Republicans not handling election results well  —  PPP's first post election national poll finds that Republicans are taking the results pretty hard...and also declining in numbers.  —  49% of GOP voters nationally say they think that ACORN stole the election for President Obama.

The Truly Grand Bargain  —  Sometimes you have to walk through the desert to get to the Promised Land.  That's the way it is for Republicans right now.  The Republicans are stuck in a miserable position at the end of 2012, but, if they handle things right, they can make 2013 an excellent year …

Queens dad pushed to his death by madman in Times Square subway station  —  Ki Suk Han, 58, of Queens frantically tries to climb to safety yesterday as a train bears down on him in Midtown.  He was fatally struck seconds later.  —  A Queens dad trying to protect fellow straphangers …

Bob Costas explains why he made gun commentary at halftime of Sunday night game  —  NBC's Bob Costas joined the show to talk about his comments on the Jevon Belcher tragedy and more.  —  Costas explained why he chose to make a statement on gun control at halftime of Sunday night's Eagles-Cowboys game.

47% Of People Think The Deficit Would INCREASE If We Go Over The Fiscal Cliff  —  As the Fiscal Cliff fight rages on, both sides are using the media to position themselves as being serious and reasonable.  —  One big factor is that for all the hype about the issue, very few people really understand what The Fiscal Cliff actually is..

Fox News Puts Karl Rove on the Bench  —  The post-election soul searching going on inside the Republican Party is taking place inside Fox News as well.  Fox News chief Roger Ailes, a canny marketer and protector of his network's brand, has been taking steps since November to reposition Fox …

Dick Armey, FreedomWorks president clashed over book deal  —  Dick Armey left the deep-pocketed tea party group he helped build over a clash with a top lieutenant who Armey and others in the organization believed was using the group's resources to pad his pockets, POLITICO has learned.

Senate rejects treaty to protect disabled around the world  —  J. Scott Applewhite/AP - Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), center, gestures during a news conference in Washington, Dec. 3, 2012, to urge Senate approval of an international agreement for protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.

Magical thinking in new GOP fiscal cliff plan  —  So yesterday, House GOP leaders offered up their own fiscal cliff proposal.  In exchange for substantial spending cuts, the big concession Republicans would make is that they would agree to $800 billion in new revenues.

Elizabeth Warren Wins Senate Banking Committee Seat: Sources … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Elizabeth Warren, Harry Reid , Video, Senate Banking Committee, Banking Committee, Elizabeth Warren Banking Committee, Elizabeth Warren Committees, Elizabeth Warren Senate, Elizabeth Warren Senate Banking …

Arizona senators don't know Gov. Jan Brewer's whereabouts  —  Arizona Sens. John McCain (R) and Jon Kyl (R) said Tuesday they have no idea where Gov. Jan Brewer (R-Ariz.) is.  —  “No, everybody keeps asking me that,” Kyl told The Hill.  “I didn't know she was missing.”  —  McCain answered similarly.

Ryan, Rubio Distance Themselves From Romney, Call For GOP Focus On Those “Struggling”  —  Potential 2016 candidates make a move.  —  Image by Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP  —  WASHINGTON — In their most substantive remarks since the presidential election, former Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan …

Fox News chief's failed attempt to enlist Petraeus as presidential candidate  —  Later she said, “I'm only reporting this back to Roger.  And that's our deal.”  —  Petraeus said it was okay to relay his response to Ailes, adding “that has to be off the record.”

Mitt Romney Hits Costco — Buys Toy Car (Manufactured in China)  —  HITS COSTCO  —  Buys Toy Car (Manufactured in China)  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Mitt Romney went on MASSIVE (and fiscally responsible) shopping spree at a Costco near his home in La Jolla, CA this week ... stocking up on all sorts of goods …

U.S. sailed off the ‘fiscal cliff’ long ago  —  We created Fedzilla; now it's time to kill it  —  Only a Fedzillacrat could possibly think raising taxes on the wealthy could accomplish anything toward restoring sanity in the financial insane asylum known as our federal government.

Ashley Judd exploring Senate run  —  Ashley Judd vs. Mitch McConnell?  —  It might not be as far-fetched as you think.  —  The Hollywood movie star and eighth-generation Kentuckian is seriously exploring a 2014 run for the Senate to take on the powerful Republican leader, four people familiar with the matter tell POLITICO.

MSNBC Hosts Visit Obama  —  Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow, Al Sharpton, and Lawrence O'Donnell all spotted entering the West Wing.  —  WASHINGTON — MSNBC's prime time line-up was spotted entering the West Wing Tuesday afternoon for what host Ed Schultz tweeted was a meeting with President Barack Obama.