Clinton defends Rice, pushes off 2016 speculation
(CNN) – On one of her last official foreign trips as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton emphasized her support of the embattled UN Ambassador Susan Rice and brushed off speculation about her and her husband former President Bill Clinton's future plans.
Republican criticism of Rice following the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya that left four Americans dead has complicated the possibility President Barack Obama might nominate her to replace Clinton as secretary of state. At issue are talking points Rice conveyed on the Sunday public affairs television shows following the attack which did not label the assault a deliberate act by terrorists. Critics have said she knowingly misled the public while Rice and the White House maintain she made clear the information provided was based on the best intelligence available at the time.
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Jeb Bush to lead National Constitution Center
(CNN) - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will take a key leadership position with Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, the organization announced Tuesday.
Bush will step up as chairman of the center's Board of Trustees in January.
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First on CNN: Priebus launches RNC re-election bid
Washington (CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus formally launched his re-election campaign Thursday in a letter and YouTube video sent to the 168-member committee.
In the letter, provided to CNN by a GOP source, Priebus touts his fundraising success since taking over the committee and its $24 million debt burden in early 2011.
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By the numbers: Retiring politicians
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Jim DeMint, who announced on Thursday that he is leaving the Senate next month, will be joined by 35 other members of Congress who are retiring after the end of the 112th Congress. Here's a look, by the numbers at what the members will get and what they will leave behind as they leave the Hill:
36: Members of Congress who are retiring after the 2011-12 session ends.
25: House members who are retiring.
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Who will replace DeMint? Scott rises to top of list
Washington (CNN) - On the list of people who might be appointed to fill departing Sen. Jim DeMint's Senate seat, there's Rep. Tim Scott and everyone else.
DeMint announced Thursday he is leaving the Senate to take over the conservative Heritage Foundation, a decision that's shaking up carefully plotted lines of succession in South Carolina politics.
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Fiscal cliff deal down to wrangling over details
Washington (CNN) - Both sides agree the wealthy will pay more, so now fiscal cliff talks come down to how much Republicans can wring out of the White House in return for giving in on taxes.
To President Barack Obama, it's all about first locking in additional revenue from raising taxes on high-income owners, an outcome the GOP has long rejected.
FULL STORYSen. Jim DeMint will step down from Senate
Washington (CNN) - Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina will resign from his Senate seat as of Dec. 31 to take over as head of the Heritage Foundation, his office announced Thursday.
"I honestly believe that I can do a lot more on the outside than I can on the inside," DeMint told reporters at Heritage Thursday.
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Trio of polls: Support for raising taxes on wealthy
Washington (CNN) - A new poll indicates a majority of Americans are OK with raising taxes on incomes over $250,000 per year as part of a deal to prevent the country from falling off the fiscal cliff.
A Quinnipiac University national survey released Thursday is the second in two days and third over the past week and a half to indicate public support for raising taxes on households making more than $250,000 per year. A tax increase for high income Americans has been a major sticking point between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans in negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff.
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LaTourette: Growing sense in GOP that Obama 'has won this round'
(CNN) - Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette of Ohio said Thursday he's starting to see more openness among House Republicans for the president's pitch to raise tax rates on the top 2% of income earners.
The nine-term congressman, who's retiring in January, said he noticed a turning point on Wednesday when Republicans held their weekly meeting with House Speaker John Boehner–but he added Democrats need to meet them in the middle, too.
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Christie comes to Washington
Washington (CNN) - New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie was in Washington, D.C. Thursday for meetings with President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, and other officials regarding relief for Hurricane Sandy, aides to the governor said.
Christie's visit follows a similar trip to Washington earlier this week by New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, while both men push for federal funding to aid their states after the late October storm ravaged parts of the Northeast.
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