Cain aide wrongly insists they've ‘confirmed’ accuser's son works for POLITICO  —  Herman Cain campaign manager Mark Block, in an appearance with Sean Hannity on Fox News just now, insisted that a relative of the second woman to publicly accuse the candidate of sexual harassment in the 1990s works at POLITICO.

A Very Good Night for Democrats  —  In state elections across the country Tuesday, voters rejected Republican attempts to pursue a far right-wing agenda  —  Democrats had a very good election night on Tuesday.  —  Their cherished causes prevailed, they kept their statehouses …

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.

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 …

House Republican lawmakers want out of Norquist tax pledge  —  Grover Norquist's grip on the House Republican Conference is loosening.  —  A growing number of GOP lawmakers have disavowed Norquist's pledge against supporting tax increases in recent days, telling The Hill they no longer feel bound …

A few thoughts on the November 8 elections  —  The biggest result was Ohio Governor John Kasich's defeat on Issue 2.  The 61% of the votes cast (according to Associated Press tallies at the time I am writing) for repealing the law Kasich sponsored and the Republican majorties in the legislature …

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 …

Va. elections: GOP Senate takeover hangs on 86 votes  —  Virginia Democrats' hopes of maintaining their party's hold on the Commonwealth's upper house were very much in doubt late Tuesday, hinging on a razor-thin count in a single Senate district.  —  When the ballot-counting ended for the night …

Occupy Oakland makes $20K deposit at Wells Fargo  —  Last week, one or more Occupy Oakland protesters smashed the windows of a Wells Fargo branch.  —  This week, the group's general assembly agreed — in a near-unanimous vote Monday — to temporarily place $20,000 of the group's money …

Obama nixes federal swag  —  As a part of President Barack Obama's efforts cut down on spending, here's what you'll be seeing less of: swag.  —  On Wednesday, Obama will sign an executive order that will direct government agencies to, among other things, “stop using taxpayer dollars to buy swag.”

Generation Jobless: Students Pick Easier Majors Despite Less Pay  —  Biyan Zhou wanted to major in engineering.  Her mother and her academic adviser also wanted her to major in it, given the apparent career opportunities for engineers in a tough job market.

David Gregory: No “Grand Wizard” In GOP To Force Cain Out  —  On Wednesday's “Today” show, host of NBC's “Meet the Press” David Gregory says there is no “Grand Wizard” right now in the GOP to “force” Cain out of the primary.  Transcript below: Ann Curry, NBC News: “He's not stepping down …

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.”

Barclays Says Italy Is Finished: “Mathematically Beyond Point Of No Return”  —  Euphoria may have returned briefly courtesy of yet another promise for a resignation that will likely not be effectuated for weeks or months, if at all, and already someone has done the math on what the events in the past several days reveal for Italy.

What a trip!  Time-lapse video captures 12,225-mile road journey across America... in just FIVE minutes  —  A freelance photographer took to the road for inspiration and came back from his trip with a time lapse video speeding across 12,225 miles in just under five minutes.

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.