CNN: PETRAEUS TO TESTIFY HE KNEW LIBYA WAS TERRORISM ‘ALMOST IMMEDIATELY’  —  Just a few minutes ago on CNN, Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reported that a high-placed source informed her that former CIA Chief David Petraeus will use his upcoming testimony to amend his previous testimony.

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.

President Obama, GOP Leaders Hold Fiscal Summit at White House  —  President Obama and top congressional leaders on Friday will convene their first “fiscal cliff” summit, seeking to avert an economically-toxic package of sweeping tax hikes and deep spending cuts that will take effect in 46 days without a bipartisan deal.

Bodies for Ballots  —  They say when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.  But when you are a politician and all you have is a hammer, you must convince voters every problem looks like a nail.  This is the only thinking that can explain Israel's behavior in escalating bombardment of Gaza.

Oklahoma Doctors vs. Obamacare  —  Surgery center provides free-market medicine.  —  Three years ago, Dr. Keith Smith, co-founder and managing partner of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, took an initiative that would only be considered radical in the health care industry …

GOP Leaders' Debate: Change Message or Candidates?  —  LAS VEGAS—Two weeks after their presidential election defeat, Republican Party leaders are falling into roughly two camps as they struggle to explain what happened and devise ways to broaden the party's base.

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.

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.

House GOP: Hey, who's up for a few earmarks?  Update: Proposal withdrawn  —  Alternate headline: The House GOP has a fee-vah and the only prescription is ... more pork-barrel politics!  Having won the House majority two election cycles in a row, some inside the GOP caucus want to bring back earmarking — with reforms, of course:

Times See No Evil CEO Mark Thompson's Veil of Ignorance Continues To Unravel  —  The NY Times stuck with embattled former BBC chief Mark Thompson based on his assurances that despite thirty-three years at the BBC including eight at the helm he had never heard a whisper about BBC star Jimmy Savile's pedophilia.

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

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 Defense of Rice Suggests She May Succeed Clinton  —  President Barack Obama's spirited defense of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice has moved her a step closer to being named to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  —  At a press conference yesterday …

Why Isn't Sandy Obama's Katrina?  —  The pictures from New Orleans after Katrina were iconic.  Stories breathlessly filed from the Superdome warned of rampant crimes, inadequate access to basic sanitation, even babies getting raped (which was later proven to be a rumor).

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).