have an answer to an intriguing political question.  —  If you win in anger, can you govern in anger?  —  Mr. Walsh was not just a little-noticed …

Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning's health ‘declining’  —  The only person to visit Wikileaks suspect Pte Bradley Manning in custody other than his lawyer says his health has declined in the past four months.  —  Pte Manning, a US soldier, is being held in solitary confinement …

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.”

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 …

Best, worst of YouTube politics  —  Back in the day, political currents could shift thanks to, say, a bad headline in the morning paper or a revealing story on the evening news.  —  Nowadays, videos posted online have proven just as powerful in upending the political world.

Iraqis defy threats to pack massacre church on Xmas  —  BAGHDAD — Hundreds of Christians packed Baghdad's Our Lady of Salvation church for Christmas on Saturday, defying threats of attacks less than two months after militants massacred worshippers and priests there.

Taliban Challenge U.S. in Eastern Afghanistan  —  JUMAH KALA, Afghanistan — The villagers gathered on mounds of dirt to watch as the American armored vehicles rolled in.  The streets were narrow and banked by high mud walls; the bulky vehicles could barely squeeze through.