Ted Cruz does it again  —  And the GOP pile on begins.  —  AP Photo  —  Sen. Kelly Ayotte returned home to New Hampshire Friday, planning to see “The Nutcracker” with her daughter this weekend.  —  But there was an unexpected conflict: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.  —  Story Continued Below

Police: Man shot during traffic stop in southwest Houston  —  Two police officers opened fire on an apparently unarmed man during a traffic stop in southwest Houston Friday night, allegedly shooting him three times for not following commands.  —  HPD officers pulled over the car the man …

Cosby to media: Stay neutral despite rape allegations  —  Bill Cosby declined yet again to discuss the growing list of rape and sexual abuse allegations against him.  —  Bill Cosby broke his silence Friday, albeit briefly, to lecture the media on remaining “neutral” and to say that his wife is standing by him.

Abundance Without Attachment  —  “CHRISTMAS is at our throats again.”  —  That was the cheery yuletide greeting favored by the late English playwright Noël Coward, commemorating the holiday after which he was named.  Less contrarian were the words of President Calvin Coolidge …

Former CIA chief not sure he would have approved waterboarding  —  Former Central Intelligence Agency Director Michael Hayden says he's not sure he would have approved the use of waterboarding if he had authority over its use shortly after the 9/11 attacks.  —  Hayden said use …

Elizabeth Warren was told to stay quiet, but she didn't - and it's paying off  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), right, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, express their outrage to reporters …

The ‘24’ Effect: How ‘Liberal Hollywood’ Carried Water For Torture  —  Bashing “liberal Hollywood” and out-of-touch celebrities has become a favorite sport among conservatives.  But those seeking to defend the Bush administration in light of the recent Torture Report — and that's mostly conservatives …

Another Day Another Religious Gaffe By Scott Walker  —  Chinese proverb, religious verse, it's all the same to Scott Walker, the preacher's son.  —  Just a couple of days ago, Scott Walker became a national laughingstock when it was reported that he signed a letter to a constituent with “Thanks again and Molotov.”

Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and the 2016 Presidential Campaign  —  AS brothers who governed large states at the same time, each Bush was bound to be defined in terms of the other.  George was the impulsive one who'd stumbled and then swaggered toward success.  Jeb was the cogitator, the toiler.

Carr: Moonbats defend fable not the facts  —  Photo by:  —  WHO NEEDS THE TRUTH?:  Dan Rather had to explain CBS' fake story about President Bush 10 years ago.  The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house at the University of Virginia has since suspended operations after Rolling Stone ran an article alleging a gang rape at the house.

Families of Newtown, Connecticut, massacre victims plan lawsuits  —  Reuters 1 hr ago  —  NEWTOWN, Conn. (Reuters) - Parents of almost half the young children killed by a gunman at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, two years ago on Sunday have taken initial steps toward filing lawsuits tied …