Cain: God Convinced Him to Run for President  —  Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain gestures during a speech at the Values Voter Summit in October  —  ATLANTA, Ga. - Herman Cain, whose campaign could use some redemption in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal …

Poll: Obama disapproval rating on economy at record high  —  CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto  —  President Obama's ratings on the the most important issue for his re-election — the economy …

The Gingrich Surge Has Come  —  There's lots of buzz on Friday about national polls that are variously being interpreted as good news for Newt Gingrich, good or bad news for Mitt Romney, and good or bad news for Herman Cain.  So let's take a step back and focus on the bigger picture.

Cost, need questioned in $433-million smallpox drug deal  —  A company controlled by a longtime political donor gets a no-bid contract to supply an experimental remedy for a threat that may not exist.  —  The U.S. searched Iraq for weapons of mass destruction, including smallpox, after the 2003 invasion.

Iran explosion at Tehran military base  —  There has been at least one explosion in a military base west of Iran's capital, Tehran, officials say.  —  Several people have been killed after the blast in a weapons depot, according to the semi-official Fars news agency, but this has not been confirmed.

Herman Cain Wouldn't Be Romney's VP, But He Would Like To Be Secretary Of Defense  —  In the event that the American voters aren't sold on the presidential qualities honed by Herman Cain's experience as CEO of Godfather's Pizza, President of the National Restaurant Association or decade spent …

Renewable Energy: Bubble, Scam, or Both?  —  The lead story in today's New York Times is a devastating look at solar and wind power subsidies.  Too bad it appears on a Saturday when fewer people will read it (which may not be a coincidence).  The print hed and sub-hed tell it better than the online version …

Is this the sexiest political ad campaign ever?  Putin's model army strikes again with raunchy video to get Russians voting  —  They've washed cars in skimpy outfits and torn their clothes off - all to promote the hardman of Russian politics, Vladimir Putin.

Ad By Crossroads, Karl Rove's Outfit, Yanked Off Air For Being False (UPDATE) … WASHINGTON — An ad by Karl Rove-backed Crossroads GPS was yanked from rotation on a Montana cable show because it made claims that the network deemed false.  —  Recently a number of ads by the well-funded conservative outfit …

Italy Approves Strict Austerity Measures  —  ROME — Marking the end of a tumultuous week and of an era in Italian politics, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was expected to resign on Saturday evening after Parliament approved austerity measures sought by the European Union.

5 things to look for in GOP debate  —  Spartanburg, South Carolina (CNN) — The tenth debate of the topsy-turvy Republican campaign will take place at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Saturday night.  —  This time the sponsors are CBS News, The National Journal and the South Carolina Republican Primary.

Facts show Fannie, Freddie led mortgage market to the collapse  —  “We are delighted to participate in this historic event, and we are particularly proud that a substantial portion of the $8 billion commitment will directly benefit lower income Americans,” Countrywide Financial President Angelo Mozilo …

One Occupy protester arrested at conservative conference in Denver  —  Both Tina Korbe and I are attending the FreedomWorks BlogCon 2011, where a handful of Occupy Denver protesters started a protest in the lobby.  That prompted a loud counterprotest from the attendees here, and one arrest of an Occupier.

AN OPEN LETTER TO OCCUPY OAKLAND FROM THE OAKLAND POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION  —  On behalf of the 645 Oakland police officers we represent, this letter comes to you out of duty to protect the Oakland community and its citizens.  —  Oakland police officers are the 99% and we understand and sympathize with your message.