Is This Man the G.O.P.'s Best Bet for 2012?  —  Gail Collins: David, are you reconciled to the fact that Mitt Romney is going to be the Republican presidential nominee?  —  David Brooks: Oh, I went through that phase a few weeks ago after the debate at the Reagan library.

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.

More solar companies led by Democratic donors received federal loan guarantees  —  A Daily Caller investigation has found that in addition to the failed company Solyndra, at least four other solar panel manufacturing companies receiving in excess of $500 million in loan guarantees …

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 …

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 …

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.

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. ”

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 …

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.

Obama's health reform law rests with the Supreme Court  —  “Unfortunately the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Affordable Care Act's individual responsibility provision.  We strongly disagree with their decision and today, the Obama administration will ask the Supreme Court to hear this case …

Register exclusive: Newt Gingrich releases ‘21st Century Contract with America’  —  Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with his wife, Callista.  (AP photo)  —  Republican Newt Gingrich, who has positioned himself as the idea guy in this presidential campaign, will today call for Americans …

Chris Christie: Is New Jersey Governor Too Overweight to Become President?  —  For Chris Christie, there was no way around it.  “In case you haven't noticed, I'm slightly overweight,” he said during a debate in his successful campaign for governor.  —  Two years later, Christie is the man …

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.

Romney addresses his Achilles' heel  —  Last week, in one of the more amusing political claims of the year, Mitt Romney boasted, “I stand by my positions.  I'm proud of them.”  Given Romney's record of abandoning every policy position he's ever taken, it was hard not to marvel at his shamelessness.

The Perils of Ignoring History  —  There is an optimistic scenario for the U.S. economy: Europe gets its act together.  The pace of world growth quickens, igniting demand for U.S. exports.  American politicians agree to a credible compromise that gives the economy a fiscal boost now and restrains deficits later.

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 …

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.