The Ghailani verdict and American justice  —  A federal jury in New York yesterday returned a guilty verdict against accused Terrorist Ahmed Ghailani on one count of conspiracy to blow up a government building, a crime which entails a sentence of 20 years to life, but acquitted …

Fox News Chief Blasts NPR ‘Nazis’  —  Roger Ailes slams Jon Stewart as a conservative-basher, explains why he rode to Juan Williams' rescue—and sees NPR as taxpayer-funded propaganda.  Part II of Howard Kurtz's interview.  —  When Jon Stewart was appearing on the O'Reilly Factor a few weeks back …

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC Should Take FOX News, MSNBC Off Airwaves  —  SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV): “There's a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to FOX and to MSNBC: ‘Out.  Off.  End.  Goodbye.’ It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work …

Controversy over pat-downs, body scans lands at DIA  —  Despite ongoing criticism from some Washington lawmakers and many travelers, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole refused Wednesday to back off the agency's position that tougher airport screening techniques are needed to counter evolving threats.

CARVILLE: OBAMA NEEDS A PAIR  —  Speaking to reporters Thursday, Democratic strategist James Carville dropped this one-liner: “If Hillary gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama, he'd have two.”  —  The quote was first noted by Tribune reporter Mike Memoli on his Twitter account.

Incoming GOP senators demand say on New START  —  Ten of the new incoming Republican senators Thursday are planning to demand they get a say on the New START treaty, adding ten new voices to the growing cacophony pushing for a delay in consideration of the treaty until next year.

Ohhh, America, you're so strong  —  Oooh, you're so strong, baby, so handsome.  You're the greatest.  —  I'm talking about you, America.  You're . . . why, you're exceptional!  —  Does anyone else think there's something a little insecure about a country that requires its politicians to constantly declare how exceptional it is?

CUOMO FILES TWO LAWSUITS AGAINST STEVEN RATTNER, FORMER FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF QUADRANGLE, SEEKING AT LEAST $26 MILLION AND IMMEDIATE LIFETIME BAN FROM NEW YORK SECURITIES INDUSTRY  —  Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today filed two lawsuits against Steven L. Rattner, former founding principal …

Listen to people on banning earmarks  —  The incoming House Republican majority has pledged to cut spending and change the way Washington spends taxpayer dollars.  —  As a new freshman class descends on Washington for orientation this week, joining with current leaders, now is the time to begin this effort.

BELIEVING WHAT THEY'RE TOLD TO BELIEVE.... A new report this week from the Pew Research Center shows what we probably could have guessed: conservatives in America reject evidence of global warming.  But Pew study also raises an important related point: it didn't use to be this way.

Dear Airline, I'm Leaving You  —  But don't feel too bad.  It's not you, it's me.  Or rather, it's the TSA.  —  I'm not going to lie.  It's come between us.  If I have to let someone else see me naked in order to be with you—well, I'm just not that kinky.  And deep down, I don't think you are either.

DADT Study Co-Chairman Doesn't Think Pentagon Will Be Able To Release Study Before Dec. 1  —  Army Gen. Carter F. Ham — the co-chairman of the Pentagon's Working Group on Don't Ask, Don't Tell — told Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) during his confirmation hearings …

Don't Get Cocky, GOP  —  Obama is weak, but it is always difficult to defeat a sitting president.  —  It has been a brutal month for President Obama.  The historic electoral rebuke delivered to his party was followed at the G-20 meeting by a public rebuff of the Federal Reserve's QE2 program …

Obama calls Levin to urge lame-duck 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal  —  President Barack Obama took steps on Wednesday to force a Senate vote on legislation that would begin to dismantle the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy banning openly gay service members during …

Vote on Whether This Couple Gets an Abortion  —  The Arnolds are having a baby.  Unless the public votes to have the child aborted.  Meet the couple behind Birthornot.com, where “you can vote and choose whether we abort or keep our unborn child.”  —  Pete and Alisha Arnold, both 30 …

Top governors turn against Michael Steele  —  SAN DIEGO - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's prospects for a second term dimmed Wednesday as Republicans went public with their concerns about the committee's fundraising and two prominent governors indicated a preference for new leadership atop the party.

Sen. Hatch: I'm not Bob Bennett  —  Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who could face a primary challenge from the right in 2012, said Wednesday that he's confident he will not meet the same fate as fellow Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), who lost a bid for his party's nomination in 2010 in the face of Tea Party opposition.