Why they want to go over the cliff  —  Washington's Democratic and Republican power brokers have sent the message to the nation that going over the fiscal cliff is a worst-case scenario.  But they're not acting that way, not at all.  —  Instead, many of them have calculated that it's better …

Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Commander in Gulf War, Dies at 78  —  Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the American-led forces that crushed Iraq in the 1991 Persian Gulf war and became the nation's most acclaimed military hero since the midcentury exploits of Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower …

Summoned Back to Work, Senators Chafe at Inaction  —  WASHINGTON — Senators bid hasty goodbyes to families, donned ties and pantsuits in lieu of sweat pants and Christmas sweaters and one by one returned to the Capitol on Thursday to begin the business of doing nothing in particular.

NRA Has 54% Favorable Image in U.S.  —  Republicans most positive about NRA; Democrats most negative  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Fifty-four percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association, while 38% have an unfavorable opinion.  The public's ratings of the NRA …

Tokyo Electric Sued by U.S. Sailors Exposed to Radiation  —  Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501), owner of the power plant which had the world's biggest nuclear disaster since 1986, was sued by eight U.S. sailors claiming they were exposed to radiation and the utility lied about the dangers.

‘Die painfully’: 50 soulless degenerates who can't wait for George H.W. Bush to die  —  Former President George H.W. Bush is surrounded by family in the ICU of Houston's Methodist Hospital as he fights a “stubborn fever.”  Doctors are “cautiously optimistic,” but the 88-year-old “remains in guarded condition.”

Taliban wants Sharia in Pakistan, war with India  —  The Pakistani Taliban has made a conditional ceasefire offer to the Pakistan Government which calls for an end to Pakistan's participation in the Afghan war, the imposition of Sharia law in the country, and to avenge the embarrassing defeat …

Acting EPA chief among most likely to succeed Jackson  —  The looming departure of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is yielding quick speculation about who will replace her, and might touch off a brutal Senate confirmation fight to lead a department that has faced constant GOP criticism.

Mississippi's low levels could halt river traffic  —  A shutdown of commercial use could come by next week, a group says  —  The feared shutdown of commercial traffic on the Mississippi River due to low water levels could happen as early as next week, a waterways group said Thursday.

New Hawaii senator pledges to tackle climate change  —  The replacement for the late Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) said Wednesday that climate change is at the top of his legislative agenda.  —  “For me, personally, I believe global climate change is real and it is the most urgent challenge …

US Rep. Markey to run in Senate special election  —  US Representative Edward Markey, dean of the state's Washington delegation, will run in 2013 for the US Senate seat expected to open with the nomination of US Senator John Kerry to head the State Department.