White House could protect middle class from tax hikes if deficit talks falter  —  The White House has the power to temporarily protect taxpayers from middle-class tax hikes even as upper income rates rise if Congress does nothing and all of the Bush-era tax rates expire in January.

George Will: ‘Quite Literally, The Opposition to Gay Marriage Is Dying’  —  While Supreme Court watchers ponder how justices will come down in the debate over gay marriage, ABC's George Will said Sunday on ABC News “This Week” it's clear where public opinion is headed.

A failure of leadership: Snyder's about-face on right-to-work betrays voters  —  Two years ago, a newly elected Rick Snyder told the Free Press editorial board he was determined to be a new kind of governor — a pragmatist focused like a laser on initiatives that promised to raise standards of living for all Michiganders.

Volcanoes, Not Meteorite, Killed Dinosaurs, New Study Suggests … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, Dinosaur Death, Dinosaur Extinction, Dinosaurs Asteroid, Dinosaurs Deccan Traps, Dinosaurs India, Dinosaurs Lava, Dinosaurs Volcano, Volcanic Activity Dinosaurs, Volcanoes Killed Dinosaurs, What Killed Dinosaurs, Science News

Clinton's Countless Choices Hinge on One: 2016  —  You're one of the most famous women on earth, and you're jobless for the first time in decades.  You'd like to make money, but you don't want to rule out running for president.  So what do you do all day?  —  Right now, aides and friends say …

The Years of Senator DeMint  —  IN November 2008, just after John McCain was routed by Barack Obama, Jim DeMint addressed a Myrtle Beach conference on the future of the Republican Party.  The first-term South Carolina senator was there to reassure his audience: Republicans might have lost an election …

Top Senate Democrat Rejects Raising Medicare Eligibility Age  —  As rumors swirl that Democrats may consider raising the Medicare eligibility age to reach a deal before the looming “fiscal cliff,” a top Senate Democrat expressed opposition to that option Sunday.

U.S. Senator Protests Climate Talks With Activist Who Believes The UN Is The Anti-Christ  —  Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, held a climate-denial press conference at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on Thursday.

Sen. Corker open to higher tax rates as part of deficit-cutting deal  —  Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) on Sunday joined a growing chorus of Republicans who are open to higher tax rates for the richest Americans as part of a deal to avoid the “fiscal cliff.”  —  Corker, a member of the Senate …

For the first time, same-sex couples wed in Wash. state  —  In the Nov. 6 election, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to allow same-sex couples to marry by popular vote.  —  STORY HIGHLIGHTS  —  10:33AM EST December 9.  2012 - SEATTLE — Emily cried …