Democrats Join Calls for Napolitano to Step Down Following Failed Attack  —  Democrats have joined the ranks of those calling for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step down following the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight a week ago.

It takes a worried man: SD 26 GOP Endorsee Mike Parry scrubs potentially offensive twitter posts  —  According to today's Waseca County News, GOP-endorsed SD 26 candidate Mike Parry boasted at the recent GOP endorsing convention in Faribault: … However, when progressives on twitter began …

A terrorist war Obama has denied  —  Janet Napolitano — former Arizona governor, now overmatched secretary of homeland security — will forever be remembered for having said of the attempt to bring down an airliner over Detroit: “The system worked.”  The attacker's concerned father …

Rush: U.S. health system ‘just fine’  —  HONOLULU - Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh said Friday that he did not suffer a heart attack and that his physician did not know the reason for the symptoms that resulted in his hospitalization in Hawaii this week, despite a number of tests performed on him.

Hardball: Joan Walsh Calls Republican Critics of Obama ‘Un-American’ and ‘Traitorous’  —  Remember when dissent was supposed to be patriotic?  Well, it seems that only applies when a Republican is president.  Now that Barack Obama is in the White House, criticism of him is “un-American” and “traitorous.”

Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pull pistols on each other  —  Teammates pull weapons on each other  —  Guess they're still the Bullets at heart.  —  NBA all-star Gilbert Arenas and his Washing ton Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other in the team's locker room during …

THEY NEVER LEARN.... In late October, the White House released extensive visitors logs, prompting some thorough reviews of who's stepped foot in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  —  Far-right activists thought they'd hit the mother lode when they started going through the list of names.

Danish cartoonist intruder shot  —  Danish police have shot and wounded a man in the home of Kurt Westergaard, whose cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad sparked a major row.  —  Danish media say Mr Westergaard was in his home in Copenhagen with his wife and grandchild when a man broke in and threatened him with a hammer.

GOP banks on repeal push for 2010  —  Republicans hope a push to repeal the Democrats' health care bill will inspire voters to turn out for them in the 2010 elections — even though some of them admit that it has no realistic chance of working.  —  “We have to repeal very substantial parts …

C.I.A. Takes On Bigger and Riskier Role on Front Lines  —  WASHINGTON — The deaths of seven Central Intelligence Agency operatives at a remote base in the mountains of Afghanistan are a pointed example of the civilian spy agency's transformation in recent years into a paramilitary organization …

No U.S. combat deaths in Iraq in Dec.  —  Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) — December was the first month since the beginning of the Iraq war in which there were no U.S. combat deaths, the U.S. military reported.  —  There were three noncombat fatalities.  —  “That is a very significant milestone …

GOP poised for comeback in midterm elections  —  Republicans could have a big year, but they need to win 40 House and 11 Senate seats to regain control of Congress.  That's a tall order.  —  Sens. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, left, and Harry Reid of Nevada are among the Democrats who face challenging reelection votes this year.

Crowds in Times Square Celebrate 2010  —  Hundreds of thousands of revelers welcomed the new year in New York City's Times Square, despite the rain, slushy streets and heightened security, capping worldwide celebrations that often emphasized the hopes for a more peaceful tomorrow.