Polling the Occupy Wall Street Crowd  —  In interviews, protesters show that they are leftists out of step with most American voters.  Yet Democrats are embracing them anyway.  —  President Obama and the Democratic leadership are making a critical error in embracing the Occupy Wall Street movement …

Thieves steal truck with President's equipment  —  HENRICO, VA (WWBT) - NBC12 has uncovered one of those stories that makes you think: “How in the world does that happen?!”  A truck filled with President Obama's podiums and audio equipment was stolen in Henrico just days before his visit to Chesterfield.

“Christopher Columbus Was the First Zionist”  —  Someone leaked a batch of emails that have been exchanged by leaders of the Occupy Wall Street group.  I've only dipped into them briefly, but some are pretty entertaining.  This thread reminded me of my days as a leftist …

Hamas Frees Israeli Soldier as Prisoner Swap Begins  —  JERUSALEM — The Islamist Palestinian group Hamas on Tuesday released an Israeli soldier captured more than five years ago, initiating an elaborate exchange as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on Israeli buses began their journey …

New healthcare fight is joined as White House's 2010 law implodes  —  Congressional Republicans on Monday called for the immediate repeal of a major component of the 2010 healthcare reform law as the issue blew up in the administration's face.  —  The seemingly unworkable long-term care benefit contained …

Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana Use  —  Liberals and those 18 to 29 most in favor; Americans 65 and older most opposed  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year.

Thieves preying on fellow protesters  —  It's a den of thieves!  —  Occupy Wall Street protesters said yesterday that packs of brazen crooks within their ranks have been robbing their fellow demonstrators blind, making off with pricey cameras, phones and laptops — and even a hefty bundle of donated cash and food.

White House Denies **Was President Obama Really Sitting in Front of an Assembly Line in this Video?  —  UPDATE: The White House has responded to our inquiry and they deny that this week's weekly address video was shot in front of a green screen.  They also explained that the production line …

Hillary Clinton again says she won't run for president in 2016  —  (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images / October 14, 2011)  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton, the woman seemingly born to become the first female president of the United States, on Monday again ruled out a race for the top office in 2016 …

Iran Hikers Show Support for Occupy Movement  —  Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal spoke in Oakland Monday.  —  From left, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal, the three University of California at Berkeley graduates who were imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges, speak at an “Occupy Oakland” rally.

New Mortgage Plan Floated  —  Underwater Borrowers Current on Payments Would Get Help  —  State and federal officials are pushing a plan that could help some “underwater” borrowers get refinancing assistance in the latest government bid to break a legal impasse with big banks …

Perry Campaign's Payment for Private Jet Raises Questions  —  In the first two weeks of Rick Perry's presidential campaign, his aides turned to Brian D. Pardo, a Texas businessman under investigation by federal securities regulators, to use his Cessna Citation X business jet to fly to campaign events.

Iowa GOP officials set date for the Republican caucuses: Jan. 3  —  Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn said tonight that the actions of early-state newcomer Nevada have exacerbated problems and unnecessarily crowded the January calendar.  (Register file photo)  —  Iowa GOP leaders …

Herman Cain Was Joking About Electrified Border Fence...Err, He Might Be Serious...Err, He Doesn't Want to Offend Anyone  —  Presidential candidate Herman Cain met with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio this afternoon, but he was late to the meeting because of an unknown security threat.

Trump bolsters Bachmann on telephone town hall  —  Michele Bachmann got a boost from Donald Trump on a tele-town hall tonight, a call on which her campaign claimed more than 200,000 listeners took part.  —  Trump opened by saying he had a “lot of respect” for Bachmann, with whom he had breakfast last week …

Obama: GOP Wants “Dirtier Air, Dirtier Water, Less People With Health Insurance”  —  “My plan says we're going to put teachers back in the classrooms, construction workers back to work,” President Obama said at a campaign event today.  “Tax cuts for small businesses, tax cuts for hiring veterans …

Herman Cain Claimed That A ‘Liberal Court’ Killed Jesus  —  Herman Cain Thinks This Guy Was The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Of His Era  —  Daily Kos's bernardpliers recalls a Herman Cain column from December 2010 where the GOP presidential primary candidate appears to complain that Jesus was killed by liberals.

K Street suffers from Twitter jitters  —  There are no smoke-filled backrooms in cyberspace — or even a spot for a simple hallway conversation.  —  So some lobbyists are shocked these days to walk into congressional offices and find staffers communicating not by phone but through Facebook.