Sarah Palin Defends Herself Against Criticism in FOX News Interview  —  FOX News' Greta Van Susteren is in Alaska to get Gov. Sarah Palin's reflections on the presidential election.  —  FOXNews.com  —  After a whirlwind campaign alongside Sen. John McCain, Sarah Palin is defending herself …

Georgia congressman warns of Obama dictatorship  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican congressman from Georgia said Monday he fears that President-elect Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist or fascist dictatorship.  —  “It may sound a bit crazy and off base …

Video: MSNBC falls for Palin/Eisenstadt hoax  —  Specifically, this hoax.  I'd love to throw stones at them and TNR, but people on our own side were taken in too.  —  Guys?  The post at Shakespeare's Sister revealing the hoax is linked on the first page of the Google results for “Martin Eisenstadt.”

Obama Asks Bush to Provide Help for Automakers  —  WASHINGTON — The struggling auto industry was thrust into the middle of a political standoff between the White House and Democrats on Monday as President-elect Barack Obama urged President Bush in a meeting at the White House to support immediate emergency aid.

For South, a Waning Hold on National Politics  —  VERNON, Ala. — Fear of the politician with the unusual name and look did not end with last Tuesday's vote in this rural red swatch where buck heads and rifles hang on the wall.  This corner of the Deep South still resonates with negative feelings …

What's happening in Minnesota? part 4  —  The single most illuminating account of the shifting Coleman-Franken election results that I have found since the numbers started moving after 100 percent of precincts had reported Wednesday morning is this column by John Lott:

Venezuela Positions Itself as a Salon for the Left  —  CARACAS, Venezuela — The Nepalese Maoist smiled as he glanced around the lobby of the Hotel Alba Caracas.  To his left, West African delegates to the World Meeting of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity chatted in French.

Alaska Update: Thousands of Ballots ‘Found’, One-Third Remain Uncounted in the State's Still-Fishy '08 Election  —  This just in from Alaska, where thousands of new ballots continue to be found each day, since it was first reported that turnout in 2008 was 11% lower than in 2004.

It's on: Gingrich versus Michael Steele for RNC chair  —  A follow-up to Ed's post from earlier today: The Washington Times spies a gathering storm. … I'm partial to Newt just because he seems at times to be the only man left in the party with any new policy ideas, but you can't go wrong either way.

Let the Infighting Begin  —  He won by being No Drama Obama.  Should he now stir some up?  —  The mau-mauing of Barack Obama officially began less than 24 hours after he won the White House, when National Organization for Women president Kim Gandy piped up about the possibility …

FIRST THOUGHTS: 43 MEETS 44  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann  —  *** 43 meets 44: At 2:00 pm ET, the current president and first lady welcome the incoming president and first lady at the White House.  Then, minutes later, Bush and Obama will meet together.

Obama to Explore New Approach in Afghanistan War  —  The incoming Obama administration plans to explore a more regional strategy to the war in Afghanistan — including possible talks with Iran — and looks favorably on the nascent dialogue between the Afghan government and “reconcilable” …

Obama May Ask Gates to Keep Post  —  WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama is leaning toward asking Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his position for at least a year, according to two Obama advisers.  A senior Pentagon official said Mr. Gates would likely accept the offer if it is made.

Aloha State Moves to the A-List  —  Obama's Birthplace Sees Rush for Tickets To Inaugural Ball  —  Forget the cowboy hat.  Throw on a lei.  —  The Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball — the first one ever — is suddenly the hottest ticket in town, replacing the Texas Black Tie and Boots ball …

Darkness at Dusk  —  It's only been a week since the defeat, but the battle lines have already been drawn in the fight over the future of conservatism.  —  In one camp, there are the Traditionalists, the people who believe that conservatives have lost elections because they have strayed from the true creed.

Airs Tuesday, November 11, at 9 pm  —  In the wake of yet another hard-fought and bitter presidential campaign, FRONTLINE presents a spirited and revealing biography of Lee Atwater, the charming, Machiavellian godfather of modern take-no-prisoners Republican political campaigns.

Stimulus math (wonkish)  —  I wrote this morning's column partly because I had a hunch that the Obama people might be thinking too small on stimulus.  Now I have more than a hunch - I've heard an unreliable rumor!  So let's talk about stimulus math, as I see it.  —  Actually, before I get to the math, some concepts.