The Herman Cain Campaign Is Stuck on Stupid  —  If I were allowed to use the word retarded these days, I'd use it to describe the Herman Cain campaign these days.  But it is another word we've axed on the list for some legitimate reasons.  Truth be told, I sometimes still use it and I think it might fit here.

Is Obama Toast?  Handicapping the 2012 Election  —  Americans are usually forgiving when they vote a man into the White House and he wants a second term.  Of the last eight elected presidents, all but two — George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter — got their four more years.

Mercedes hits 2 Occupy Oakland protesters  —  (11-02) 21:35 PDT OAKLAND — A car struck two Occupy Oakland protesters tonight as they marched with a crowd along Broadway, and an angry mob surrounded the car as emergency workers tended to the injured.  —  The driver, who was not identified …

More Americans supporting Occupy Wall Street  —  (CNN) - As Americans learn more about Occupy Wall Street, they are becoming more supportive of the movement's positions, according to a new poll from ORC International.  —  The survey, taken Oct. 28-31, shows more adult Americans saying …

Greek crisis: Papandreou ‘to offer to resign’  —  Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is expected to offer his resignation within the next half-hour, sources in Athens have told the BBC.  —  Mr Papandreou will meet Greek President Karolos Papoulias immediately after an emergency cabinet meeting has finished.

As governor, Romney worked to reassure liberals  —  Mitt Romney was firm and direct with the abortion rights advocates sitting in his office nine years ago, assuring the group that if elected Massachusetts governor, he would protect the state's abortion laws.

Suit Against Photographer Seeks Re-creation of Wedding After Divorce  —  Of all the many things that make up a wedding, few are more important than the photographs.  —  Long after the last of the cake has grown stale and the tossed bouquet has wilted, the photos endure …

Occupy march winds through town in support of war veteran  —  Protesters take to the streets of Portland Wednesday night.  —  RELATED CONTENT  —  PORTLAND, Ore. - Occupy Portland protesters marched Wednesday night in a show of support for an Iraq War veteran injured in a confrontation with police at Occupy Oakland, Calif.

Pelosi: House is ‘in play’ in 2012  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that Democrats have a shot at taking back the House in 2012.  —  The former Speaker touted the diversity of the candidates the Democrats have recruited - “two generals, a colonel ... legislators …

Michele Bachmann Owes President Obama An Apology  —  This little gem was dropped last Friday during Michele Bachmann's interview with Wolf Blitzer.  I understand that politics involves a war of words, but Bachmann went too far on this.  Way too far.  —  Here's the snippet …

Biggest Public Firms Paid Little U.S. Tax, Study Says  —  Warren E. Buffett, take note.  It is not just a few wealthy individuals paying unusually low taxes to the federal government.  Corporate America is not far behind.  —  A comprehensive study released on Thursday found that 280 …

Polling the ‘sabotage’ question  —  To one degree or another, the “sabotage” question has been generating some debate for about a year now.  It is, admittedly, a provocative subject: are Republicans trying to hurt the nation's economy on purpose, simply to undermine the Obama presidency?

Tight Budgets, Loose Money: Why Both Liberals and Conservatives Are Wrong About How to Fix the Economy  —  Both the left and the right have been consistently peddling the wrong prescriptions for our economy.  Most liberals are focused on the need for additional fiscal stimulus …

Herman Cain campaign is an insult to my mother  —  On my first day at an all-white school in North Plainfield, N.J., and then again in Hazlet, N.J. and then again before I took off for college in Northfield, Minn., my mother delivered a lecture not unfamiliar to other kids of color (and women, for that matter).

Senate Committee Considers DOMA Repeal Bill, Moves Forward Out Gay Judicial Nominee  —  [Photo: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy opens a business committee meeting to consider the Respect for Marriage Act, as well as several judicial nominations.  (Photo by Chris Geidner.)]

McFib: The Awful Conditions at McDonald's McRib Pork Supplier  —  The Humane Society has filed a complaint alleging that Smithfield Foods, McDonald's pork supplier, stuffs its pigs in tiny gestation crates  —  Perhaps you've heard the news: The McRib is back!

A fresh face, a bold message, and a choice  —  History is filled with tales of newcomers running for political office or candidates who “don't have a chance” and are written off by the media.  Yet sometimes such candidates connect or spark a fire among the electorate and then actually get the attention of the media.

Texas judge confirms video of him beating daughter, says ‘I lost my temper’  —  Dallas (CNN) — A Texas judge faces a police investigation and judicial probe after a video showing him beating his then-16-year-old disabled daughter was posted on the Internet.

Report sparks fight over health law taxes  —  A new report commissioned by the insurance industry is sparking intense pushback from health reform proponents because it assumes the law's taxes on health insurance plans will be passed on to consumers.  —  The Oliver Wyman report estimates that the tax …

Lessons From History: Don't Be Too Quick to Pull Down the Curtain  —  Larry J. Sabato, Director, U.Va. Center for Politics  —  Over the decades, in every fourth year, we have noticed a tendency to close out the presidential nominating contest before the voting has even begun.

British military steps up plans for Iran attack amid fresh nuclear fears  —  British officials consider contingency options to back up a possible US action as fears mount over Tehran's capability  —  Britain's armed forces are stepping up their contingency planning for potential military action …

A City Shrinks, or So the Census Says  —  Honey, they've done it again.  They've gone out and shrunk the city.  This time it's the Census Bureau.  According to its latest calculations, New York City has shrunk by more than two square miles, or the equivalent of Central and Prospect Parks combined.