President Obama's ‘betrayal’ of Cuban democrats  —  PRESIDENT OBAMA said he decided to normalize relations with Cuba because “we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement.”  So it's important to know the reaction of those Cubans who have put their lives …

Obama's Republican ally on Cuba  —  How a conservative Mormon became the biggest Republican Cuba advocate.  —  It all started when Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake found himself in a dark park in Havana trying to score some ice cream.  —  Flake, a devout Mormon, doesn't drink or smoke …

North Korea says it's not involved in Sony hack; proposes joint probe with US  —  North Korea says it can prove it is not behind the massive Sony Pictures cyberattack that has led to several e-mail leaks, threats on movie theaters and the cancellation of the release of the movie “The Interview.”

Politician ‘follows’ porn star, says Twitter account was hacked  —  Steve Bellone said his Twitter account was hacked after his “followers” list included Duke porn star Belle Knox.  —  Honestly, my Twitter account was hacked!  —  A Suffolk County politician pulled a move …

Why single payer died in Vermont  —  Vermont was supposed to be the beacon for a single-payer health care system in America.  But now its plans are in ruins, and its onetime champion Gov. Peter Shumlin may have set back the cause.  —  Advocates of a “Medicare for all” …

Paul slams Rubio as ‘isolationist’ on Cuba  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is hitting back against Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Cuba in a preview of a possible debate between two presidential hopefuls.  —  In a series of tweets at Rubio on Friday afternoon, Paul called the Florida senator an …

Operation Revenge  —  President Obama is back in his campaign comfort zone: Smiting his political enemies.  —  Two senior White House staffers stumbled out of the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago into the boozy, early-morning aftermath of President Obama's Nov. 6, 2012, reelection victory and ran smack into a sober reporter.

Should Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & CIA Officials Be Tried for Torture?  War Crimes Case Filed in Germany … A human rights group in Berlin, Germany, has filed a criminal complaint against the architects of the George W. Bush administration's torture program.  The European Center for Constitutional …

Democratic techies' divided loyalties  —  Ex-Obama hands split between Clinton, rivals.  —  Scores of the Democratic techies who helped Barack Obama defeat Hillary Clinton for the 2008 presidential nomination are now seeking alternatives to Clinton in 2016.

Panel to Advise Against Penalty for C.I.A.'s Computer Search  —  WASHINGTON — A panel investigating the Central Intelligence Agency's search of a computer network used by staff members of the Senate Intelligence Committee who were looking into the C.I.A.'s use of torture will recommend …

Four Afghan Guantanamo detainees repatriated, says Pentagon  —  1 hr ago  —  Washington (AFP) - Four detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay US military prison have been repatriated to Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Saturday.  —  The Department of Defense said that the Afghan men …

Rep. Mike Kelly Offers Obama ‘Lump of Coal for Christmas’  —  More ways to share...  Stumbled  —  Vine  —  Newstrust  —  Tell my politician  —  Technocrati  —  A A  —  All forms of energy in the United States should be developed to spur job creation and economic growth …

Obama Unbound  —  There may not be a lightness to his step, a lilt in his voice or a bit of jauntiness returned to his manner.  The office ages everyone prematurely, and makes spontaneity all but impossible.  But President Obama is acting like a man who's been given the political equivalent of a testosterone boost.

US releases four Gitmo prisoners to Afghanistan  —  The Pentagon on Saturday announced that it had transferred four detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison facility back to their home country of Afghanistan.  —  The Defense Department said all four men had been “unanimously approved for transfer” …

Sean Penn on Sony Pulling “The Interview”: This Sends ISIS an “Invitation”  —  In an email to Mother Jones, the actor says if the US, China, Russia, and UN don't react strongly, global culture will be “very different.”  —  Actor and activist Sean Penn, no surprise, has some thoughts …

After turbulent year, Obama aims for quiet Hawaii getaway  —  KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) — A tumultuous year all but behind him, President Barack Obama set off for his annual winter getaway in Hawaii hoping for one thing: Quiet.  —  Air Force One touched down late in the evening at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam …