Mark Block: Did you know that the son of Cain's accuser works for Politico?  —  I did not know that.  He's, er ... not thinking of Josh Kraushaar, is he? … Josh Kraushaar is tweeting in disbelief tonight: … Could a man who accused Rick Perry on national television of a “despicable” …

Arizona Topples Senate President Russell Pearce, SB 1070 Immigration Law Architect, in Historic Recall Vote  —  Arizona , Jan Brewer , President Obama , Tea Party , Jerry Lewis , Randy Parraz , Citizens For a Better Arizona , Immigration Reform , Russell Pearce , Sb 1070 , Politics News

Anti-abortion ‘personhood’ amendment fails in Mississippi  —  A constitutional amendment that would have defined a fertilized egg as a person failed on the ballot in Mississippi on Tuesday, dealing the so-called “personhood” movement another blow.  —  Amendment 26 supporter Sandy Comer puts …

Obama Couldn't Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax  —  President Obama's Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

Bloomberg defends New York's Occupy protesters  —  Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York City on Wednesday, saying that his city has not had the “the kinds of things you see in other cities where people are running in the streets and destroying commerce.”

Ohio Voters Reject Republican-Backed Union Limits  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state's new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.

GOP poised to take over Virginia Senate  —  RICHMOND — Republicans were on the verge of taking over the Virginia Senate on Tuesday night and clinching control of all of state government for only the second time in more than a century.  —  The GOP appeared to have picked up two seats in the Senate …

Republicans offer tax deal to break debt impasse; Democrats dismiss it  —  Congressional Republicans have offered to increase tax revenue by nearly $300 billion over the next decade through an overhaul of the tax code, a significant concession aimed at breaking a long-standing impasse in negotiations over the federal debt.

Berlusconi pledge fails to calm markets  —  By Guy Dinmore and Giulia Segreti in Rome and David Oakley and Tom Burgis in London  —  Italy's borrowing costs on Wednesday rose into territory seen as unsustainable by analysts and traders despite a pledge from Silvio Berlusconi …

GOP Rep. Joe Walsh Melts Down, Screams At Constituents: ‘Dont Blame Banks!...I Am Tired Of Hearing That Crap!’  —  Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) erupts at a constituent who asked about the bank lobby  —  Freshman Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) is known for his anti-Obama rhetoric on cable television and his inability to pay his child support payments.

Why Gingrich Could Win  —  Herman Cain's prospects were good until this week brought accusatory testimony from a woman who showed up in person, with detail.  —  Newt Gingrich's rise in the polls—from near zero to the third slot in several polls—should come as no surprise to people …

Post Roast: Jennifer Rubin's retweet  —  Is a news organization responsible for what its journalists put out on Twitter?  And what if those journalists are opinion writers?  Those questions came up in October when The Post's Right Turn opinion blogger, Jennifer Rubin, retweeted a controversial tweet …

Man found dead in Occupy New Orleans encampment  —  A 53-year-old man was found dead Tuesday inside a tent pitched at the Occupy New Orleans encampment at Duncan Plaza across from City Hall.  He appears to have been living in the tent inside the occupation zone, said John Gagliano …

GOP debates enter elimination round  —  The 2012 Republican primary is about to enter the elimination round.  —  When the GOP presidential candidates meet in Michigan Wednesday for a CNBC debate on the economy, they'll no longer be looking to make a first impression.