THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES ARE NOT IN ORDER  —  The president gave the White House press corps a chance to ask him questions today in what was purported to be the wrap-up press conference of his first term.  —  The president gave the White House press corps its 37th chance to ask …

In Gun Control Debate, Several Options Draw Majority Support  —  Gun Rights Proponents More Politically Active  —  OVERVIEW  —  While the issue of gun control remains divisive, there are clear areas of agreement when it comes to a number of gun policy proposals.

GOP Rep. Threatens Impeachment If Obama Uses Executive Order On Guns  —  The conservative discord in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. massacre went up another octave on Monday when Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) threatened to file articles of impeachment if President Obama uses an executive order to try to reduce gun violence.

Clarence Thomas breaks long silence during Supreme Court oral arguments  —  Justice Clarence Thomas broke his nearly seven-year silence at Supreme Court oral arguments Monday.  But no one is sure exactly what he said.  —  Thomas seemed to be making a light-hearted joke about lawyers trained …

Civil War's A-Brewin'  —  A pretty, young, auburn-haired woman - mid-20s - drove down a lonely country road somewhere in Oklahoma.  Appearing in her rearview mirror, at the back windshield, were two menacing orbs of light floating amid ashen dusk.  The guttural roar of a souped-up big block shook …

Legal Case Strained Troubled Web Activist  —  Just days before he hanged himself, Internet activist Aaron Swartz's hopes for a deal with federal prosecutors fell apart.  —  Two years ago, the advocate for free information online, who was known to have suffered from depression …

Dell Said to Be in Buyout Talks With Private-Equity Firms  —  Dell Inc. (DELL), the personal-computer maker that lost almost a third of its value last year, is in buyout talks with private-equity firms, two people with knowledge of the matter said.  —  Round Rock, Texas-based Dell is discussing …

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT  —  The New Year's Day vote in Congress that brought a temporary truce to the fiscal wars showed the Republicans to be far more divided than the Democrats, and the division broke along regional lines.  House Republicans from the Far West and from the Northeast favored …

White House tells Paul Ryan it won't meet budget deadline  —  The White House has informed House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that it will miss the legal deadline for sending a budget to Congress.  —  Acting Budget Director Jeff Zients told Ryan (R-Wis.) …

Jenny Sanford to skip race for Congress … Former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford said Monday she will not run for Congress.  —  Sanford, who has four sons with ex-governor Mark Sanford, said her family comes first.  She also took a swipe at the Republican-controlled House.

Jodie Foster Stops Lying  —  Full transcript here.  Her date last night, believe it or not, was wife-abusing, homophobic anti-Semite, Mel Gibson.  Would you entrust your young sons to a man with Gibson's violent and vile history?  A highlight of her narcissistic, self-loving speech:

EXCLUSIVE: ANDY WE HARDLY KNEW YE: SULLIVAN UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED BY DAILY BEAST  —  According to a credible source with inside knowledge of the matter, the actual reason Andrew Sullivan and the Daily Beast are parting ways at the end of this month has nothing to do with some high-falutin' …

After 2010 campaign, Gov. Rick Scott gave back dog Reagan  —  What happened to Reagan, the Scotts' rescued Labrador?  —  TALLAHASSEE — Shortly after winning the GOP nomination in 2010, Rick Scott announced to the world through Facebook that his family had rescued a Labrador Retriever.

California boy, 12, convicted of neo-Nazi dad's murder  —  (Reuters) - A California boy, now 12, was convicted of second-degree murder on Monday for shooting dead his neo-Nazi father, following a juvenile trial that centered on allegations of abuse and the young defendant's grasp of right and wrong.

Americans Buy Enough Guns in Last Two Months to Outfit the Entire Chinese and Indian Armies  —  Honest Americans Bought Enough Guns in November and December to Outfit the Entire Chinese and Indian Armies  —  The Obama Administration is the number one threat to the nation's gun rights advocates.

“Liberty-Driven” Fortress Community Being Planned In Idaho  —  A group of self-appointed “patriots” are moving forward with an idea for a planned community of several thousand families of “patriotic Americans” in Idaho, a project named The Citadel, envisioned as a “martial endeavor designed …

“Mark Levin Reacts To Obama Presser: ‘We Have An Imperial President’”  —  One wonders: where are all those concerned “civil libertarians” so distraught over Bush's “imperial presidency” now?  Their silence is deafening and predictable.  Whereas their hypocrisy may as well be wearing a tornado siren.

SCOTUS won't disturb GOP voter fraud decree  —  The Supreme Court on Monday declined the Republican National Committee's request to lift a three-decade-old court order that limits the national GOP's ability to challenge voters' eligibility at the polls.  —  The case, Republican National …

Va. governor's proposal to eliminate gas taxes finds many fans among businesses  —  Alexandria Yellow Cab driver Sultan Sakhi has been driving for 24 years.  All Alexandria Yellow Cab drivers own their own vehicles and pay for their upkeep — and every month, Sakhi puts more than $1,000 worth of gas into his Toyota Camry.

Frank Lautenberg Aide Slams Cory Booker For “Morning Joe” Interview  —  “Booker is stealing [Lautenberg's] ideas and marketing them as his own,” an aide charged.  —  U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)  —  Image by Mark Wilson / Getty Images  —  The latest sticking point …

Exclusive: CBS forced CNET staff to recast vote after Hopper won ‘Best in Show’ at CES  —  The Dish Network's Hopper wasn't simply in the running: it had actually taken the top prize  —  On Friday, news broke that CNET had been forced by its parent company CBS to remove the Dish Network's Hopper set-top box …