Obama: The conservative in 2012  —  At a moment when the nation wonders whether politicians can agree on anything, here is something that unites the Republican presidential candidates — and all of them with President Obama: Everyone agrees that the 2012 election will be a turning point involving …

“We Don't Have Our ‘A Team’ on the Field”  —  Speaking of discontent with the Republican field, I talked the other day to a pretty prominent conservative officeholder who's constantly been discussing with people around the country the possibility of a new entrant or a push to draft someone.  But who?

The Freedom To Oppress: Why Ron Paul's Old Racist Newsletters Matter  —  Let's face it — Ron Paul's lame denials about his repulsively racist and homophobic newsletters of the '80s and '90s on CNN should permanently lay to rest everyone's favorite myth about the man, i.e., that he's a “straight shooter” and an “honest man”.

The top unanswered questions for 2012  —  Plenty of big questions were answered in 2011:  —  Will tea party-aligned Republicans emerge as a potent force on Capitol Hill?  Yes.  —  Will New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie run for president?  No.  —  Can the president notch a major national security victory?

Mitt Romney's secret money  —  MITT ROMNEY is zero for two when it comes to transparency in campaigning.  —  First, Mr. Romney — breaking with the practice of previous Republican presidential candidates, including George W. Bush and John McCain — has refused to release the identities of his bundlers …

A SWIFT Denial - How In Europe, Even Admission Of A “Plan B” Is Equivalent To Failure  —  While we have long known that the drachma, and recently the lira, have seen significant “when issued” interest by institutional clients desiring to hedge their currency collapse exposure …

Schumer bro-in-law judge nod stuns NJ  —  Sen. Charles Schumer's brother-in-law was quietly nominated this month to a federal judgeship in New Jersey — a move that has some in the Garden State crying political foul, The Post has learned.  —  Kevin McNulty, who is married to Schumer's sister …

Sen. Harry Reid's Unicorns: Fact Checking a Whopper  —  Tax policy should be serious business carried out by serious politicians using real facts and figures.  This is why we have the Library of Congress and the Congressional Budget Office, among other expert institutions.

Springtime for Toxics  —  Here's what I wanted for Christmas: something that would make us both healthier and richer.  And since I was just making a wish, why not ask that Americans get smarter, too?  —  Surprise: I got my wish, in the form of new Environmental Protection Agency standards on mercury and air toxics for power plants.

Romney leads, Paul rises in N.H. poll  —  Newt Gingrich's surge has slowed and Ron Paul has gained momentum, but Mitt Romney remains the clear front-runner in New Hampshire with a little more than two weeks until the nation's first primary, according to a new Boston Globe poll.

Goldwater Institute an Aggressive Conservative Watchdog  —  PHOENIX — Clint Bolick looks like any other high-powered lawyer, for the most part.  But glance down at his index finger, which sports a scorpion tattoo, for first-hand evidence of his unconventional streak.

Islamists kill dozens in Nigeria Christmas bombs  —  (Reuters) - Islamist militants set off bombs across Nigeria on Christmas Day - three targeting churches including one that killed at least 27 people - raising fears that they are trying to ignite sectarian civil war.

Nun's remains miraculously healed New York woman, Vatican says  —  Mother Marianne Cope is elevated to sainthood after the Vatican authenticates a second miracle that was a result of her intercession — the use of her bone fragments to cure a woman with acute pancreatitis.

GOP senator says Tea Party challenges ‘killed off’ efforts at Republican majority  —  Sen. Dick Lugar (Ind.) facing a primary contest from the right in his reelection bid said past Tea Party-backed challenges had “killed off” Republican efforts to take the Senate in the past and could undermine a GOP majority again in 2012.