Behind the scenes of a GOP meltdown  —  Things were so bad for Speaker John Boehner Thursday night, support for his Plan B tax bill so diminished, the limits of his power with his own party laid bare, that he stood in front of the House Republican Conference and recited the Serenity Prayer.

Will Boehner's speakership survive until Plan C?  —  Has there been a House speaker in modern American history with less control over his members than John Boehner?  —  Sad trombone.  (Charles Dharapak / AP)  —  Over the past three days, Boehner has focused all attention on “Plan B” …

Playing Taxes Hold 'Em  —  A few years back, there was a boom in poker television — shows in which you got to watch the betting and bluffing of expert card players.  Since then, however, viewers seem to have lost interest.  But I have a suggestion: Instead of featuring poker experts …

The Failure of Last Night's “Plan B” Vote Makes a Fiscal Cliff Deal More Likely  —  WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 20: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) leaves a meeting with House Republicans, on Capitol Hill, December 20, 2012 in Washington, DC.  —  Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Does A Speaker Survive This?  —  The likely truth is that John Boehner never had the votes to cut a deal with President Obama.  Any deal.  Not a grand bargain of deficit reduction.  Not a piecemeal deal that might have lessened the blow of all the Bush tax cuts expiring on Jan. 1.  Nothing.

N.R.A. Calls for Armed Guards in Schools to Deter Violence  —  WASHINGTON — The National Rifle Association on Friday called for schools to be protected by armed guards as the best way to protect children from gun violence.  —  The group, long the most vocal and influential organization …

NRA CALLS FOR ARMED POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL … WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's largest gun-rights lobby called Friday for armed police officers to be posted in every American school to stop the next killer “waiting in the wings.”  —  The National Rifle Association broke its silence …

Chuck Hagel Is Criticized Over Gay Rights Record  —  WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel, the former Nebraska senator on President Obama's short list for defense secretary, came under fire again on Thursday, this time for his record on gay rights and remarks he made 14 years ago about an openly gay nominee for a diplomatic post.