Petraeus investigation ensnares commander of U.S., NATO troops in Afghanistan  —  PERTH, Australia — The FBI probe into the sex scandal that prompted CIA Director David Petraeus to resign has expanded to ensnare Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced early Tuesday.

Jindal: End ‘dumbed-down conservatism’  —  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday called on Republicans to “stop being the stupid party” and make a concerted effort to reach a broader swath of voters with an inclusive economic message that pre-empts efforts to caricature the GOP as the party of the rich.

Paul Ryan: I Didn't Lose Because Of The Issues, I Lost Because Of The ‘Urban’ Vote  —  In his first interview since losing the election, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) wouldn't admit that voters rejected his economic vision and instead chalked up President Obama's victory to a large turnout of the “urban vote.”

Your daily jolt: An invitation to Allen West from the Ga. GOP  —  Though he has yet to concede, U.S. Rep. Allen West, a former Army lieutenant colonel and Republican firebrand, narrowly lost his re-election bid last week.  —  So what's in the cards for the coastal Florida congressman after his lame-duck duties are done?

Broad Concern about ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Consequences  —  Public Is Skeptical Deal Will Be Reached  —  OVERVIEW  —  As the president and congressional leaders begin negotiations to avoid the “fiscal cliff” deadline at the end of the year, there is widespread public concern about the possible financial consequences.

CD2 Update: Republicans Go to Cochise County Court To Block Counting of Provisional Ballots in Latino Precincts  —  As Congressman Ron Barber and GOP challenger Martha McSally continue to battle for every vote in a race that Barber leads by just 512 votes, attorneys were in Cochise County court today …

Exclusive: Lee Atwater's Infamous 1981 Interview on the Southern Strategy  —  It has become, for liberals and leftists enraged by the way Republicans never suffer the consequences for turning electoral politics into a cesspool, a kind of smoking gun.  The late, legendarily brutal campaign …

Norquist pledge takes election hit  —  Republicans might have held the House, but Grover Norquist's majority in Congress is all but gone.  —  Fewer incoming members of the House and Senate have signed the pledge against tax increases run by Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform …

Is It Time to Roll Up the Welcome Mat Here?  —  Barack Obama won the election.  —  He did not win by stealing the election.  Voter irregularities always happen.  It is one reason we support voter ID rules.  But even in the worse scenario of reports out there, there were not enough tales of voter irregularities to matter nationwide.

Welcome to the Rand Paul evolution  —  He'll push to loosen marijuana penalties, legalize undocumented immigrants and pursue a less aggressive American foreign policy.  —  Call it the Rand Paul Evolution.  —  In the wake of Barack Obama's reelection win and ahead of a possible 2016 White House bid …

Ryan pushes Price for House leadership post  —  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) publicly endorsed Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) for House Republican conference chairman on Tuesday, using one his first forays back into House politics to make good on a private commitment he made before he was tapped as GOP nominee Mitt Romney's running mate.

GOP Grapples With Embarrassing Polling Failures  —  It hurts to lose.  It hurts even more when you don't see it coming.  —  In the weeks before Election Day, both Republicans and Democrats were nervous about their poll numbers.  Both sides of the aisle have smart pollsters, they reasoned …