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.

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

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 …

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.

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.

A sad announcement  —  I know I probably shouldn't have done it — especially because yesterday was a snowy day with the temperature here in Colorado dipping well below freezing — but on a whim I took all my guns and ammunition out in a small skiff on one of the nearby lakes and, sad to say …

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 …

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.

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 …

WE KNOW HOW TO STOP SCHOOL SHOOTINGS  —  In the wake of a monstrous crime like a madman's mass murder of defenseless women and children at the Newtown, Conn., elementary school, the nation's attention is riveted on what could have been done to prevent such a massacre.

‘Charlie Rose’ Show Agrees to Pay Up to $250,000 to Settle Interns' Lawsuit  —  Charlie Rose and his production company have agreed to pay as much as $250,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by a former unpaid intern who claimed minimum wage violations.

Henninger: No Guardrails, Again  —  For its own protection, American society needs to rediscover self-control and self-restraint.  —  With Newtown, the American people seem to sense that it is a moment to stand down and think hard about whether something's amiss in their society.  And it's not just the guns.

Mountain out of a molehill  —  The poet Carl Sandburg supposedly was asked by a young playwright to attend a rehearsal.  Sandburg did but fell asleep.  The playwright exclaimed, “How could you sleep when you knew I wanted your opinion?”  Sandburg replied, “Sleep is an opinion.”  —  So is nonvoting.

Holder: executive actions to be considered on gun violence  —  (Reuters) - The Obama administration will consider executive actions and specific proposals for legislation as part of its gun policy response to the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Wednesday.