Romney at Bain: Big Gains, Some Busts  —  Mitt Romney's political foes are stepping up attacks based on his time running investment firm Bain Capital, tagging him with making a fortune from the rougher side of American capitalism—even as Mr. Romney says his Bain tenure shows he knows how to build businesses.

William Daley to step down as Obama's chief of staff  —  White House Chief of Staff William Daley, left, confers with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney as President Barack Obama addresses the media in the briefing room of the White Hous.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images / December 8, 2011)

‘I like being able to fire people’  —  Mitt Romney's detractors in both parties are eager to point out one of the more glaring problems with the former governor's background: he's put thousands of Americans out of work.  —  And with that push in mind, Romney's critics could hardly believe …

Todd Palin Endorses Newt Gingrich  —  ABC News' Santina Leuci and Z. Byron Wolf report:  —  Sarah Palin's husband is endorsing Newt Gingrich for president, Todd Palin told ABC News today.  —  But Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and John McCain's 2008 Republican running mate …

Media mob chases Ron Paul from campaign stop in New Hampshire  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. — A campaign stop at a New Hampshire eatery unraveled into a bit of a circus when the media scrum chasing Ron Paul apparently became too much for the 76-year-old Texas congressman to handle.

Record-High 40% of Americans Identify as Independents in '11  —  More Americans identify as Democrats than as Republicans, 31% to 27%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The percentage of Americans identifying as political independents increased in 2011, as is common in a non-election year …

Mitt Romney Campaign Disavows Pro-Gay Rights Flyer From 2002 … GOP Debate , Mitt Romney , Republican Debate , Video , New Hampshire Primary , Romney Gay Rights , Romney New Hampshire , Mitt Romney 2012 , New Hampshire Primary 2012 , New Hampshire Romney , Social Issues , Politics News

Snoop Dogg Wants to Get High With President Obama and Convince Him to Legalize Weed  —  As always, Snoop Dogg has an innovative approach to getting things done.  He told Hot 99.5's Toby Knapp that he would convince President Obama to change the drug laws by first getting him nice and relaxed...

Carbon emissions ‘will defer Ice Age’  —  The climate, if not species, of an Ice Age “ought” to return within 1,500 years  —  Human emissions of carbon dioxide will defer the next Ice Age, say scientists.  —  The last Ice Age ended about 11,500 years ago, and when the next one should begin has not been entirely clear.

Just the Ticket  —  THE beginning of a new year is a time for resolutions, and Hillary Clinton's admirers are already busily, lovingly resolving on her behalf.  On one sideline, her friends tell me that after a few years of hyperactive globetrotting what she really needs is to put her feet …

Suspected Islamic Extremist Arrested in Alleged Florida Bomb Plot  —  URGENT: A 25-year-old man described as an Islamic extremist was arrested in an alleged plot to attack crowded areas in the Tampa, Fla., area with a car bomb, assault rifle and other explosives, authorities said Monday.