WH ‘Absolutely’ Willing To Go Off ‘Fiscal Cliff’  —  President Obama's lead negotiator in the “fiscal cliff” talks said the administration is “absolutely” willing to allow the package of deep automatic spending cuts and across-the-board tax hikes to take effect Jan. 1, unless Republicans drop …

Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck dead at age 91  —  Arts critic  —  Dave Brubeck, a jazz musician who attained pop-star acclaim with recordings such as “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo a la Turk,” died Wednesday morning at Norwalk Hospital, in Norwalk, Conn., said his longtime manager-producer-conductor Russell Gloyd.

Louie Gohmert Casts Lone Vote To Keep ‘Lunatic’ In Federal Code … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, Flat Tax, Louie Gohmert, Gohmert Lunatic, Louie Gohmert Flat Tax, Louie Gohmert Lunatic, Louie Gohmert Tea Party, Politics News  —  WASHINGTON — The House voted on Wednesday to strike the word …

Syria loads chemical weapons into bombs; military awaits Assad's order  —  So far, intelligence sources say, bombs loaded with the components of sarin haven't yet been loaded onto planes.  NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.  —  The Syrian military is prepared to use chemical weapons …

The Lesbian Past of Bill de Blasio's Wife  —  Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray.  (Photo: Getty)  —  Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, an all-but-officially announced mayoral hopeful, has prominently featured his wife Chirlane McCray in his campaign literature and on his web site.

Rubio: I Don't ‘Pass Judgment’ On The ‘Sin’ Of Homosexuality (Except When I Do)  —  Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who has called for the Republican Party to be more inclusive of minorities, said Wednesday that while his faith teaches homosexuality is a sin, he does not judge sinners.

Vote: Worst Political Prediction of 2012  —  We have narrowed down our list of the best & worst political predictions this year and would like your help in making the final call.  —  Here are our three final candidates for the Worst Political Prediction of 2012

The Blue-State Suicide Pact  —  Click for full photo gallery: The Fiscal Cliff: States Whose Citizens Stand To Lose The Most  —  With their enthusiastic backing of President Obama and the Democratic Party on Election Day, the bluest parts of America may have embraced a program utterly at odds with their economic self-interest.

Train Wreck: The New York Post's Subway Cover  —  “It all happened so fast.”  —  That's what R. Umar Abbasi, a freelance photographer for The New York Post, said of the fatal subway incident on Monday that he caught with his camera.  One man threw another into harm's way, causing him to be run over by an oncoming train.

Harry Reid Denies Senate Chance to Vote on Obama's Plan  —  Senate majority leader Harry Reid is denying the Senate the chance to vote on President Barack Obama's proposal.  Reid calls Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's request to vote on the plan a “stunt.”  —  “I reserve the right to object.

‘2016’ Oscar Snub Has Filmmakers Claiming Political Bias  —  Gerald Molen, who produced the Academy Award-winning 'Schindler's List,' said the box-office success of the anti-Obama documentary proves the film was a hit: “The action confirms my opinion that the bias against anything …

Where Masturbation and Homosexuality Do Not Exist  —  When sex means reproduction, certain proclivities may simply not be part of cultural models of sexuality.  —  Aka father carrying his daughter while out on a hunt [Courtesy of Barry Hewlett]  —  Barry and Bonnie Hewlett had been studying …

Pelosi: Dems must say No to raising Medicare eligibility age  —  It's a perennial fear among liberals: In the quest for a fiscal cliff deal, the White House and Democrats will ultimately acquiesce to GOP demands to raise the Medicare eligibility age.  But one Democrat is drawing a line against this possibility: Nancy Pelosi.

Detroit councilwoman to Obama: We voted for you, now bail us out  —  DETROIT (WJBK) — The city of Detroit faces a major financial crisis and one member of city council thinks President Barack Obama should step in and help.  —  City Council member JoAnn Watson said Tuesday the citizens support …

Abortion For Military Rape Victims Amendment Passes Senate … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  John McCain, Video, Jeanne Shaheen, National Defense Authorization Act, Todd Akin, Buck Mckeon, Federal Abortion Coverage, Military Abortion, Military Rape, Military Rape Abortion, Military Sexual Assault …

The GOP Seminar in Surrender  —  RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, this morning there was a joint press conference that featured the so-called Republican leadership of John Boehner and Eric Cantor and about 15 other people that were standing there.  I don't know why, but they were smiling.

TSA: State Sen. Donne Trotter tried to bring handgun, bullets through O'Hare security  —  Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter is charged with felony after allegedly trying to bring a handgun and bullets through security at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The 60 Best Conservative Blogs For 2012 (6th Annual)  —  60) The Mental Recession (No link because I am getting a virus warning when I go there today) 59) Polipundit 58) Jihad Watch 57) This Ain't Hell 56) Hugh Hewitt 55) Patterico's Pontifications 54) Moe Lane 53) Counter Cultured 52) Wizbang!

House Would Extend Protection for Past Presidents  —  The House has voted to give former presidents and their wives lifetime Secret Service protection, arguing that terrorist threats and the comparative youth of recent presidents make such a change necessary.

How Crash Cover-Up Altered China's Succession  —  BEIJING — “Thank you.  I'm well.  Don't worry,” read the post on a Chinese social networking site.  The brief comment, published in June, appeared to come from Ling Gu, the 23-year-old son of a high-powered aide to China's president …