Angry with Obama, GOP threatens political war next year  —  Washington (CNN) — They are losing the battle over higher taxes on the wealthy, so now Republicans are threatening a political war next year when it comes time to raise the nation's debt ceiling.  —  With cracks appearing …

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.

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 …

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.

Justice Scalia defends comparing laws against homosexuality, murder  —  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia equated homosexuality and murder on Monday as he argued at a Princeton seminar that elected bodies should be allowed to regulate actions they see as immoral.

End of a Bailout: U.S. Sells Last AIG Shares  —  WASHINGTON—The Treasury Department said it would generate $7.6 billion in proceeds from its sale of American International Group Inc.shares, as it sells nearly all its remaining holdings in the insurer it helped rescue at the height of the financial crisis.

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.

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 …

Jon Stewart almost quit Daily Show over “a**hole” coworkers  —  Late night satire's biggest secrets were revealed live on stage in Montclair, NJ Friday night as Stephen Colbert interviewed Jon Stewart at the Wellmont Theatre, a fundraiser for the Montclair Film Festival.

Government Shutdown Watch  —  I wanted to quickly follow up on that Mother of All Government Shutdowns on deck for February(ish).  As noted earlier, the President says he will not allow another round of debt limit hostage taking.  It's been ambiguous to me just what the President means by this.

No Need for New Ideas  —  Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina speaking at the 2012 Liberty Political Action Conference in Chantilly, Virginia.  —  One way to read Jim DeMint's departure from the Senate is as representative of a split between Tea Party Republicans—who hated Mitt Romney …