Hard questions await Obama at news conference  —  This is not what the White House wanted for President Barack Obama's first news conference of his second term.  —  He won't be able to dwell much on his stronger-than-expected victory or even press his agenda for the next four years.

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 …

Ryan: It ‘Looked Like We Stood A Pretty Good Chance Of Winning’ On Election Day  —  In an interview with WISN 12 News in Milwaukee on Monday, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) admitted that he and Mitt Romney were indeed caught off guard by the results of last week's election, claiming …

Obama Appeals To Activist Base For Help With Fiscal Cliff … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Elections 2012, Fiscal Policy, Video, Mitch Stewart, Obama Activist Base, Obama Activists, Obama Base, Obama Disappointments, Obama Fiscal Cliff, Obama Mitch Stewart …

Relationship between Boehner, McConnell faces tough test  —  The relationship between House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) will be tested in the months ahead as political forces pull them in different directions.

Woman ‘denied a termination’ dies in hospital  —  Two investigations are under way into the death of a woman who was 17 weeks pregnant, at University Hospital Galway last month.  —  Savita Halappanavar (31), a dentist, presented with back pain at the hospital on October 21st …

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 …

Colbert's super-PAC files termination paperwork with FEC  —  According to the Federal Election Commission, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow had its termination paperwork scanned onto the commission's website at about 7 p.m.  —  Among it its final disbursements, the committee reports giving the …

‘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 …

Arizona Republicans Sue To Block Ballots In Latino Precinct  —  One of the few unresolved congressional races in the nation could come down to whether voters in a heavily Latino precinct in Arizona get their ballots counted this week.  —  Backed by two high-powered lawyers …

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.

Accuser Recants Allegation Against Elmo Puppeteer  —  Updated The man who accused Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer of the “Sesame Street” character Elmo, of an underage sexual relationship has recanted that claim, his lawyer said on Tuesday, one day after the claim was published by the gossip Web site TMZ.