Moving past right-wing rhetoric  —  We get it, Sarah Palin.  You're not morally culpable for the tragic shooting in Tucson, Ariz. All of us around the “Morning Joe” table agree, even if we were stunned that you would whine about yourself on Facebook as a shattered family prepared to bury their 9-year-old girl.

Toward a 21st-Century Regulatory System  —  If the FDA deems saccharin safe enough for coffee, then the EPA should not treat it as hazardous waste.  —  For two centuries, America's free market has not only been the source of dazzling ideas and path-breaking products, it has also been the greatest force …

Kent Conrad to retire  —  North Dakota Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad plans to announce his retirement today, according to two informed Democratic sources, creating a potentially prime pickup opportunity for Republicans in a GOP-leaning state.  —  Conrad, who currently chairs the Senate Budget Committee …

Poll shows high marks for Obama on Tucson, low regard for political dialogue  —  Americans overwhelmingly describe the tone of political discourse in the country as negative, verging on angry, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, but more than half say the culture did not contribute …

Government finds up to half of Americans under 65 have preexisting conditions  —  As many as 129 million Americans under age 65 have medical problems that are red flags for health insurers, according to an analysis that marks the government's first attempt to quantify the number of people …

Court rejects appeal over DC gay marriage law  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from opponents of same-sex marriage who want to overturn the District of Columbia's gay marriage law.  —  The court did not comment Tuesday in turning away a challenge from a Maryland pastor …

Bysiewicz declares for U.S. Senate  —  Susan Bysiewicz today declared herself a candidate for U.S. Senate, trying to put the disasters of 2010 behind her by getting an early jump on 2012, when U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is up for re-election.  —  Bysiewicz, 49, a Democrat whose career derailed …

Study: Many college students not learning to think critically  —  NEW YORK — An unprecedented study that followed several thousand undergraduates through four years of college found that large numbers didn't learn the critical thinking, complex reasoning and written communication skills …

China-style dictatorship of climatologists  —  NASA's Hansen prefers rule by decree to fight ‘global warming’  —  November's election made it quite clear that the people of the United States do not want to radically change our society in the name of global warming.

Amy Chua Is a Wimp  —  Sometime early last week, a large slice of educated America decided that Amy Chua is a menace to society.  Chua, as you probably know, is the Yale professor who has written a bracing critique of what she considers the weak, cuddling American parenting style.

Arizona statute could endanger Gabrielle Giffords's hold on seat  —  TUCSON - Even as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords shows signs of a near-miraculous recovery, with doctors on Sunday upgrading her condition from critical to serious, a little-known statutory provision in Arizona state law could endanger …

Shooting victim apologizes for ‘misplaced outrage’ at Tea Party leader  —  Tucson, Arizona (CNN) — Arizona shooting victim James Eric Fuller sent his apologies Monday for telling a Tea Party leader, “you are dead.”  —  Dorothy DeRuyter, a companion of Fuller's, provided CNN with a statement.

Cheney: Obama has learned that Bush policies were right  —  President Obama has “learned from experience” that some of the Bush administration's decisions on terrorism issues were necessary, according to former Vice President Dick Cheney.  —  In his first interview since undergoing major heart surgery …

Meredith Whitney Should Show Her Cards  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  Meredith Whitney should finally come clean.  —  The banking analyst who made a name for herself properly warning investors about the dire condition of the big banks a full year before the 2008 financial collapse …

Wonkbook: Health-care debate, round two  —  Health-care reform isn't getting repealed this week.  It's getting re-debated.  The GOP's control of the House — and thus of at least some of the agenda — gives them a second opportunity to make their case against the bill.

Democrats losing too many white voters, says civil rights leader  —  A leading civil rights leader in Congress believes the Democratic Party is losing too many white voters.  —  In an interview, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) said Democrats need to “go all out” to win back white, Southern voters before the next election.

Gov.-elect Robert Bentley intends to be governor over all, but says only Christians are his ‘brothers and sisters’  —  MONTGOMERY — Gov.-elect Robert Bentley in a speech at a Baptist church this afternoon said he plans to be the governor of all Alabamians and be color-blind …

Pay to Play On Texas Inauguration Day  —  If you live in Texas, or if your professional life is in some way impacted by Texas public policy, you might like a meeting with Texas Governor Rick Perry.  And he's happy to meet with you if you help throw him a lavish party:

Palin needs to ‘be more careful,’ Gingrich says  —  (CNN) - Sarah Palin is getting more advice from fellow Republicans - this time from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who says the former Alaska governor needs to “slow down.”  —  Speaking on ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday …

Suicide bomber targets police recruits in Tikrit; nearly 60 believed dead, 150 more wounded  —  A suicide bomber wrapped in explosives blew himself up among hundreds of young recruits looking to become police officers in Tikrit on Tuesday.  —  Latest estimates suggest as many as 60 were killed, another 150 wounded in the blast.