What It Takes  —  About a decade ago, one began to notice a profusion of Organization Kids at elite college campuses.  These were bright students who had been formed by the meritocratic system placed in front of them.  They had great grades, perfect teacher recommendations …

Gordon Brown quits as PM as Lib-Dem deal falls apart  —  Gordon Brown is set to resign tonight and allow David Cameron to be Britain's new Prime Minister.  —  The Labour leader's final desperate attempt to cling on to power with a Lib-Lab deal crumbled amid a rebellion on his own side …

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950  —  Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman's presidency, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data found.  —  Some conservative political movements such as the …

Senate Backs One-Time Audit of Fed's Bailout Role  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday voted unanimously to require a one-time audit of the Federal Reserve's emergency actions during and after the 2008 financial crisis as part of broad legislation overhauling the nation's financial regulatory system.

Bill Clinton lends a hand on wife's debt  —  Former President Clinton is helping Sec. of State Hillary Clinton retire her remaining 2008 presidential campaign.  —  Washington (CNN) - If you supported Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential run, chances are you received …

DeMint: A conservative kingmaker upends GOP order  —  WASHINGTON — Jim DeMint is becoming something of a tea party hero, even a potential conservative kingmaker, a status that is not making the freshman senator many friends among fellow Republicans in Congress.

Top Obama advisers Jarrett and Axelrod given car privileges traditionally reserved for national security officials  —  President Obama has expanded the very small group of top aides who are given the privilege of taxpayer-funded personal drivers — who take them from their house to work …

Ok, so now I'm a liar  —  I had the opportunity — first time, and very cool — to appear on Rachel Maddow's show last night to discuss the nomination of Elena Kagan.  I was in segment B. Glenn Greenwald was in segment A. I had spent the afternoon reading up on Glenn's views about the nomination.

U.S. may be passing up chances to stop terrorist plots  —  Did a captured Taliban leader know about the Times Square plot and withhold this information from his interrogators?  —  On Sunday, Obama administration officials, including counterterrorism chief John Brennan …

Video captures Seattle cop kicking Latino suspect in the face, using ethnic slur — and then releasing him  —  A Seattle freelance videographer recently captured a local cop kicking a man in the head while prone on the ground and using ethnic slurs: … One of the most disturbing aspects of the incident …

'Tea party'-backed platform sails through Maine GOP convention  —  Maine is known for GOP moderates, but over the weekend, conservative activists succeeded in passing a platform that's backed by tea party groups.  —  Conservative activists backed by “tea party” groups have rejected …

‘Secret prison’ at US air base  —  The US airbase at Bagram in Afghanistan contains a facility for detainees that is distinct from its main prison, the Red Cross has confirmed to the BBC.  —  Nine former prisoners have told the BBC that they were held in a separate building, and subjected to abuse.

Thieves Steal Mojave Desert Memorial Cross in Nighttime Heist  —  The 7-foot-tall metal cross in a 75-year-old war memorial that withstood the heat of the Mojave Desert and a blazing battle in the Supreme Court over its legality was ripped down and stolen Sunday night, according to federal officials.

Why Sestak might really pull it off  —  Tomorrow, a third poll will come out finding Joe Sestak is leading Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Dem primary.  The poll, from Franklin & Marshall College, will mirror others showing Sestak ahead by around five points, the poll's director confirms to me.

CBO ups health care cost projections  —  Congressional Budget Office estimates released Tuesday predict the health care overhaul will likely cost about $115 billion more in discretionary spending over ten years than the original cost projections.  —  The additional spending …

Marshall, Cunningham closing on Burr  —  Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham have both gained ground on Richard Burr after building up their exposure during the Democratic primary campaign.  Burr is now in a weaker position than Elizabeth Dole was at the same point in the election cycle two years ago.

Sarah Palin's book, ‘America By Heart,’ out Nov. 23  —  NEW YORK — Sarah Palin's new book has a title, America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag, and a release date, Nov. 23, publisher HarperCollins announced Tuesday.  —  The Alaska ex-governor and former Republican vice …