Defiant Team Perry's plan: Hit harder  —  Rick Perry's widely panned debate performances?  Just a hiccup.  Any major changes in debate prep?  None planned.  His unexpected and deflating Florida straw poll loss last weekend?  Not a big deal.  —  Even as some of his supporters grow anxious …

First on CNN: Florida will likely hold Jan. primary, threatening presidential calendar  —  Washington (CNN) — Florida is now expected to hold its presidential primary on the last day in January 2012, a move likely to throw the carefully arranged Republican nominating calendar into disarray …

Solyndra Said to Have Violated Terms of Its U.S. Loan  —  Solyndra LLC had such steep financial problems in late 2010 that the company violated terms of its loan-guarantee agreement with the Department of Energy and technically defaulted on its $535 million loan, according to people familiar with the matter.

Obama's top ‘fat cat’ strays  —  JP Morgan honcho Jamie Dimon, once a “fat cat” ally of President Obama, seems to have strayed to Republican contender Mitt Romney.  —  Dimon, a lifelong Democrat who was rumored to be on Obama's short list for treasury secretary before he settled on Tim Geithner …

Christie's Father: ‘I Think He Would Beat Obama’  —  Trenton, N.J. — Bill Christie, Gov. Chris Christie's father, tells National Review Online that his son will make the final decision about a presidential bid.  But as the governor mulls, he can count his father as one of many Republicans …

Palin sends more mixed signals  —  Sarah Palin, as often, sent ambivalent signals in her interview on Fox News last night.  —  The clip that everyone is buzzing about last night and this morning as a sign that she's leaning against a run: … I say “ambivalent signals” because …

Obama Jobs Plan May Prevent 2012 Recession  —  President Barack Obama's $447 billion jobs plan would help avoid a return to recession by maintaining growth and pushing down the unemployment rate next year, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.  —  The legislation …

Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet, Targeting IPad  —  Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), the world's largest online retailer, unveiled its Kindle Fire tablet computer, taking aim at Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s bestselling iPad with a device that's smaller and less than half the price.

As Scorn for Vote Grows, Protests Surge Around Globe  —  MADRID — Hundreds of thousands of disillusioned Indians cheer a rural activist on a hunger strike.  Israel reels before the largest street demonstrations in its history.  Enraged young people in Spain and Greece take over public squares across their countries.

Despite Negativity, Americans Mixed on Ideal Role of Gov't  —  At the same time, the majority tend to see government reaching too far  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans have divided opinions when asked to think broadly about the purpose of government.  About as many Americans (35%) …

A Tea Party Invitation to Morgan Freeman  —  My name is Ali Akbar.  I'm a 26 year-old African-American small business owner and a tea party activist.  I'm not writing to rake you over the coals in the way that many conservatives have done in the last 48 hours.

New audio: NC governor struck serious tone on suspending congressional elections  —  If it was a joke, North Carolina Democratic Governor Bev Perdue needs to polish her delivery.  —  Newly released audio contradicts the claims of Perdue's press team that her call Tuesday for suspending Congressional election was a joke or hyperbole.

A President Who's Well-Liked Falls Well Short On Execution  —  President Obama faces head winds from independents, an important voting bloc for re-election in 2012.  Many of them think well of him personally, but they are disenchanted.  They don't like his policies, and they see him as inexperienced.

Euro Crisis  —  Related articles, background features and opinions about this topic.  —  The World from Berlin  —  Obama's Euro-Crisis Lecture Is ‘Pitiful and Sad’  —  Obama slammed the Europeans at an event in Mountain View, California on Monday.  —  US President Obama has given …

Rights Collide as Town Clerk Sidesteps Role in Gay Marriages  —  LEDYARD, N.Y. — Rose Marie Belforti is a 57-year-old cheese maker, the elected town clerk in this sprawling Finger Lakes farming community and a self-described Bible-believing Christian.  She believes that God has condemned homosexuality …

The Permanent Candidate  —  What's Driving Rick Perry?  —  The Tea Party movement had not yet fully impinged on the nation's consciousness when Rick Perry stepped to the podium outside Austin City Hall on April 15, 2009, to speak at a tax-day protest.  Wearing a big “DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS” …

Liberal Newsweek Editor Admits: Obama 'Wasn't Ready' to Be President  —  During an appearance on Morning Joe, Tuesday, Newsweek editor Tina Brown made an off-hand remark about Barack Obama, conceding that the politician “wasn't ready” to be President.  Brown has previously attacked Rush Limbaugh …

Ryan pitches voucher plan to replace Obama healthcare reforms  —  House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) proposed a conservative replacement to President Obama's healthcare reform bill at a speech at Stanford University on Tuesday, under which the government would provide a limited voucher to help Americans buy insurance.

9/11 Memorial Gun Ban Outrages First Responders, Retired Cops  —  LOWER MANHATTAN — Ten years and one week after Robert Reardon rushed to the fires at Ground Zero, the retired NYPD detective returned to the attack site and tried to visit the new 9/11 Memorial for the first time.

Obama Says He Can't Fix Immigration on His Own  —  Facing weakening support among Hispanics, President Barack Obama expressed deep frustration Wednesday over what he called an inaccurate and damaging perception that he can fix the nation's flawed immigration system on his own.

Al Qaeda to Iran: Stop Spreading 9/11 Conspiracy Theory  —  The terror group al Qaeda has found itself curiously in agreement with the “Great Satan” — which it calls the U.S. — in issuing a stern message to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: stop spreading 9/11 conspiracy theories.

Big Oil's Mountain of Cash  —  Oil Companies Cling to Tax Breaks While Hoarding Tens of Billions  —  A sign advertises gasoline prices at a Chevron gas station in Mountain View, California, Friday, January 28, 2011.  —  View Big Oil's cash assets and profits (.xls)