Keeping His Distance from the RINOizer  —  In recent days, I've had a very hard time figuring out whether we're in a ‘Paul Ryan considering phase’ in the House leadership drama or in a ‘GOP caucus in epic denial’ phase of the same.  Frankly, I'm not sure anyone quite knows.  Ryan has said he's not running for Speaker.

Ben Carson Puts Public Campaign Events on Hold for 2 Weeks  —  Republican presidential contender Dr. Ben Carson has put his public campaign events on hold for two more weeks to go on book tour for his new tome “A More Perfect Union” and catch up on fundraising events.

The Grown-Ups Take the Stage at the Democratic Debate  —  It was impossible not to feel a sense of relief watching the Democratic debate after months dominated by the Republican circus of haters, ranters and that very special group of king killers in Congress.

Obama Announces Halt of U.S. Troop Withdrawal in Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON — The United States will halt its military withdrawal from Afghanistan and instead keep thousands of troops in the country through the end of President Obama's term in 2017, Mr. Obama announced on Thursday …

“Arabian Street Artists” Bomb Homeland: Why We Hacked an Award-Winning Series  —  What's wrong with Homeland's political message?  The very first season of “Homeland” explained to the American public that Al Qaida is actually an Iranian venture.  According to the storyline …

Rand Paul, It Is Time to Take Your Campaign Out Back and Shoot It  —  “Go home to Kentucky, Senator, and save your Senate seat before Kentucky's voters take the incompetence of your Presidential campaign as a reflection on you and your Senate campaign.”  —  What is the most endearing moment …

FBI, Justice Department Investigating Daily Fantasy Sports Business Model  —  FBI agents have been contacting customers of DraftKings to ask them about their experiences  —  The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are probing whether the business model …

Jeb Bush has added the Redskins to his stump speech  —  Forty-plus years of debates over the Redskins name have finally taken us to October 2015, when a major presidential candidate began using the team name as part of his stump speech.  —  During a town hall meeting in New Hampshire on Wednesday …

Jeb cuts back  —  Eager to show cost consciousness, the Bush campaign's “high life has ended.” … On the first day of a two-day Iowa swing back in August, Jeb Bush flew from Davenport to Ankeny in a private plane.  The next day, after he spent more than four hours bounding around …

Ben Carson Is Wrong on Guns and the Holocaust  —  TO anyone who studies Nazi Germany and the Holocaust for a living, as I do, Ben Carson's statements about gun control are difficult to fathom.  “I think the likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished …

People are criticizing my dad, Jim Webb, for killing a man.  Here's what they're missing.  —  If you watched the Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday night, you probably heard the closing comment by my father, Jim Webb.  Without hesitation he answered that the enemy he was 'most proud …

Lawyers for Dennis Hastert could reveal Thursday if plea deal reached … Lawyers for former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert could tell a federal judge Thursday if they have reached a plea deal with prosecutors that would keep bombshell allegations of hush-money payments from ever being aired in a public trial.

Obama's effort to ‘nudge’ America  —  The government tried using behavioral science to shape people's behavior.  Here's what happened.

Why Talk of “Tyranny” Is Dangerous  —  So here was Ted Cruz' calm and reflective observations about the first Democratic presidential debate, as conveyed to an Iowa audience (per the Dallas Morning News' Todd Gillman): … I'm guessing a lot of observers hear this sort of thing and just shrug …

‘She loves us’: Nephew speaks out on aunt's lawsuit brought against him … BRIDGEPORT -The aunt and the nephew she who sued for damages said they loved each other and the firestorm around the case was very upsetting during an appearance on the Today Show Thursday morning.

Huckabee Suggests Poor People Should Be Sold Into Slavery For Stealing  —  The United States criminal justice system could be improved if we sell poor people convicted of crimes into slavery, according to Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.  —  The former Arkansas governor weighed …

It's time to retire the filibuster  —  In an episode of “The West Wing,” fictitious Senator Howard Stackhouse filibusters President Bartlet's signature health care legislation, in order to increase funding for autism research.  Realizing his intentions are worthy, the White House sends support …

America's Child-Marriage Problem  —  IN the United States today, thousands of children under 18 have recently taken marital vows — mostly girls married to adult men, often with approval from local judges.  In at least one case, a 10-year-old boy was legally married.  —  How is this possible?

The Quiet Power Behind the Trump Throne  —  Ivanka Trump is her father's most influential adviser, his most powerful surrogate—and his total opposite.  —  Getty  —  You will not find a wall adorned with framed magazine covers in Ivanka Trump's office.  For that sort of thing you'll …

People are getting shot by toddlers on a weekly basis this year  —  This week a 2-year-old in South Carolina found a gun in the back seat of the car he was riding in and accidentally shot his grandmother, who was sitting in the passenger seat.  This type of thing happens from time to time …

Iran broadcasts rare images of underground missile bases  —  (CNN)At first glance it looks like the set of a James Bond movie — a seemingly impregnable mountain base packed full of uniformed men and sinister-looking missiles on their launch vehicles parked along a long tunnel buried deep underground.