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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

“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 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?

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.

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.

Romney leads, Paul rises in N.H. poll  —  Gingrich's surge muted as 1st US primary nears  —  Mitt Romney (with his wife, Ann) has a clear lead in New Hampshire over Newt Gingrich, who could find himself eclipsed by Ron Paul, while Jon Huntsman appears to be carving out a niche by appealing to independent voters.

GOP senator says Tea Party challenges ‘killed off’ efforts at a Senate 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.

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.

Go Daddy loses over 37,000 domains due to SOPA stance  —  Hosting and domain registrar company Go Daddy has lost more than 37,000 domains in the past two days due to the company's wishy-washy stance on the Stop Online Piracy Act.  —  The fleeing domains comes as a result of the intense backlash …