The Hillary Moment  —  President Obama can't win by running a constructive campaign, and he won't be able to govern if he does win a second term.  —  When Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson accepted the reality that they could not effectively govern the nation if they sought re-election to the White House …

Romney, Gingrich Now Top Choices for GOP Nomination  —  Gingrich's support on the rise this month  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Republicans are most likely to name Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich as their first choice for their party's 2012 presidential nomination, with Herman Cain close behind.

Deficit Deal Fell Apart After Seeming Agreement  —  WASHINGTON — The one sliver of real hope came a week ago, in the darkened Capitol on the Sunday night after Veterans Day.  —  Called away from dinner tables, the Jets-Patriots game on television and, in one case, a soccer team party …

Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden Draw Boos at NASCAR Event  —  First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden were grand marshals at today's NASCAR season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, appearing as part of their charitable campaign to support military veterans and their families.

Where in the world is Obama?  —  The president was in Hawaii while the supercommittee hit stall speed.  What is new about this?  Very little.  —  Throughout his term, President Obama has avoided leading on the issue of fiscal responsibility.  He walked away from his own commission …

Michigan lawmaker's family accuses congressman of past sexual abuse of family member  —  The family members of Congressman Dale Kildee, Michigan Democrat, are charging that the Capitol Hill lawmaker sexually abused his second cousin 50 years ago.  Patrick Kildee, who was a 12 …

Man Arrested and Charged in Bomb Plot  —  The authorities have arrested a man who law enforcement officials believe was planning to build and detonate a bomb in New York with government workers, returning military personnel and elected officials as the target, a person briefed on the case said on Sunday.

Boring Cruel Romantics  —  There's a word I keep hearing lately: “technocrat.”  Sometimes it's used as a term of scorn — the creators of the euro, we're told, were technocrats who failed to take human and cultural factors into account.  Sometimes it's a term of praise …

President Obama's base of support remains solid heading into 2012  —  View Photo Gallery —  President Obama's reelection campaign and DNC together raised $70 million in the third quarter of 2011.  Outside of fundraising, the president is ramping up support for his reelection …

James Hansen and the Corruption of Science  —  It recently came out that James Hansen, one of the two or three most prominent global warming alarmists on whose work the IPCC reports rest, “forgot” to report $1.6 million in outside income, as required by his government contracts.  Is that significant?

County compiles list of nearly 100 problems since Occupy Santa Cruz moved in  —  Hundreds of pounds of human waste included in list of issues  —  SANTA CRUZ - County officials this week released a list of 93 complaints of disruptive and illegal behavior near the county's main offices and courthouse …