EXCLUSIVE: Obama Expects GOP Tax Cave  —  As the clock ticks toward a tax hike on all Americans in 20 days, President Obama predicted Republicans would join Democrats to extend current rates for 98 percent of earners before the end of the year.  —  “I'm pretty confident that Republicans …

TRENDING: Hoffa predicts ‘civil war’ in Michigan  —  (CNN) - Jimmy Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said Tuesday he expects Michigan unions and lawmakers to break out into “civil war” after the state legislature passed right-to-work bills that would weaken unions' power.

Donors offers $$$ For Info Leading To Arrest Of Union Thug **UPDATED ONE THUG IDENTIFIED  —  **DONATION LINK HERE**  —  This is the guy who attacked DLRS contributor Steven Crowder:  —  Here is the video:  —  An anonymous donor has offered $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of this thug.

THINGS IN POLITICO THAT MAKE ME WANT TO GUZZLE ANTIFREEZE, POINT OF NO RETURN EDITION  —  One of my primary criticisms of Tiger Beat On The Potomac has been that the entire enterprise has been dedicated totally to gossip, triviality, and Drudge-baiting to the exclusion of what's actually …

Justice Scalia Defends Comparing Homosexuality To Murder … In a Princeton University speech Monday, Justice Antonin Scalia defended his opposition to LGBT equality and his previous comments equating homosexuality with murder and bestiality.  —  When asked by openly gay Princeton freshman Duncan Hosie …

U.S. Installs Record Amount Of Solar So Far In 2012: Analyst Calls It The ‘Opening Act’ For Q4 Boom  —  Almost exactly a year ago, during the height of the Solyndra hysteria, Mitt Romney made a rather odd statement about solar.  (Yes, we're still talking about Romney).

Why Hillary Clinton Would Be Strong in 2016 (It's Not Her Favorability Ratings)  —  Let's start by stating the obvious: Hillary Rodham Clinton would be a formidable presidential candidate in 2016.  —  Mrs. Clinton's credentials as secretary of state, as a United States senator …

First on CNN: Haley finalizes short list for DeMint seat  —  Washington (CNN) - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has whittled down the list of people she is considering for Jim DeMint's soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat to five people, a Republican close to the governor told CNN on Tuesday.

Breitbart Folks Appear to Fake Violence in Lansing  —  When I saw this video-claiming that a “violent mob” destroyed the tent the Koch brothers had paid for in front of the Michigan Capitol-I knew right away it was likely a false flag.  After all, Stranahan, James O'Keefe's buddy, first posted it.

Why Peter Peterson and 20 years of anti-deficit campaigns have barely moved the needle.  —  Pete Peterson, chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, at the 2012 Fiscal Summit on May 15 in Washington, D.C.  —  For a few months, the upstarts at The Can Kicks Back tried and failed to go “viral.”

Lesbian Wife Denied Membership To Military Spouses Group  —  Officer's wife excluded for lacking a military ID card.  The Pentagon's nearly 15-month review on benefits changes after “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” now in the spotlight.  —  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks at a news conference on Nov. 29, 2012, at the Pentagon.

McConnell highly unpopular  —  Mitch McConnell is the most unpopular Senator in the country.  Only 37% of Kentucky voters approve of him to 55% disapprove.  Both in terms of raw disapproval (55%) and net approval (-18) McConnell has the worst numbers of any of his peers, taking that mantle from Nebraska's Ben Nelson.

Obama recognizes Syrian opposition coalition  —  (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday recognized the leading Syrian opposition coalition as the legitimate representative of the country's people, marking a “big step” in U.S. engagement with the nearly two-year-old crisis.

3 dead in Oregon mall shooting  —  (CNN) — Panicked customers rushed to the exits when a gunman opened fire Tuesday at a mall outside Portland, Oregon.  Some people huddled behind store counters and hid behind racks of clothing.  The mall's Santa dropped to the ground.

North Korea's new leader burnishes credentials with rocket  —  (Reuters) - North Korea successfully launched a rocket on Wednesday, boosting the credentials of its new leader and stepping up the threat the isolated and impoverished state poses to its opponents.