NRA President: Americans Are Buying Firearms Because They Fear Obama  —  Gun sales skyrocketed at the end of 2012 after the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.  The FBI conductedmore than 2 million criminal background checks ahead of gun purchases in December, according …

Powell: GOP has ‘a dark vein of intolerance’  —  While continuing to identify as a Republican, former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday criticized the GOP for a series of racist attacks against President Barack Obama.  —  “There's also a dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the party …

MIT president orders review of Aaron Swartz episode  —  The president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced Sunday that he has ordered a top-to-bottom review of the university's actions in a computer hacking case that led to the federal prosecution of renowed programmer …

Journal News gun permit map used by burglars to target White Plains home?  —  A White Plains residence pinpointed on a controversial handgun permit database was burglarized Saturday, and the burglars' target was the homeowner's gun safe.  —  At least two burglars broke into a home on Davis Avenue …

Bill Clinton fibs about gun control  —  At a speech before the Conusmer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 9, Bill Clinton stated: “Half of all mass killings in the United States have occurred since the assault weapon ban expired in 2005, half in the history of the country.”

Conservatives Declare War On New Miss America Mallory Hagan Over Gun Comments  —  Still reeling from losing the election and being ostracized from the majority of public opinion, conservatives are striking out at the newly crowned Miss America.  —  On Saturday's pageant broadcast, Mallory Hagan …

By George  —  End This Depression Now!  —  How bad have things gotten?  How did we get stuck in what now can only be called a depression?  And, most of all, how do we free ourselves?  A call-to-arms from Paul Krugman.  — Buy the book »  —  Some links to stuff I've written bearing on macroeconomic policy.

Double trouble: House GOP eyes default, shutdown  —  House Republicans are seriously entertaining dramatic steps, including default or shutting down the government, to force President Barack Obama to finally cut spending by the end of March.  —  The idea of allowing the country to default …

Surprise!  Bill Clinton appears at the Golden Globes  —  (CNN) - The 42nd U.S. president introduced the 16th president Sunday night at a star-studded awards ceremony - well, kind of.  —  Former President Bill Clinton was on hand to present a clip for “Lincoln,” the biographical film nominated …

Lies on Gun Background Checks Are a Focus Both Sides Agree On  —  WASHINGTON — Nearly 80,000 Americans were denied guns in 2010, according to Justice Department data, because they lied or provided inaccurate information about their criminal histories on background-check forms.

House to Take Up Storm Relief Bill Amid Battle Over Spending  —  WASHINGTON — The House will move ahead this week with a multibillion-dollar package to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy, but the legislation is already caught in an escalating debate over spending and deficits …

American 99 Percenters Support Iran's Positions in Future Talks with G5+1  —  TEHRAN (FNA)- A large number of American peace and antiwar activists titled ‘99ers’ signed a petition in support of Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear technology and the country's positions in the upcoming talks with the Group 5+1 …