McCain skips Benghazi briefing, gets testy when questioned by CNN  —  (CNN) - Most of the Republican members of a Senate committee investigating the terrorist attack at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, skipped a classified briefing by administration officials on the incident Wednesday, CNN has learned.

Respected agent in Seattle terror probe leaked Petraeus case  —  The FBI agent who started the email inquiry that eventually led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus is known for his work in Seattle leading the investigation into millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam.

Maine Republican chairman questions black voters  —  Charlie Webster causes a stir with claims that hundreds of unknown black people cast ballots in rural Maine towns.  —  Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster is once again alleging possible voting irregularities …

Scott DesJarlais supported ex-wife's abortions, slept with patients, divorce transcript shows … A decade before calling himself “a consistent supporter of pro-life values,” Tennessee physician and Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais supported his ex-wife's decision to get two abortions …

Obama's ‘Gifts’ and Sandy; Romney Explains Away Election Loss  —  Why did Mitt Romney lose the election?  If you ask him—as some donors did—it's because President Obama gave “extraordinary financial gifts” to Hispanic voters and other demographic blocs in his voting coalition.

BP Announces Resolution of All Criminal and Securities Claims by U.S. Government Against Company Relating to Deepwater Horizon Accident  — Resolution of all criminal claims with Department of Justice includes $4 billion paid in installments over a period of five years

Petraeus speaks  — HLN's Kyra Phillips has been talking to the former CIA director since last week.  What's he been saying?  — Petraeus says this is not about Benghazi, and that he never passed classified information on to mistress  — Read the full transcript of Phillips' conversation …

Exposed: Pallywood Returns to Gaza  —  What happens when the cameras turn up at the scene of an airstrike in Gaza and there simply aren't enough Palestinian dead and injured to produce dramatic footage that can be used against Israel in the international media?  We've seen it before.

Surreal Instagrams From Israel Defense Forces Soldiers  —  As drama unfolds between Israel and Hamas — both in real life and over their Twitter accounts — young soldiers Instagram photos of themselves at ease.  —  Katie Notopoulos  —  an hour ago  —  96 responses

Murray: Can't guarantee 2014 budget  —  Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) confirmed Thursday that she will seek the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee next year but told The Hill that she cannot commit to doing a budget.  —  This opens up the possibility that Senate Democrats …

Gay Support Buoyed Obama  —  While President Obama's lopsided support among Latino and other minority voters has been a focus of postelection analysis, the overwhelming support he received from another growing demographic group — Americans who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual — has received much less attention.

RNC report suggests other reasons why Romney lost  —  While Mitt Romney has attributed his defeat, in part, to “gifts” President Obama was able to shower on key constituencies, a Republican National Committee report on the election points to other reasons — like changing demographics …

The Daily Caller has obtained details of an ACHIEVE Act proposal being floated by some senate Republicans.  —  It appears similar to the conservative alternative to the Dream Act that Sen. Marco Rubio worked on last summer (before President Obama issued his executive order, effectively tabling the issue until after the election).

Man admits he committed voter fraud to make a point, now being investigated by Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office  —  FAIRFIELD TWP.  — The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office is investigating a man from Fairfield Township who admitted to voting twice on Election Day in order to prove that the local voting process is flawed.

Assassinating The Chance For Calm  —  Shortly after the return of Gilad Shalit, I drafted a proposal to the Government of Israel and Hamas to enter into a long term ceasefire arrangement based on the assumption that, for the time being, neither side was interested in engaging in renewed warfare.

Fox News Captions Footage Of Illegal Border Crossings With ‘The Hispanic Vote’  —  Since Mitt Romney lost the Hispanic vote in record numbers on Election Day, some Republican lawmakers and conservative pundits have openly conceded that the party has a “rhetoric” problem when it comes …

McAuliffe taps Mook, Stoney to lead campaign  —  Former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe is quickly ramping up his bid for governor of Virginia, hiring the outgoing executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to serve as his campaign manager, a McAuliffe campaign official said.

Israeli Prime Minster Deletes Tweet Thanking Obama  —  The campaign Twitter account for the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, tweeted, then quickly deleted a statement thanking President Obama for his support.  “Wouldn't give it any significance,” a spokesman responds.  —  Andrew Kaczynski

Mitt's Inglorious Shuffle Off the National Stage  —  In 1952 Adlai Stevenson was the presidential nominee of the Democratic party and lost.  He was renominated in 1956 to face Dwight Eisenhower again.  And again he lost.  There are some other cases like this in American history.

The Lessons of Defeat for the GOP  —  Everything from the ground game to the date of the next convention needs to be re-examined.  —  The GOP is undergoing the type of re-examination that occurs whenever a party loses.  That useful exercise should be guided by facts.  Here is some of what we know.

Is it game over for Grover Norquist?  —  The anti-tax activist's grip on power, even in the GOP, has never been weaker — just as he faces a critical test  —  Two meetings in Washington today tell the story of the decline of Grover Norquist, the conservative activist who is seeing …