Obama says he's not bound by Guantanamo, gun-control provisions  —  President Obama said Friday he will not be bound by at least 20 policy riders in the 2012 omnibus funding the government, including provisions pertaining to Guantanamo Bay and gun control.  —  After he signed the omnibus …

Obama's worst error  —  President Obama missed the boat on tax reform.  He put politics above entitlement reform.  He worsened already-tense relations with Israel.  But the worst error, in large part because it was both avoidable and is not irreversible, was to pull all troops out of Iraq.

The Big Lie  —  So this is how the Big Lie works.  —  You begin with a hypothesis that has a certain surface plausibility.  You find an ally whose background suggests that he's an “expert”; out of thin air, he devises “data.”  You write articles in sympathetic publications …

Gingrich's Ballot Miss Could Shake Voters' Confidence  —  Newt Gingrich declared confidently the other day that he would get his name on the ballot for the Republican presidential primary in Virginia.  In fact, he said he already had the requisite 10,000 signatures and an additional 2,000 …

Larry Ribstein, Rest in Peace  —  My former colleague and dear friend Larry Ribstein passed away this morning.  Ribstein had a powerful intellect and iron will.  His contributions to legal scholarship are many.  In recent years, he has been best know for his work on the “uncorporation” …

Gingrich Defends South Carolina's Decision To Fly Confederate Flag At Capital  —  At an event in South Carolina yesterday, Newt Gingrich was asked by a town hall participant to offer his views regarding the state's decision to fly the Confederate flag at the statehouse in Columbia.

Candidate warned of looming confrontation in 90's fundraising letter  —  Less than two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, Ron Paul is trying desperately to stave off the fate that befell Herman Cain, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race under a cloud of scandal.

Egypt: Islamists consolidate gains in 2nd round of parliamentary elections  —  CAIRO — Islamist parties have consolidated earlier gains in Egypt's multistage parliamentary elections, winning nearly 70 percent of the seats determined so far, according to results announced Saturday.

How to Discuss Climate Change With Your Uncle During the Holidays  —  by Russell McLendon, in a Mother Nature Network cross-post  —  Most people know better than to bring up politics, religion or climatology in polite company.  It's a recipe for arguments, or at least for awkwardness.

Barbara Walters' Slobbering Interview With Obama: What Super Power Do You Want?  —  Barbara Walters, who famously asked Katherine Hepburn what type of tree she was, may have outdone herself in a slobbering interview with Michelle and Barack Obama.  In previews of Friday's “20/20” segment …

When Islam met the diversity industry...  This week, I was told about a London primary school whose pupils are overwhelmingly Muslim.  It isn't having a nativity play.  There was a plan to sing carols in a lesson, but parents banned their children from attending.  Mixed swimming lessons will soon be a thing of the past.

On Taxes, ‘Modeling,’ and the Vision Thing  —  The GOP front-runner says Iran is ‘evil,’ Newt Gingrich is wrong on judges, and he might consider a value-added tax.  He also explains why his penchant for ‘data’ and analysis won't limit his ability to lead as president.  —  New York