In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011  —  Christopher Hitchens—the incomparable critic, masterful rhetorician, fiery wit, and fearless bon vivant—died today at the age of 62.  Hitchens was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the spring of 2010, just after the publication of his memoir …

Haley robocalls South Carolina touting Romney  —  Sioux City, Iowa (CNN) - Mitt Romney's presidential campaign moved quickly Friday to capitalize on a high-profile endorsement from South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley by sending out a wave of robocalls across the early primary state …

GOP wins light bulb fight  —  The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs.  —  GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes …

TPMDC  —  McConnell Demands Keystone XL In Any Payroll Tax Agreement  —  It's gut check time for Congressional Democrats on the payroll tax cut bill.  —  Regarding that legislation, Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell emails me with the following statement …

Long Island high-school students suspended for ‘Tebowing’  —  The Tebow mania sweeping the nation sacked a group of Long Island high-school students who were suspended for mimicking the quarterback's famous prayer pose.  —  Twin brothers Tyler and Connor Carroll of Riverhead HS …

Rep. Allen West: 'If Joseph Goebbels Was Around, He'd Be Very Proud Of The Democrat Party'  —  Arguably the most inflammatory member in Congress, GOP Rep. Allen West (FL) outdid himself yesterday by comparing the Democratic Party to the Nazi party.  Bristling at a new poll revealing …

‘Batman’ star Bale punched, stopped from visiting blind Chinese activist  —  DONGSHIGU VILLAGE, China (CNN) — As Christian Bale approached an impromptu checkpoint leading to this tiny village in eastern China, four men blocking the narrow path started marching toward him in menacing unison.

Southaven Mayor Greg Davis' expense receipts prompt frank revelation  —  Purchase at store for gay men leads to mayor's admission  —  Southaven Mayor Greg Davis addresses the media last month following a meeting with the state auditor.  —  Receipts from embattled Southaven Mayor Greg Davis reveal …

Climategate Bombshell: Did U.S. Gov't Help Hide Climate Data?  —  Are your tax dollars helping hide global warming data from the public?  Internal emails leaked as part of “Climategate 2.0” indicate the answer may be “Yes.”  —  The original Climategate emails — correspondence stolen …

Michele Bachmann: “After the debate that we had last week, PolitiFact came out and said that everything I said was true."  —  “After the debate that we had last week, PolitiFact came out and said that everything I said was true.”  —  DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz “denied unemployment went up under Obama.”

Tea Party Group Leader Is Arrested at La Guardia  —  An influential Tea Party leader was arrested at La Guardia Airport early Thursday after he tried to board a flight with a semi-automatic handgun and its ammunition in his luggage, the authorities said.  —  Mark J. Meckler, 49 …

Fewer Americans See U.S. Divided Into “Haves,” “Have Nots”  —  The majority would put themselves in the “haves” category if they had to choose  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans are now less likely to see U.S. society as divided into the “haves” and “have nots” than they were in 2008, returning to their views prior to that point.

Hamas: Vote for us, we kill more Jews!  —  Hamas on Wednesday marked its 24th anniversary by playing up how many Jews it has managed to murder.  The highly publicized event (and grisly casualty figures) came just months before Palestinians are scheduled to go to the polls to elect a new parliament and president.

Cartoon Regularly Featured On Big Journalism Connected To Nazi-Era Magazine  —  In at least three instances, Andrew Breitbart's Big Journalism website has used an image connected to a Nazi-era German magazine noted for anti-Semitic cartoons and pro-Hitler leanings.

SEC CHARGES FORMER FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC EXECUTIVES WITH SECURITIES FRAUD  —  Companies Agree to Cooperate in SEC Actions  —  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  2011-267  —  Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2011 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged six former top executives …