Topline Results of Nov. 29-Dec. 6, 2011, CNN/TIME/ORC Poll  —  FLORIDA  —  BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH 446 REGISTERED REPUBLICANS WHO ARE LIKELY TO VOTE IN THE FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY — SAMPLING ERROR: +/- 4.5 PERCENTAGE PTS.  —  1. If the Republican presidential primary were held today …

Documents: ATF used “Fast and Furious” to make the case for gun regulations  —  Documents obtained by CBS News show that the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) discussed using their covert operation “Fast and Furious” to argue for controversial new rules about gun sales.

Obama administration refuses to relax Plan B restrictions  —  The federal government Wednesday rejected a request to let young teenage girls buy the controversial morning-after pill Plan B directly off drugstore and supermarket shelves without a prescription.

A Farewell to Common Sense, Style, and Service on American Airlines … Airlines , American Airlines , Alec Baldwin , Alec Baldwin American Airlines , Flight Attendants , Flying , Travel News  —  First off, I would like to apologize to the other passengers onboard the American Airlines flight that I was thrown off of yesterday.

Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years  —  Disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison after he made a final plea for leniency, acknowledging his guilt and saying, “I am unbelievably sorry.”  —  “I believe he did, in fact, accept [responsibility] …

Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at 96  —  Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series “M*A*S*H,” died Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles.  He was 96.

Islamic cleric bans women from touching bananas, cucumbers for sexual resemblance  —  Cucumbers are forbidden for women, says Islamic sheikh.  —  CAIRO: An Islamic cleric residing in Europe said that women should not be close to bananas or cucumbers, in order to avoid any “sexual thoughts.”

Lawmakers Blast Administration For Calling Fort Hood Massacre ‘Workplace Violence’  —  Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday blasted the Defense Department for classifying the Fort Hood massacre as workplace violence and suggested political correctness is being placed above the security of the nation's Armed Forces at home.

Why a Gingrich vs. Obama Matchup Would Be Good For the Country  —  I sincerely hope Newt Gingrich wins the Republican nomination for president: It could bring a healthy candor to our politics and end up boosting the fortunes of liberalism as well.  Now, I realize the former Speaker may not be able …

Israel rift roils Democratic ranks  —  Two of the Democratic Party's core institutions are challenging a bipartisan consensus on Israel and Palestine that has dominated American foreign policy for more than a decade.  —  The Center for American Progress, the party's key hub of ideas and strategy …

Voters Flee Democratic Party in Key Swing States  —  President Obama's uphill battle to re-election is getting steeper.  —  A report released today by the centrist think-tank Third Way showed that more than 825,000 voters in eight key battleground states have fled the Democratic Party since Obama won election in 2008.

Air Force dumped ashes of more troops' remains in Va. landfill than acknowledged  —  The Air Force dumped the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a Virginia landfill, far more than the military had acknowledged, before halting the secretive practice three years ago, records show.

Ryan tries new budget tactic  —  Ryan unveiled 10 bills to reform a budget process that has frustrated both parties.  —  House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) unveiled 10 different bills on Wednesday that would change a budget process that has frustrated both parties …

Warren Cursed by the Bambino … DONATE Email Print Send to Instapaper  —  In today's election news, a candidate for the World's Most Deliberative Body is facing an earth-shattering scandal because she said “2008” when she should have said “2007,” demonstrating to all that she is utterly incapable …

Nasa's Voyager 1 in ‘cosmic purgatory’ on verge of entering Milky Way  —  Nasa's Voyager 1 has entered a new region of space between the Solar System and interstellar space in what Nasa has described as a ‘cosmic purgatory’.  —  Nasa's Voyager 1 spacecraft

Gingrich Promise Breaks the Law  —  Newt Gingrich promised he would ask former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton “to be his secretary of state if he's elected president next year,” the Washington Times reports.  —  Unfortunately, naming individuals you would appoint to office before the election is apparently illegal.

1. Occupy Wall Street Protests Spread  —  On Sept. 17, a couple hundred protesters demonstrating against the excesses of corporate execs and the pervasive influence of high finance in U.S. politics set up camp in Lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park and refused to leave.

Fifth Circuit: Holy Land Foundation convictions upheld on appeal  —  Today a Fifth Circuit judicial panel released a highly anticipated opinion affirming the convictions against the five organizers of the former Richardson-based Holy Land Foundation on charges that they conspired to funnel money to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

Sidwell Friends School, Sasha and Malia Obama's School, Opts For Asian, including Japanese Food On Pearl Harbor Day  —  Sidwell Friends School's website shows the menu for Wednesday December 7th, 2011, the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, as an Asian food day.

Moore: “Wall Street Has Their Man And His Name Is Barack Obama”  —  MICHAEL MOORE, ON CNN: Well, “The Washington post” three weeks ago had this investigation and they said that President Obama has now raised more money from Wall Street and the banks for this election cycle than all — than all eight Republicans combined.

Jon Huntsman dials back squishiness on climate change  —  POLITICO's James Hohmann reports:

Limbaugh Declares Fox News and National Review to Be Un-Conservative  —  The talk-radio host takes right-wing heretic-hunting to its logical conclusion … Has there ever been a less conservative sentiment uttered than the one above?  —  Yet its creator, Rush Limbaugh …

Death penalty dropped against Mumia Abu-Jamal  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Prosecutors announced Wednesday that they will no longer pursue the death penalty against former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison for gunning down a white police officer nearly 30 years ago.

Rick Perry TV ad hits President Obama ‘war on religion’  —  Rick Perry's latest spot in his Iowa ad buy rotation is another faith-based appeal, but one that has one of the most audible dog-whistles so far this cycle about President Obama.  —  In the spot, “Strong,” Perry says …

Mayor Menino to Occupy campers: Take a hike  —  Hours after a judge lifted an injunction, Mayor Thomas M. Menino called on the defiant Occupy Boston protesters to strike their tents and stop camping at Dewey Square.  —  “The conditions at Dewey Square have deteriorated significantly and pose very real health and safety risks.