Poll: Romney slipping in South Carolina, holds just 2 point lead over Gingrich  —  Despite a historic sweep of the first two nominating contests in the GOP field, Mitt Romney holds just a two percentage point lead in South Carolina, his smallest lead of 2012.

Should The Times Be a Truth Vigilante?  —  I'm looking for reader input on whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge “facts” that are asserted by newsmakers they write about.  —  One example mentioned recently by a reader: As cited in an Adam Liptak article on the Supreme Court …

3 billionaires who'll drag out the race  —  Meet the three billionaires who could drag out the GOP presidential primary, bloody up front-runner Mitt Romney and weaken the odds of defeating President Barack Obama: Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess and Jon Huntsman, Sr.

The Department of Justice offered a defense Thursday for President Obama's controversial decision to make several recess appointments while Congress was holding pro forma sessions.  —  In a memo, Justice argued the pro forma sessions held every third day in the Senate do not constitute …

Laura Bush wanted Jeb to run for president in 2012  —  SARASOTA  —  Former first lady Laura Bush wishes there were one more candidate in the Republican presidential primary: Jeb Bush.  —  Speaking to a sold-out Sarasota audience on Wednesday, Bush said she had hoped that her brother-in-law …

Afghan leader Karzai condemns ‘US Marines body desecration’ video  —  Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a video that appears to show US Marines urinating on the bloodied corpses of several Taliban fighters.  —  The Taliban has also criticised the video as “shameful” but said it would not derail attempts at peace talks.

President Obama's got sons?  —  President Obama, speaking last night in Chicago at a fundraiser at a private home, unloaded this bombshell:  —  Obama, according to the White House transcript, talked about “The first bill I signed — a bill that said that we're going to have equal pay …

Obama's 2011 fundraising haul: Bush's league  —  The Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee raked in a combined $68 million in the fourth quarter, bringing their total 2011 haul to $250 million — an impressive take but not quite up to the blistering pace set by the Bush-Cheney reelection machine over the same period.

N.H. Lawmakers Expected to Vote on Marriage Equality Repeal Bill Next Week  —  New Hampshire lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill next week that would repeal the state's marriage equality law.  —  Sources familiar with the legislative calendar indicate that the vote will likely take place on Jan. 18.

The World According to Nancy Pelosi  —  In her first speech on the House floor, Nancy Pelosi spoke out on AIDS.  Many of her colleagues thought she was crazy for doing so.  Twenty-five years later, she's not finished pushing the LGBT envelope in Washington.

2012 ELECTIONS: Veteran Rep. Lewis to retire  —  Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, has announced he will not seek an 18th term in Congress and will retire.  —  bgoad@pe.com  —  U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis, who has represented Inland Southern California in Washington for more than three decades …

Mormons in America  —  Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their Place in Society  —  With a Mormon candidate among the front-runners for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, a musical about Mormons playing on Broadway and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) …

Warren Buffett Ready to Take Republicans' Tax Challenge  —  Updated, 6:10 p.m. E.T.  —  Warren Buffett is ready to call Republicans' tax bluff.  Last fall, Senator Mitch McConnell said that if Buffett were feeling “guilty” about paying too little in taxes, he should “send in a check.”

Click to rate Rating (0)  —  Reply to ‘fly over country’ What garbage.  Do you get your information from a loudmouth uninformed Republican Senator.  The National Health Service doesn't keep tally on how much is spent on each patient.  It doesn't let people die.