Impressions of Tonight's Debate  —  The GOP presidential debate is coming to a close.  Here are some random thoughts:  —  * I doubt that many people saw it.  My wife wasn't able to find it on television, and finally tracked it down on the internet, when it was half done.  So the impact is likely to be slight.

Obama's jobs plan blocked in Senate  —  President Obama received a slap from members of his own party Tuesday as the Senate voted 50-49 to block his $447 billion jobs package.  —  The jobs plan, which the president has spent much of the last month touting on a cross-country tour, fell well short of the 60 votes it needed to proceed.

U.S. Says Iran-Tied Terror Plot in Washington, D.C. Disrupted  —  FBI and DEA agents have disrupted a plot to commit a “significant terrorist act in the United States” tied to Iran, federal officials told ABC News today.  —  The officials said the plot included the assassination …

Occupy L.A. Speaker: Violence will be Necessary to Achieve Our Goals  —  Citizen journalist Ringo captured this speaker at the Occupy Los Angeles camp a few days ago letting the cat out of the bag: After dismissing nonviolence as a dead end, he admits that for the Occupiers to achieve their goals …

Family of Al Qaeda's Samir Khan Gets ‘Condolence Call’ From U.S. State Department  —  The U.S. State Department made a phone call to the family of Al Qaeda propagandist Samir Khan to offer the government's condolences on his death during a U.S. drone strike in Yemen, a department spokesman confirms.

Israel Reaches Deal With Hamas to Free Gilad Shalit  —  JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas announced an agreement on Tuesday to exchange more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza for five years, a deal brokered by Egypt that seemed likely to shake …

Slovakia votes down eurozone bailout expansion plans  —  Slovakian Prime Minister Iveta Radicova had urged MPs to support the expansion measures  —  Slovakia's parliament has voted against measures to bolster the powers of the eurozone bailout fund, seen as vital in combating the bloc's debt crisis.

Voters share blame for gridlock in Congress, Dem leader says  —  House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) suggested Tuesday that voters are to blame for the partisan bickering and standoffs that have defined Congress this year.  —  The Maryland Democrat said voters are “absolutely right” …

Michelle Obama often unrecognized  —  Michelle Obama says when she takes a trip to Target or Petco, she is often surprised that people don't even recognize her.  —  “It's amazing how people don't recognize you,” the first lady said in an interview that aired on NBC Wednesday morning.

Obama: 'I'm a fourth-quarter player'  —  (CNN) - President Barack Obama compared his re-election bid to a game of basketball, to make the point to Democratic supporters that he's a strong closer.  —  The president made his comments Tuesday night at the second of two campaign fundraisers in Florida.

Wall Street's Gullible Occupiers  —  The protesters have been sold a bill of goods.  Reckless government policies, not private greed, brought about the housing bubble and resulting financial crisis.  —  There is no mystery where the Occupy Wall Street movement came from …

Longtime gay activist Frank Kameny dies  —  Frank Kameny (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)  —  Franklin E. Kameny, one of the nation's most prominent gay rights leaders, died in his home today apparently from natural causes.  He was 86.  —  The death came less than a month …