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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Obama Approval Rises, But Hazards Remain  —  Obama's Job Approval Has Matched his Highest in More Than a Year  —  Aided by his response to the Tucson shootings, popular lame-duck legislation and a hint of economic relief, Barack Obama has matched his highest job approval rating in more than a year …

Cheney: Obama finding we were right about terror  —  “I've met a lot of friends who publicly have made the claim or the charge, 'That's not the Dick Cheney I knew.' I was tough, aggressive.  But the notion that somehow I changed — that I became tough, mean and nasty — no, I don't think so,” Cheney said.

Experts doubt GOP claim that health care law's a ‘job killer’  —  WASHINGTON — Despite what Republicans say, the 2010 health care law isn't necessarily a job killer.  —  Republicans have titled their effort to overturn the law the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act,” and that's their favorite talking point against it.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Hispanic Intermarriage  —  Jeb Bush tries to make the case for a pro-immigration, pro-immigrant, pro-Latino posture for conservatives: … Jon Chait objects to this twice in response to Ezra Klein who defends Bush.  I want to recommend Jamelle Bouie on this subject who makes excellent points …

Bill Clinton, Andy Samberg Hit Chicago to Back Rahm Emanuel for Mayor … Chicago mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel gains fundraising help this week from former President Bill Clinton and Andy Samberg, who portrayed Emanuel as a foul-mouthed White House chief of staff in skits on “Saturday Night Live.”