Boehner reelected as Speaker; nine Republicans defect in vote  —  Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) was reelected Speaker of the House on Thursday after a week of rumors of a possible GOP revolt.  —  Boehner won a bare majority in a vote that saw nine Republicans vote for other GOP members …

With Millions Still Waiting For Sandy Relief, Republicans Reintroduce Obamacare Repeal  —  The 112th Congress gaveled to a close on Thursday afternoon without passing a relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy or reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, but Rep. Michele Bachmann …

America's Real Criminal Element: Lead  —  New research finds Pb is the hidden villain behind violent crime, lower IQs, and even the ADHD epidemic.  And fixing the problem is a lot cheaper than doing nothing.  —  WHEN RUDY GIULIANI RAN FOR MAYOR of New York City in 1993 …

Time Warner Cable Drops Current TV Upon Sale To Al Jazeera … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Al Jazeera, Current TV, Al Jazeera Buys Current, Al Jazeera Current, Al Jazeera Current Tv, Calderone: The Backstory, Time Warner Al Jazeera, Time Warner Cable Current TV, Time Warner Cable Drops Al Jazeera …

Classic Biden on Display at Senate Mock Swearing-In  —  Vice President Joe Biden turned on the charm and amped up the wit at the Senate mock swearing-in today, schmoozing with senators' moms, doling out dating advice to one senator's granddaughter and offering some workout help to one new senator's family member.

Connecticut Newspaper Places Gun Show Ad Next To Sandy Hook Story  —  A local Connecticut newspaper, the Stamford Advocate, has published an advertisement for a gun show next to an article about the reopening of Sandy Hook Elementary School.  —  The article details the resumption of classes for the Newtown …

Obama signs defense bill, notes regrets  —  President Barack Obama signed a major defense bill Wednesday, notwithstanding public veto threats the White House issued with regard to earlier versions of the legislation.  —  Obama issued a written “signing statement” explaining his decision …

The culture war is over, and conservatives lost  —  It's time we conservatives accepted an alarming truth: Americans no longer agree with us  —  L  —  ate last year, I criticized the notion that Barack Obama won re-election by buying off voters with “gifts.”

Defense Of Marriage Act: House Republicans Tie Federal Gay Marriage Ban To House Rules … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Gay Marriage, Republican Party, Video, 113th Congress, DOMA 113th Congress, Defense Of Marriage Act, Doma, Gay Marriage Ban, House Republicans DOMA, House Republicans Gay Marriage, Republicans Doma, Politics News

Republicans Open New Congress Slamming “Lapdog” Democrats With Corgis  —  “Nancy Pelosi's Obedience School.”  —  Image by Joshua Roberts / Reuters  —  WASHINGTON — House Republicans Thursday are rolling partisan welcome mat for newly elected Democrats, circulating a tongue-in-cheek guide …

Tarantino Unchained  —  In early 2010, not long after the release of Quentin Tarantino's Second World War revenge epic, “Inglourious Basterds,” I began teaching a course on American history at Moscow State University.  When a Russian friend asked me what I thought of the film I told him I loved …

Gabby Giffords to Visit Newtown Friday  —  The former U.S. Rep. from Arizona will hold a private meeting at a home in Newtown.  —  Former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords will visit Newtown on Friday.  —  Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived after being shot at a campaign event …

FBI: MORE PEOPLE KILLED WITH HAMMERS, CLUBS EACH YEAR THAN RIFLES  —  According to the FBI annual crime statistics, the number of murders committed annually with hammers and clubs far outnumbers the number of murders committed with a rifle.  —  This is an interesting fact …

Ten People We Are Grateful Are No Longer Members Of Congress  —  Under the Twentieth Amendment, “[t]he terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January.”

The Atlantic Will Experiment With Online Pay Models In 2013  —  The Atlantic is two things every legacy publishing company would like to be: profitable and more reliant on digital advertising revenues than on print.  But while that may have been good enough in 2012, for 2013 the magazine has a new goal …

Geithner Said to Plan Departure Before Debt Ceiling Deal  —  Geithner Said to Plan Exit Before Debt Talks  —  Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner plans to leave the administration at the end of January, even if President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans haven't reached an agreement …

Finally, Justice at Supermax?  If Anyone Can Make the Right Call, It's This Judge  —  He's tough.  He's courageous.  He tried Timothy McVeigh.  Now Richard Matsch takes on another critical case: a civil rights lawsuit alleging prisoner abuse and neglect.  —  Judge Matsch in 1997, during the Oklahoma City Bombing trial.

Op-Ed: Harry Reid's filibuster plan and the Supreme Court  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has announced he will begin the new Congress today by violating Senate rules and forcing through a set of procedural changes that will undermine Senate conservatives' ability to influence legislation.