CNN Poll: Are GOP policies too extreme?  —  Washington (CNN) - Just over half the public says that the GOP should give up more than the Democrats in any bipartisan solution to the country's problems, according to a new national survey.  —  And a CNN/ORC International poll also indicates …

Cory Booker Will Run for U.S. Senate in 2014: Sources  —  Newark Mayor Cory Booker will not challenge New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in next year's gubernatorial race and will instead run for U.S. Senate in 2014, political sources familiar with his decision tell NBC 4 New York.

Florida Man Invokes ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law After Shooting Fellow Pizza Customer  —  A Florida man defended his decision to shoot an impatient pizza customer over the weekend, citing the state's infamous “Stand Your Ground” law.  —  Michael Jock, a 52-year-old resident of St. Petersburg …

Newt Gingrich On Mitt Romney: ‘I Would Have Probably Done Better’ Against Obama … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Elections 2012, Gingrich 2012, Newt Gingrich, Video, Mitt Romney 2012, Mitt Romney Gay Marriage, Newt Gingrich Gay Marriage, Newt Gingrich Immigration Reform, Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney, Rnc Review, Romney Media, Politics News

WBUR Poll: Brown Would Be In Strong Position For Special Election  —  BOSTON — A WBUR poll of 500 registered voters (PDFs - topline, crosstabs) finds U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is in a strong position should there be a special election to fill U.S. Sen. John Kerry's seat.

Miss USA Wins the Crown  —  Say what you will about Donald Trump, he runs a pretty good pageant.  I didn't live-blog tonight's Miss Universe show, but I kept notes as it went along, and so what follows are my impressions as the event unfolded.  With a lot of stuff left out …

Fox News Brings On Santa Claus To Discuss The ‘War On Christmas’  —  Fox and Friends took its coverage of the so-called “War on Christmas” to the front lines on Thursday morning by inviting Santa Claus to weigh in on America's changing culture and secularization.

Behind the smears  —  Why they feared Robert Bork  —  Here's something you may not know about the 1987 battle that kept Robert Bork off the Supreme Court: Opponents pursued a whispering campaign against him on the grounds that he wasn't enough of a religious believer.

Finishing the Work We Started  —  I love Newark.  I did not come to this city through the providence of birth.  I chose Newark, and Newark, thank God, accepted me, embraced me and allowed me the greatest privilege of my life - to serve as mayor.  —  As Mayor, the politics and process of change hasn't been easy.

Connecticut congressman: Rick Perry a ‘testosterone laden’ individual with blood on his hands … During a press conference on gun control yesterday, Rep. Jim Himes D-Conn. blasted Texas Governor Rick Perry for vocally supporting Second Amendment rights for American citizens after the horrific school shooting in Connecticut.

In $18 Million Theft, Victim Was a Canadian Maple Syrup Cartel  —  OTTAWA — It was an inside job of sorts.  Thieves with access to a warehouse and a careful plan loaded up trucks and, over time, made off with $18 million of a valuable commodity.  —  The question is what was more unusual …

Video game lobby breaks silence after Newtown shooting  —  The Entertainment Software Association has issued a statement saying any study that examines the effect of violent video games on children needs to consider past research that shows no connection between entertainment content and real-world violence.

Senate Republicans aim to cut Sandy aid bill down to $24 billion  —  (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans sought to slash a $60.4 billion aid bill to cover reconstruction after Superstorm Sandy, proposing on Wednesday to fund only $23.8 billion in immediate disaster relief while assessing longer-term needs.