Newt Gingrich commits a capital crime  —  Newt Gingrich — the friend of his detractors, to whom he offers serial vindications — provided on Monday redundant evidence for the proposition that he is the least conservative candidate seeking the Republican presidential nomination: He faulted Mitt Romney for committing acts of capitalism.

The Protester  —  Once upon a time, when major news events were chronicled strictly by professionals and printed on paper or transmitted through the air by the few for the masses, protesters were prime makers of history.  Back then, when citizen multitudes took to the streets without weapons …

House Passes Extension of Cut to Payroll Taxes  —  WASHINGTON — Defying a veto threat from President Obama, the House on Tuesday passed a bill extending a cut in Social Security payroll taxes for 160 million Americans for another year.  But the Democratic majority in the Senate vowed to reject …

Realtors: We Overcounted Home Sales for Five Years  —  Data on sales of previously owned U.S. homes from 2007 through October this year will be revised down next week because of double counting, indicating a much weaker housing market than previously thought.

2.5 Million Young Adults Gain Health Insurance Due to the Affordable Care Act  —  This Issue Brief is available on the Internet at:  —  Printer Friendly version in PDF format (2 pages)  —  [Free PDF reader ]  —  How to Obtain a Printed Copy  —  Results released today [12/14/11] …

This slump won't end until 2031  —  Commentary: Our predicament parallels the Long Depression of 1870s  —  LONDON (MarketWatch) — In retrospect, it wasn't hard to see that the markets were becoming dangerously unstable.  Germany had just adopted a new monetary system, and Europe was being flooded with cheap German money.

Inside Wukan: the Chinese village that fought back  —  Something extraordinary has happened in the Chinese village of Wukan.  —  Thousands of Wukan's residents gathered for a second day in front of a triple-roofed pagoda that serves as the village hall  —  For the first time on record …

Mickey Mouse, Adolf Hitler Allowed On Wis. Recall Petitions  —  GAB Rules Address, Date More Important Than Names  —  MADISON, Wis. — The signatures of Mickey Mouse and Adolf Hitler will be counted on recall petitions targeting Gov. Scott Walker as long as they are properly dated and include …

My Tim Tebow Problem  —  I've got a Tim Tebow problem.  —  I want to root for the guy, but I'm afraid of what will happen if the hulky Denver Bronco quarterback continues to pull off what is fast becoming the Greatest Gridiron Story Ever Told.  Since taking over as starting quarterback earlier this season …

Eric Holder: Voter ID laws hurt minorities  —  Under increasing pressure from civil rights groups to take action against a wave of state voter identification laws, Attorney General Eric Holder issued a public warning Tuesday that the new laws could disenfranchise minority voters …

A First Iowa Forecast: Race Is Still Wide Open  —  We're a few days away from releasing the official version of our polling-based forecasts for the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.  But the statistical work behind the model is done, so I can give you a preview of what the forecasts will look like.

If I Were A Poor Black Kid  —  President Obama gave an excellent speech last week in Kansas about inequality in America.  —  “This is the defining issue of our time.”  He said.  “This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and for all those who are fighting to get into the middle class.