ObamaCare sales surge  —  Remember Budowsky's first law of insider punditry: When the media and political herds are tripping over each other's hoofs while stampeding in a certain direction, the herds are almost always wrong.  —  Take note of the fact that in recent days …

After Obamacare  —  A frenzy of hospital mergers could leave the typical American family spending 50 percent of its income on health care within ten years—and blaming the Democrats.  The solution requires banning price discrimination by monopolistic hospitals.

Federal authorities charge white ‘knockout’ suspect with hate crime  —  Federal authorities said Thursday they have arrested and charged a Texas man in connection with the “knockout game,” accusing him of a hate crime for targeting a black man for a vicious street attack.

A&E's Duck Dynasty Dilemma  —  It had never happened before.  When big, powerful TV executives ask a star to apologize for what they deem inappropriate comments or behavior, the star simply complies.  A team of publicists is assembled, the star does the obligatory apology tour for the press …

Michelle Obama at 50  —  Trailblazing first lady is ‘American superwoman,’ championing causes, raising a family  —  First lady Michelle Obama will be the guest of honor at a White House dance party next month when she turns “50 and fabulous,” as she put it recently.

Why the Tea Party Isn't Going Anywhere  —  The demise of the Tea Party was loudly announced right after Congress voted on October 16 to lift the debt ceiling and reopen the federal government.  “Finally!  The Republican Fever Is Broken,” exulted Jamelle Bouie atThe Daily Beast …

The Francis factor: Pope's economic ideas rattle GOP  —  “He's entitled to his opinion, but I think we should look carefully at what he's saying,” Toomey said.  “It's easy to draw I think what could be mistaken, superficial conclusions from some of the things that he said.

Late Surge in Web Buying Blindsides UPS, Retailers  —  Some Christmas Packages Aren't Delivered … A surge in online shopping this holiday season left stores breaking promises to deliver packages by Christmas, suggesting that retailers and shipping companies still haven't fully figured …

My Fearless Political Predictions For 2014  —  It's time to see how well I did with my predictions for 2013 and to offer a set of 2014 forecasts.  —  I got 10 predictions for this year right.  President Obama's job approval rating did drop—from 53% at year's start to 40% this week.

The GOP's History of Sexist Hillary-Bashing  —  Desperate to stop a second Clinton presidency in 2016, it's a sure bet many in the GOP will reprise the ugly attacks they used on her 22 years ago.  —  While Hillary Clinton has made clear that she won't decide whether she wants to pursue …

In a Car-Culture Clash, It's the Los Angeles Police vs. Pedestrians  —  LOS ANGELES — In a city of seemingly endless highways — with its daily parade of car accidents, frustrating traffic jams and aggressive drivers — the Los Angeles Police Department these days is training its sights on a different road menace: jaywalkers.

Greenwald Snarks at MSNBC: I Defend Snowden Like You Defend Obama ‘24 Hours a Day’  —  Journalist Glenn Greenwald appeared on MSNBC Thursday, one day after Edward Snowden delivered a Christmas address to television viewers in the UK and around the world from Russia.

Kidnapped American asks U.S. to negotiate with al-Qaeda for his release  —  A U.S. government contractor kidnapped by al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan in 2011 has recorded a video message calling on the Obama administration to negotiate with his captors, saying he feels “totally abandoned and forgotten.”