WTF?!?!  —  Sounds dead boring to me!  —  I don't believe that man could think of such a thing.  Religion is not for the rational man.  —  Where the hell does it say you can do that in the Quran!  Why would you want to!!!  The other laws are the usual sexist bull you get in Muslim countries …

After Previously Praising Her, Paul Ryan Now Disses Ayn Rand: ‘I Reject Her Philosophy’  —  Rep. Paul Ryan and his on-again, off-again political inspiration, Ayn Rand  —  In 2005, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) heaped praise on Ayn Rand, a 20th-century libertarian novelist best known for her philosophy …

SECOND FIRING IN FALSE ZIMMERMAN 911 EDIT  —  There has been a second firing at NBC over the misleading edit of George Zimmerman's 911 call.  A report published yesterday afternoon by the Miami Herald identifies reporter/producer Jeff Burnside as the individual responsible for the edits …

TPM2012  —  Romney Campaign Again Warns Of ‘Soviet’ Threat  —  The Romney campaign has been accused of being stuck in the 1950s.  But it also seems mired in the 1980s — it again invoked Cold War threats on Thursday, as it tried to attack the Obama administration on foreign policy.

Young Voters Back Obama, but Many Aren't Poised to Vote  —  Older voters much more likely to vote, and more likely to support Romney  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Obama continues to enjoy a substantial lead over Mitt Romney among voters under 30, but these youthful Americans …

The Cool Kids Versus the Squares, Yet Again  —  When Barack Obama appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon the other night, he walked on stage and gave Fallon a quick pound hug, that handshake/one-arm hug that we cool guys do these days to express a sentiment something like, “It is good to see you again …

The HuffPost Election Map: A First Look At The Presidential Race … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Mitt Romney, Barack Obama 2012 , Elections 2012, Video, 2012 Presidential Election, Electoral College, Mitt Romney Polls, Election Map, Mitt Romney 2012, Polling Map, Pollster Analysis, Politics News

More Support for Gun Rights, Gay Marriage than in 2008 or 2004  —  OVERVIEW  —  Opinions about a pair of contentious social issues, gun control and gay marriage, have changed substantially since previous presidential campaigns.  On gun control, Americans have become more conservative; on gay marriage, they have become more liberal.

Pelosi Says GOP Plan on Student Loan Rate 'Assault on Women's Health'  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi railed against Republican efforts to offset the one-year extension of the 3.4 percent student loan rate by taking money out of a fund she believes is imperative to the “survival to women.”

Fox's Monica Crowley Reacts To Fluke's Reported Engagement: “To A Man?”  —  Fox News political and foreign affairs analyst Monica Crowley reacted to a report that Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke got engaged to her boyfriend by tweeting: “To a man?”  —  Following criticism of her on Twitter …

The New Voodoo  —  Every time I think we might be making progress against the prejudices and myths that pass for judicious thinking these days, something like this editorial in the FT comes along to renew my despair.  —  The editorial is a response to the latest bad UK economic news …

EXCLUSIVE: New Secret Service scandal centers on strippers, prostitutes in El Salvador  —  U.S. Secret Service agents brag they routinely use third-world prostitutes while conducting out-of-country security detail for Presidential visits  —  Sponsored Links  —  SEATTLE —

Manchester's Biundo, former Santorum campaign manager, moves to key post in Rommey camp  —  MANCHESTER — Veteran Manchester Republican activist Mike Biundo, the former national campaign manager for Rick Santorum, has signed on with the Mitt Romney campaign in a key post organizing conservative voters …

I Was Wrong About Dick Cheney . . .  . . . and other lessons I learned from vetting vice-presidential candidates.  —  We've entered the silly season when vast numbers of words will be expended on who Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate should be.  Since the actual announcement …

Dick Lugar trails by 5, poll says  —  Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar has fallen behind state Treasurer Richard Mourdock by five points, according to a new poll released Thursday.  —  The survey, taken Tuesday and Wednesday by Wenzel Strategies on behalf of Citizens United, places Mourdock at 44 percent and Lugar at 39 percent.

Vacation backlash: Blue collar Dems jealous, angry at Obamas  —  Blue collar workers are upset with the number of vacations the first family take.  The Obamas are shown returning from their Christmas vacation in Hawaii in January.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Senators want to rid federal law of word ‘lunatic’  —  Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would remove all references to the word “lunatic” from federal law, a step they said is needed to reflect the country's modern understanding of mental-health conditions.

Ann Romney on Recent MS Scare on Campaign Trail  —  Although her husband Mitt Romney is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Ann Romney's battle with multiple sclerosis hasn't stopped for the campaign trail.  —  The mom of five sons has suffered from the debilitating autoimmune disease since …

Judge rejects mistress's secrecy bid at John Edwards trial  —  The federal judge overseeing former presidential candidate John Edwards's trial on campaign finance charges has rejected what appears to be a bid by Edwards's ex-mistress to keep some of the trial exhibits secret.

Two Republican House members say Obama misquoted them  —  Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) (Jeff Roberson - AP) Two Republican members of Congress are striking back at President Obama for personally targeting them in speeches about keeping student loan rates low in recent days.

Growing Gap in Favorable Views of Federal, State Governments  —  Republicans Like State Government, Especially in GOP-Led States  —  OVERVIEW  —  Just a third of Americans have a favorable opinion of the federal government, the lowest positive rating in 15 years.