Perry Slumps in Polls, but Not to Romney's Gain  —  There have been three scientific national polls released of Republican voters since the Sept. 22 debate: a CNN poll that was conducted over the last weekend, and polls by Fox News and Economist/YouGov released on Wednesday.

Congress Takes Group Of Schoolchildren Hostage  —  WASHINGTON—Brandishing shotguns and semiautomatic pistols, members of the 112th U.S. Congress took a class of visiting schoolchildren hostage this morning, barricading themselves inside the Capitol rotunda, where they remain at press time.

Anti-Obama sign in Uptown neighborhood draws controversy  —  NEW ORLEANS — There are several political signs attracting all kinds of attention in one Uptown neighborhood.  —  On Wednesday, crowds gathered at the corner of Calhoun and Coralie streets, looking at several signs depicting President Barack Obama …

Christie seriously considering presidential bid after GOP prodding  —  By JOSH MARGOLIN in New York and S.A. MILLER in Washington  —  After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run — and could make his decision next week, The Post has learned.

A ‘Furious’ revelation  —  This just might be the smoking gun we've been waiting for to break the festering “Fast and Furious” gun-running scandal wide open: the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives apparently ordered one of its own agents to purchase firearms with taxpayer money …

Democrats Dispirited About Voting in 2012  —  Republicans' enthusiasm for voting matches 2004 and exceeds 2008  —  PRINCETON, NJ — In thinking about the 2012 presidential election, 45% of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual …

California and Bust  —  The smart money says the U.S. economy will splinter, with some states thriving, some states not, and all eyes are on California as the nightmare scenario.  After a hair-raising visit with former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who explains why the Golden State has cratered …

Shocking video shows attempted murder of teen outside Brooklyn McDonald's  —  Three toughs pulled off a choreographed plan to pass a gun between them like a hot potato before one of them opened fire at a teen outside a Brooklyn McDonald's - and all of it was caught on camera.

GOP's Solyndra probe threatens to ensnare Energy Secretary Chu  —  The controversy over a $535 million loan guarantee to the now-bankrupt California solar firm Solyndra is threatening to dim the star of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a physicist and Nobel Prize winner who has rarely been thrust into the political spotlight.

Janeane Garofalo: Racist Republicans Support Herman Cain  —  Janeane Garofalo: “Herman Cain is probably well liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican party.  Conservative movement and tea party movement, one in the same. ”

Americans reject the right's bogus ‘class warfare’ charge  —  It's become an article of faith among conservatives — and even some neutral commentators — that Obama'a newly aggressive populism and call for tax hikes on the rich is “class warfare,” a nakedly partisan play for the Democratic base …

Teacher penalizes students for saying “bless you”  —  FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Northern California teacher says he doesn't want to hear a common courtesy in his classroom.  —  He's even lowering students' grades if they say “bless you” after someone sneezes.

Draft spending bill would defund Obama healthcare law  —  House Republicans released a draft spending bill Thursday that would cut off funding for many parts of the healthcare reform law, though the bill remains deadlocked in the Appropriations Committee.  —  The draft legislation would attempt to derail implementation of the law.

Obama: A disaster for civil liberties  —  He may prove the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties.  —  President Obama failed to close Guantanamo Bay, continued warrantless surveillance and military tribunals and asserted the right to kill U.S. citizens he views as terrorists.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Will Seek Health Care Law Waiver To Establish Single Payer In His State  —  Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) wants to design his own universal health care system.  —  As ThinkProgress previously reported, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) made history earlier this year …

Killing the Recovery  —  The world has barely dug out of recession and the global economy is again slowing dangerously.  Most leaders seem eager to make things even worse.  —  Instead of looking for ways to reignite growth, Europe's leaders — and Republicans on Capitol Hill — are determined to slash public spending.

Breaking: anti-gay N.C. Senator Forrester falsifies credentials - and an open letter to the lawmaker  —  NOTE FROM PAM: It's sad that a lawmaker, namely North Carolina State Senator James Forrester, is so blinded by ignorance and bigotry that he embarrasses himself — and his cause …

Ladies and gentleman, we are currently cruising down Wall Street because we are fed up with our bosses!  Pilots stage protest  —  Wall Street saw yet another surge in protesters today - as hundreds of Continental and United Airlines pilots demonstrated in New York City's financial district.

Exclusive: Crook busted after robbing same bank for third day in row  —  Now that's customer loyalty.  —  A greedy bank robber starred in his own criminal version of “Groundhog Day” — holding up the same downtown Sovereign branch on three consecutive days before he was finally busted yesterday, police sources told The Post yesterday.