Ron Paul: Sanctions against Iran are ‘acts of war’  —  Ron Paul campaigns during an event honoring veterans at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011.  (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)  —  Reporting from Perry, Iowa— Defending himself against charges of isolationism …

The Santorum Surge In Iowa and Beyond  —  The extent to which Rick Santorum has gained in Iowa polling is not entirely clear.  Although two polls have him with 16 percent of the vote, two others that were in the field at the same time have him at 10 and 11 percent, respectively.

EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Pelosi's Daughter: ‘My Mom Wants to Leave Congress’  —  Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of House Minority Leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told Big Government this week that her mother wants to leave Congress-and that she remains in Washington only at the behest of her campaign donors.

First Thoughts: Why not Santorum?  —  Santorum surges in new poll, but that surge could be short lived... Breaking down Iowa's conservative vs. non-conservative vote... Romney's playing to win in Iowa... What we learned in our Gingrich interview... Where have the Palins/Cains/Huckabees/DeMints gone?... And Kucinich vs. Kaptur in Ohio.

Little Change in Public's Response to ‘Capitalism,’ ‘Socialism’  —  A Political Rhetoric Test  —  OVERVIEW  —  The recent Occupy Wall Street protests have focused public attention on what organizers see as the excesses of America's free market system, but perceptions of capitalism …

White House Memo: Obama Gains Reputation as Distant in Washington  —  WASHINGTON — Air Force One had just landed in Manchester, N.H., on a brisk Tuesday morning last month when President Obama made an admission to Valerie B. Jarrett, his close friend and senior adviser.  —  “I just called Reggie,” Mr. Obama said.

Despite GOP opposition, light bulb standards will phase in on Jan. 1  —  New light bulb efficiency standards will begin phasing in on Jan. 1 despite intense opposition from conservatives, who have blasted the rules as a textbook unnecessary federal regulation.

Perry Draws Blank on Landmark Texas Anti-Sodomy Supreme Court Case  —  CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Texas Gov. Rick Perry admitted Thursday that he didn't know about the Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas, a case decided while he was governor which struck down the state's anti-sodomy law and similar laws in 13 others.

Rick Santorum's Two-Step Plan To End Poverty … WASHINGTON — At a campaign event in Iowa on Wednesday, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum laid out his simple two-point plan for eradicating poverty in America.  —  “Do you know if you do two things in your life — if you do two things in your life …

TNR On the Most Overlooked Stories of 2011  —  Lawrence Kaplan: America's Silent Withdrawal From Iraq  —  War is over.  —  No, really.  “Permanent” bases?  Absolutely not.  A decades-long partnership between Iraq and the United States?  With the American officials who guide the fortunes …

My Political Prediction for 2012: It's Obama-Clinton  —  My political prediction for 2012 (based on absolutely no inside information): Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden swap places.  Biden becomes Secretary of State — a position he's apparently coveted for years.  And Hillary Clinton, Vice President.

Source: Al Qaeda leader sends veteran jihadists to establish presence in Libya  —  (CNN) — Al Qaeda's leadership has sent experienced jihadists to Libya in an effort to build a fighting force there, according to a Libyan source briefed by Western counter-terrorism officials.