Jill Kelley requested “diplomatic protection” in 911 call  —  The South Tampa woman connected to the Gen. David Petraeus scandal has called police to her home several times in the last few days, and at least once tried to invoke “diplomatic protection.”  —  Media from around the world …

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?

Paul Ryan Exclusive: Obama Lacks Mandate to Raise Taxes  —  Despite a devastating loss last week, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan rejected Democratic claims of a mandate to raise tax rates on the wealthy.  —  Asked whether President Obama has a mandate on taxes …

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.

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.

W.H. Petition Calls for Stripping Citizenship and Exile for Anyone Who Signs Petition to Secede  —  A White House petition gathering force calls for citizenship to be stripped and exile for anyone who signs a petition in favor of a state's secession.  —  “Mr. President, please sign …

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.

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 …

‘A lot of energy’ in Obama's meeting at White House with liberal groups  —  President Obama and the heads of several labor unions and prominent liberal groups met at the White House on Tuesday at an event that was more pep rally than negotiating session.  —  Obama and the participants largely focused …

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 …

Boehner asks for second term  —  House Speaker John Boehner made a pitch to his GOP colleagues for a second-term as the top-ranking official in the House on Tuesday.  —  According to a copy of the letter obtained by The Hill, the Ohio Republican presented a plan to move the party forward …

Oil report suggests an earthquake in global politics  —  Take one of the most intractable problems in global politics — one that has been a key driver of political events around the world for decades — and eliminate it.  Presto, a wave of the hand and it's gone, just like that.  What happens then?