Dukakis seen as possible Senate replacement if Kerry tapped for State  —  Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, may be headed back to the political spotlight as he's considered a likely interim replacement for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

President Obama's speech at prayer vigil for Newtown shooting victims (Full transcript)  —  Full transcript of President Obama's remarks at a Dec. 16 prayer vigil for victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.  —  OBAMA: Thank you.  —  Thank you, Governor.

Pro-gun Sen. Joe Manchin: Time to act  —  West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin — who has an “A” rating from the NRA and is a lifetime member of the pro-gun rights group — said Monday that it was time to “move beyond rhetoric” on gun control.  —  “I just came with my family from deer hunting,” Manchin said on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”

Boehner offers to take debt limit off the table  —  House Speaker John A. Boehner has offered to push any fight over the federal debt limit off for a year, a concession that would deprive Republicans of leverage in the budget battle but is breathing new life into stalled talks over the year-end “fiscal cliff.”

Nikki Haley to announce Jim DeMint's successor  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is announcing a replacement for U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.  —  Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey says Haley will make the announcement at noon Monday at the Statehouse.

Top Republican official Ron Weiser's comments about Detroit on videotape are causing a stir  —  LANSING — The finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, who also was Michigan's former GOP chairman, was captured on video telling a tea party meeting that voters in Detroit get picked …

The Facts about Mass Shootings  —  A few things you won't hear about from the saturation coverage of the Newtown, Conn., school massacre:  —  Mass shootings are no more common than they have been in past decades, despite the impression given by the media.  —  In fact, the high point …

The GOP's Electoral College Scheme  —  Swanson Middle School, a polling place in Arlington, VA.  —  Republicans alarmed at the apparent challenges they face in winning the White House are preparing an all-out assault on the Electoral College system in critical states, an initiative …

Obama Expected to Name Kerry as Secretary of State  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama is leaning strongly toward naming John Kerry, the Massachusetts senator and unsuccessful Democratic nominee for president eight years ago, to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state …

Liberals Call For Murder Of NRA President, Members & Repeal Of Second Amendment  —  When I wrote yesterday about the liberals coming out against guns, I had no idea just how some people would react.  What once would have been unthinkable to blast out into public seems to be becoming more normal via things like Twitter and Facebook.

Newtown school shooter's mother collected guns, was loath to let people inside home  —  NEWTOWN, Conn. — Adam Lanza lived among guns.  —  His mother, Nancy, collected them.  She showed them off to her landscaper.  —  “Guns were her hobby,” said Dan Holmes, the landscaper of Nancy Lanza's sprawling yard here on the edge of town.