As Neocons Defend Obama, Allies Doubt Him on Drones as Never Before  —  The John Brennan confirmation hearings are the biggest showdown yet on extrajudicial killing and executive branch secrecy.  —  For once, the Obama Administration's drone policy is much in the news.

The GOP, Fox political purge  —  Republicans and Fox News are moving to purge the controversial political creatures they created.  —  Both were damaged badly in 2012 by loud, partisan voices that stoked the base — but that scared the hell out of many voters.

Sen. Menendez contacted top officials in friend's Medicare dispute  —  Sen. Robert Menendez raised concerns with top federal health-care officials twice in recent years about their finding that a Florida eye doctor — a close friend and major campaign donor — had overbilled the government …

Obama's Apparent Pick for Commerce Secretary Has a History of Shady Commerce  —  As he continues to fill out his cabinet, a report emerged late Wednesday that President Obama is “close to choosing” Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker as America's next Secretary of Commerce.  There's only one problem.

SNEED EXCLUSIVE: Pending Jesse Jackson Jr. plea deal includes ‘significant jail time,’ source says  —  Sneed has learned a plea deal is now on the table between former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and federal authorities probing allegations of campaign fund misuse.

Panetta: Obama Absent Night of Benghazi  —  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified this morning on Capitol Hill that President Barack Obama was absent the night four Americans were murdered in Benghazi on September 11, 2012:  —  Panetta said that Obama left operational details …

Some in GOP want sequester deal  —  One thing is becoming clear: Republicans want to find a way to replace the cuts in the sequester, despite some loud rhetoric to the contrary.  —  Top House Republican aides privately concede that the politics of allowing the cuts to hit — layoffs …

Immigrant Son  —  Oriales García Rubio knows how it feels to want more.  When she was a girl in central Cuba in the 1930s, her family of nine lived in a one-room house with a dirt floor.  Her dolls were Coke bottles dressed in rags.  She dreamed of becoming an actress.

L.A. police look for ex-cop suspected in shootings  —  Los Angeles (CNN) — A former Los Angeles cop who had allegedly warned he would target law enforcement in retribution for being fired is now suspected of shooting three officers early Thursday, killing one, authorities said.

Congress — not email — destroyed the Postal Service  —  The oft-maligned U.S. mail is actually quite well-run.  Politicians steered it into the ditch  —  You know that feeling of pleasure you get when you see someone stand up to a bullying, incompetent boss?  It's viscerally satisfying, isn't it?

News Media Scrub Cop Murderer's Manifesto of Pro-Obama, Hillary, MSNBC, CNN, Gay, and Anti-Gun Comments  —  I've been following closely the news story about Chris Dorner, who is now suspected of murdering three people, including one police officer, and shooting another two police officers.

Harvard: Just 6 in 10 Millennials have jobs, half are part-time … A comprehensive new Harvard University report on Americans under 30, the so-called Millennials, shows that the economy is having a crushing impact, with just 62 percent working, and of those, half are toiling at part-time jobs.

Freedom To Marry Pledges $2 Million On State Marriage Efforts In 2013  —  They're starting with an $800,000 investment in the six states where marriage bills are being debated: Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.  —  Brad and Jay McCanta kiss to a cheering crowd …

Tony Perkins Still Believes SPLC Motivated Shooter At Family Research Council  —  Earlier today, Floyd Lee Corkins pleaded guilty to several counts relating to when he opened fire at the Family Research Council, injuring a guard before he was subdued.  FRC's Tony Perkins used that news …

Release Detail  —  February 7, 2013 - Americans Back Women In Combat 3-1, But Less For Draft, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Universal Gun Background Checks Is 92%  —  American voters support allowing women in combat by an overwhelming 75 - 22 percent, including 77 …

Midterm Forecast: Democrats May Gain House Seats in 2014 but Majority Probably Out of Reach  —  The 2014 midterm elections are a long way off but one thing is already fairly clear: Democrats face an uphill battle in trying to win back control of the House of Representatives.

New Rove Effort Has G.O.P. Aflame  —  WASHINGTON — Their battle with Democrats will have to wait.  For now, Republicans have their hands full fighting one another.  —  The strategist Karl Rove and his allies are under withering criticism for creating the Conservative Victory Project …

Colbert touts his sister's House bid  —  Comedian Stephen Colbert touted his sister's congressional bid on his show Thursday night, giving her campaign his blessing in his tongue-in-cheek way.  —  Elizabeth Colbert Busch is one of three Democrats running in South Carolina's 1st congressional district …

Exclusive: Lena Dunham—Born Again Political Virgin  —  LENA DUNHAM (in a video supporting President Obama's re-election): Your first time shouldn't be with just anybody. … The actual story of the cherries jubilee celebrating loss of Lena Dunham's virginity is somewhat less romantic.