Caroline Kennedy to Seek Clinton's Senate Seat  —  Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided to pursue the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, a person told of her decision said on Monday.

Brother Explains Shoe-Tossing Iraqi Journalist's Anger  —  (Photo: Johan Spanner for The New York Times)  —  BAGHDAD — The brother of Muntader al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a joint press conference on Sunday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki …

Biden TIME  —  Outgoing newsmag bureau chief Jay Carney to be veep's communications director.  —  Get The Page delivered to your inbox.  Sign up for TIME's daily political newsletter here.

Obama Transition: We Can't Release Info Until Christmas Week  —  The Obama transition office just sent out this release about its internal “review” of contacts with disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich: … Last week, in a press conference on Thursday, President-elect Obama announced …

Salazar poised to head Interior  —  Colorado's senior senator is said to be a leading contender for a Cabinet post that is vital to Western issues.  —  U.S. Senator Ken Salazar answers questions during a press conference in March.  (Special to the Post |  William Woody)

Obama Sails Over Scandal  —  Public ratings of Barack Obama are unscathed by the scandal swirling around Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's apparent effort to trade off his power to appoint Obama's successor to the U.S. Senate, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Limits on Executive Pay May Prove Toothless  —  Loophole in Bailout Provision Leaves Enforcement in Doubt  —  Congress wanted to guarantee that the $700 billion financial bailout would limit the eye-popping pay of Wall Street executives, so lawmakers included a mechanism …

PATERSON IN A BLIND RAGE OVER ‘SNL’ SKIT  —  Gov. Paterson didn't see the humor in a “Saturday Night Live” bit that mocked his blindness.  —  During the “Weekend Update” segment of NBC's irreverent comedy show, actor Fred Armisen played Paterson, imitating his wandering eye, gravelly voice and blunt, self-effacing demeanor.

Red-State Army?  —  In Hopewell Township, N.J., the veterans of American Legion Post 339 have put their building up for sale.  “Today's vets don't come out,” 82-year old Jim Hall told The Times of Trenton last month.  The post is down from 425 paying members in the 1960s and '70s to 202 this year; only about a dozen regularly attend.

Left and Right, Piling On  —  In 1953, the president of General Motors, Charles Wilson, was nominated by President Eisenhower to be secretary of defense.  During his confirmation hearings, Wilson was asked if he'd be able, as defense secretary, to make decisions contrary to the interests …

Lake Co. sheriff switches parties  —  Flanked by some of the state's most prominent Republicans, Democratic Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran announced Monday he is joining the GOP.  —  “I am changing parties as a matter of conscience,” Curran said at a news conference at the Lake County GOP headquarters in Libertyville.

45% Suspect Obama Team Involved in Blagojevich Scandal  —  Forty five percent (45%) of U.S. voters say it is likely President-elect Obama or one of his top campaign aides was involved in the unfolding Blagojevich scandal in Illinois, including 23% who say it is Very Likely.

Supreme Court rejects appeal questioning Obama's citizenship  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Supreme Court has dismissed a second emergency appeal questioning Barack Obama's eligibility to be president because he had dual British-American citizenship at birth.  —  The justices without comment …

The Right And Abu Ghraib I  —  My own view is that the American conservative movement's embrace or defense of torture was the moment its intellectual collapse became irrecoverable.  When conservatism abandoned core values of American decency in favor of pure force, exemplified …

The Torture Presidency  —  President George W. Bush has launched “Operation Legacy,” which he placed in the hands of his ultimate advisor, indeed his “brain,” Karl Rove.  Remember Rove?  He's the man who refused to testify under oath when summoned by Congress to do so and was recently identified …

Ask Dr. Helen: How Can I Keep My Students From Becoming Little Marxists?  —  It's not easy to keep young minds open to a variety of political views.  —  Scott from North Carolina is concerned with the radical views of his students: … Dear Scott:  —  You are correct to be concerned.

Paterson proposes ‘Obesity Tax’  —  ALBANY - A can of Coke could soon cost New Yorkers more than just calories.  —  Gov. Paterson, as part of a $121 billion budget to be unveiled Tuesday, will propose an “obesity tax” of about 15% on nondiet drinks.  —  This means a Diet Coke might sell for a $1 …

Gen. Shinseki's Silence  —  The announcement that retired Army chief of staff Eric Shinseki will be President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of veterans affairs has energized one of the most enduring myths of the Bush presidency.  Among the media coverage in recent days …

Two Sides of a Troubled Governor, Sinking Deeper  —  CHICAGO — Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich is a polished speaker who can win over elderly women at luncheons in southern Illinois with his earnest attention and eloquently recite historical anecdotes from the lives of the leaders he says he most admires …