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.The decision came after a series of deeply personal and political conversations …

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 assistant to the vice president and his director of communications.

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 …

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.

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)

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.

Senate Democrats May Return Thousands In Madoff Contributions  —  Bernard Madoff built a major investment shop largely on smoke and mirrors — convincing investors that his fund was a safe and consistent return when it was mostly a house of cards.  —  And yet the relationship between Bernard …

THE WEAK AND THE RICH.  —  Robert Samuelson tends to write bizarre columns — who can forget his wacky dream of a world in which teenagers spend their time picketing outside the AARP? — but today's effort is, even by Samuelson standards, an unusual achievement.  In it, he attempts to bust some myths about lobbying.

Obama Picks Arne Duncan for Education Post  —  President-elect Barack Obama will name Arne Duncan, the superintendent of schools in Chicago, to be his Secretary of Education, a senior Democratic official and a second person close to the decision said.  —  Mr. Duncan is a Harvard graduate whose friendship …

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.

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.

On Making Mitch McConnell Wet His Pants  —  User B.R. writes in: … B.R. raises several interesting points, but they ultimately point back to one thing: Harry Reid has been exceptionally ineffective as the Democrats' majority leader.  —  The number of cloture votes skyrocketed …

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 …

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 …

Bayh's Blue Dogs: Bane or Boon?  —  From Roll Call comes the relatively unsurprising news that Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh is attempting to form a “Blue Dog” coalition in the Senate, one which would mirror the one that Democrats already have in the House.  This group will presumably include …