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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Rejecting Chuck Hagel  —  Former Republican Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel may no longer be President Obama's favored pick to run the Defense Department, sources told the Free Beacon.  —  Hagel immediately drew a frosty reception from observers who criticized him for advocating in favor …

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.

Newtown Answers  —  Twenty children and six adults are dead.  In Nigeria, people put their lives at risk going to church on Sundays.  But in New England?  The thought that going to school could be a final act is hard for us to comprehend.  The seeming senselessness of what happened …

GALLUP: MORE AMERICANS FAVOR SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVING GUNS THAN WEAPON BAN  —  A new poll released today by Gallup shows that Americans favor increased security and proactive mental health treatment over gun control.  The national poll of a little over 1,000 adults was conducted in the wake …

Barber shop conversation in Wentzville about Connecticut shootings ends with shots fired at customer  —  • By Susan Weich sweich@post-dispatch.com 636-493-9674  —  WENTZVILLE  • A barber shop patron who fired three times at another customer discussing the Connecticut school shooting has been charged with three felonies.

Obama: Climate change among top three priorities for second term  —  President Obama has identified climate change as one of his top three priorities in his second term after coming under fire from environmentalists for giving the issue short shrift during the campaign.