Only 46% Know Republicans Won the House

Only 46 percent of Americans know that Republicans will have a majority only in the House when the new Congress convenes in January.

Talking to Your Kids About Star Wars

Because no one should live in a world where Han didn’t shoot first.

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Defeated Senators, Arms Treaties, And Lame Duck Sessions

Unless there’s an emergency, is it proper for representatives who have been defeated in a mid-term election to be voting on controversial legislation?

Image of the Day

Republican Circular Firing Squad Goes After Critics Of Jim DeMint

The battle between social and fiscal conservatives continues, with the SoCons now saying that criticism of South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint is now considered evidence of ideological impurity.

Airline Security Killing More People Than It Saves?

It’s quite possible that the delays spawned by airline security measures are killing more people than they’re saving.

What’s a Lame Duck Congress to Do?

Some Republican Senators-elect are imploring Harry Reid not to consider any treaties during the lame duck session.

Terrorism Show Trial Ends With Near-Complete Acquittal

The first civilian trial of a Guantanamo detainee ends with the Defendant being acquitted on all but one charge, and shows us why the entire process is little more than a show trial.

What Do Voluntary Mean?

TSA boss John Pistole has offered to give Senators a pat-down search so that they understand the controversial new procedures.

Conservatives and Racism, Take MXLVI

Rush Limbaugh is apparently not impressed with Barack Obama’s presidency. That doesn’t make him a racist.

Investigative Journalism, RIP

The Washington Independent goes dark in December, failing to find profitability in three years.

A Note to the Internet

OTB Radio – Tonight at 5:30 Eastern

Tonight’s topics: New airline screening measures, Karzai vs. Petraeus, political infighting among victorious Republicans, and the defeated Democrats keeping their leadership intact.

Child-Free Air Travel?

The gang at The Week ask, “Are child-free flights the next travel trend?”

Plagiarism Kills

Sarah Palin: I Am Engaged In Deliberations About Running For President

Yet another sign that the GOP’s biggest nightmare may actually end up coming true.

Is iTunes Killing the Album?

The Atlantic’s Dave Thier laments that, “The Beatles on iTunes Means Your Kids May Never Hear ‘Her Majesty’

Congratulations, Greece (Updated)

Terrorism risk assessment: Russia at “Extreme Risk”, Greece at “High Risk”, U. S. at “Medium Risk”, Canada and Germany at “Low Risk”.

The Price of Tea in China

Food prices are rising in China. For us higher food prices mean we get fat a little more slowly; for a poor Chinese family it means starvation stalks a little closer.

Haiti’s Cholera

The cholera outbreak in Haiti continues unabated; riots against UN peacekeepers have broken out.

Tea Party Group Vows No More Christine O’Donnell’s Or Sharron Angle’s

At least one group of Tea Party activists seems to realize that their biggest mistake of the 2010 election cycle was backing candidates like Christine O’Donnell who turned out to be their own worst enemies.

100 Saved Body Scans Now On-Line

A Florida courthouse illegally saved 35,000 images from security scanners.

Outrage and Opt-Outs will not Sway the TSA

So will there be an efficacious backlash against TSA policies? I am guessing no.

Social Conservatives Respond To Tea Party Call For Truce On Social Issues

The response from social conservatives to the call for a truce on social issues is about what you’d expect.

Gmail’s Miniscule Makeover

Gmail alerted me that they had undergone a homepage makeover. Somehow, I hadn’t noticed. See if you can guess why.

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Congressional Black Caucus Withholding Support From Pelosi

Lack of support from a key constituency may pose a threat to Nancy Pellosi’s effort to stay on as leader of Democrats in the House of Representatives.

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Rangel Guilty of 11 Ethics Violations

Charlie Rangel has been found guilty of 11 violations of House ethics rules.

Idiotic Idea of the Day

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants to install devices in cars to disable cell phones.