The Uncertainty Meme  —  Why does the economy continue to suck?  The LA Times is hosting a symposium on the topic today, and USC business professor Ayse Imrohoroglu says the answer is uncertainty: … OK, let's take these one by one:  — Interest rates will remain very low for a very long time.

Tea Party irks new members with tactic to promote its event  —  A Tea Party tactic to pressure new lawmakers not to attend a privately sponsored orientation event in D.C. this weekend was unwarranted, according to frustrated incoming GOP House members.  —  Competing freshmen lawmaker orientation events …

BUSH: ‘CLINTON AND I ARE BUDDIES’  —  Despite their political differences, the Bush family has really taken to Bill Clinton.  (Clinton has worked with both the 41st and 43rd presidents on humanitarian efforts.)  —  And CNN's Candy Crowley, during her Sunday interview with George W. Bush and his brother …

Paul Krugman Recommends ‘Death Panels’ to Help Balance Budget  —  Although he was likely taking a swipe at former governor Sarah Palin with the reference, Paul Krugman on Sunday recommended “death panels” as a means of helping to balance the federal budget.  —  In a Roundtable discussion on ABC's …

Obama to Redouble Effort on Core Principles  —  From Tahman Bradley:  —  En route back to Washington after a 10-day trip overseas, President Obama was introspective about his first two years in office.  The president told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had an “obsessive focus” …

U.S. Plan Envisions Path to Ending Afghan Combat  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has developed a plan to begin transferring security duties in select areas of Afghanistan to that country's forces over the next 18 to 24 months, with an eye toward ending the American combat mission there by 2014, officials said Sunday.

'Don't ask, don't tell' presents dilemma for Dems in passing defense bill  —  The need to shepherd the defense authorization bill through the Senate in the lame-duck session has left the Democratic leadership with a precarious dilemma.  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) …

Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco  —  We here at TLC realize that our fabulous new hit series Sarah Palin's Alaska may not appeal to all our viewers.  We understand that a substantial segment of the population has no interest in watching Sarah Palin or taking a tour of Alaska.

NY1 Exclusive: Rangel Feels “Confident” About Upcoming House Ethics Trial … In a rare House ethics trail set to start Monday morning, Congressman Charles Rangel will be defending himself against 13 alleged ethics violations, and he is going to do it on his own.

Murkowski maintains election write-in lead  —  COUNTING: About 89 percent of ballots for senator unchallenged.  —  JUNEAU — Sen. Lisa Murkowski retained 89 percent of the undisputed write-in votes in Alaska's still-undecided Senate race, as the fifth day of the ballot hand count ended.

McCain Moves The Goal Posts Again On DADT, Now Claiming The Pentagon Study Isn't Good Enough  —  This week, Cindy McCain caused a stir when she seemingly broke with her husband, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy when she appeared in an ad calling for repealing the ban on gays serving openly.

TSA Opt-Out Day, Now with a Superfantastic New Twist!  —  November 24th, as many of you already know, is National Opt-Out Day, when airline passengers should refuse to submit themselves to those privacy-invading, genital-picture-taking, radiation-delivering back-scatter imaging machines now installed at many American airports.

Shuler on Pelosi: If 'she doesn't step aside, I will challenge her'  —  Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) countered Pelosi would stay, saying she led Democrats to the land “of milk and honey” back in 2006.  —  Blue Dog Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.) said on Sunday that he will run …