Clinton Arrives in Middle East as Egypt Says Truce in Gaza Is Close  —  JERUSALEM — Diplomatic efforts accelerated on Tuesday to end the lethal confrontation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza on one of the most violent days yet in the conflict, as the United States sent Secretary …

Allen West concedes to Patrick Murphy  —  Florida Rep. Allen West — the tea party pugilist and face of the class of House Republicans that stormed to power two years ago — conceded Tuesday to 29-year-old construction executive Patrick Murphy in one of the nation's highest-profile congressional races.

Sources: DNI cut “al Qaeda” reference from Benghazi talking points, and CIA, FBI signed off  —  PLAY CBS NEWS VIDEO  —  (CBS News) WASHINGTON - CBS News has learned that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) cut specific references to “al Qaeda” and “terrorism” …

Can the Senate Be Saved?  —  The most important action the Senate takes in January may not involve any legislation at all.  Early next year, when the latest group of senators convene for the first time, the “world's greatest deliberative body” may finally do something worthy of its nickname: reform the filibuster.

Elmo Puppeteer Resigns After Fresh Allegation  —  5:11 p.m. |  Updated Kevin Clash, the longtime voice and puppeteer behind “Sesame Street's” Elmo character, resigned on Tuesday after a new allegation was made that he had underage sexual relationships.  —  Announcing the decision with what he called a …

A GOP Plan for 2016: Pot, immigration and defense cuts  —  Spinners and Winners  —  Ron Paul supporters might want to think twice before throwing away their “Paul for President” signs.  Though the frequent presidential candidate is retiring at the end of the year, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) …

Obama Campaign Viewed Huntsman as ‘Very Tough Candidate’  —  When Obama campaign aides surveyed the field of Republican presidential hopefuls early on, they saw a certain handsome Mormon candidate and thought he'd be trouble in a general election showdown.  —  It wasn't Mitt Romney.

Christie's Post-Hurricane Embrace of Obama Outrages Many in G.O.P.  —  A few days after Hurricane Sandy shattered the shores of New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie picked up the phone to take on a different kind of recovery work: taming the Republican Party fury over his effusive embrace of President Obama.

Marco Rubio should know that science and God do not have to be at odds  —  Liberal pundits are rushing to shame Marco Rubio for casting doubt on the Earth's age.  This was a problem the Florida Republican could have easily avoided  —  I could see it coming.

Mitt Romney Surfaces At A Gas Station Looking Very Normal  —  Long time no see, old friend.  —  Dorsey Shaw  —  a few minutes ago  —  63 responses

The Conservative Future  —  If you listened to the Republican candidates this year, you heard a conventional set of arguments.  But if you go online, you can find a vibrant and increasingly influential center-right conversation.  Most of the young writers and bloggers in this conversation intermingle …

Senate bill rewrite lets feds read your e-mail without warrants  —  Proposed law scheduled for a vote next week originally increased Americans' e-mail privacy.  Then law enforcement complained.  Now it increases government access to e-mail and other digital files.

Iowa's GOP Governor: Time to End the Straw Poll  —  Is one of the quirkiest rituals of the Republican presidential election calendar heading for the grave?  —  It is, if Iowa's Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has his say.  —  Eyeing the wreckage of the 2011 Ames Straw Poll …

The Real Reasons You Waited Hours in Line to Vote  —  An Obama campaign legal adviser explains the humiliating meltdown in voting we saw around the country during this year's presidential election.  —  Voters in Miami on November 6 (Andrew Innerarity/Reuters)

Liberal Man of the Year  —  Chief Justice Roberts shares the dais with Lena Dunham.  —  No Supreme Court Justice has ever said “Live from New York, it's Saturday night,” at least on national television, but give it time.  This month Glamour magazine named Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg one of its “Women of the Year.”

‘Unskewed Polls’ Founder Dean Chambers Launches Vote Fraud Website  —  Dean Chambers, the founder of UnSkewedPolls.com, launched a new website last week alleging that President Barack Obama did not legitimately carry Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida, but instead won those states thanks to voter fraud.

Obama Plots Outside Game To Leave Washington, Add Pressure On Lame-Duck Congress … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Bush Tax Cuts, Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Video, Obama Lame Duck, The Action, Fiscal Cliff, Obama Barnstorm, Obama Fiscal Cliff, Obama Outside Game, Outside Game, Theaction, Politics News

SEC Rocked By Lurid Sex-and-Corruption Lawsuit  —  Move over, adulterous generals.  It might be time to make way for a new sexual rats'nest - at America's top financial police agency, the SEC.  —  In a salacious 77-page complaint that reads like Penthouse Forum meets The Insider meets the Keystone Kops …

John Metz Denny's Obamacare Surcharge Stirs Big Mess For Restaurant Chain … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, Hurricane Grill & Wings, IFA Obamacare, International Franchise Association, Joel Libava, John Metz, John Miller, Denny's Backlash, Denny's Boycott, Denny's Franchisee, Denny's Obamacare …

House Democrats Inch Closer to Becoming a Two-State Caucus  —  Californians and New Yorkers will comprise a record percentage of the Democratic caucus when the 113th Congress convenes in January at nearly 30 percent  —  Although gains by Democrats were modest in 2012 U.S. House races …

Women bishops: Church of England votes no - Live reaction  —  Live coverage with Paul Owen as the Church of England votes whether to allow women to become bishops, its biggest decision for 20 years  —  Sort by:  —  Christopher Lowson, the Bishop of Lincoln, has described today as “a very dark day for the church”.