(POLITICS Weekly) Obama Victory; Petraeus Scandal; More Election Results; Bono; 2016; Beau!

• The Real Story of the Most-Liked Photograph of All Time!

• It's Official: Obama Wins Florida!

• The World Reacts to Obama's Win!

• CIA's Petraeus Resigns Over Extramarital Affair!

• Maine, Maryland and Washington State Back Gay Marriage!

GOP Paying Law Firm $500K to Back Gay Marriage Ban!

House Republicans have agreed to pay a law firm $520 an hour, to a maximum of $500,000, to defend the Defense of Marriage Act now that President Obama has abandoned it. Former Bush Administration solicitor general Paul Clement will head up King and Spalding's defense of the law, which forbids federal recognition of gay marriage, in roughly a dozen pending lawsuits, Politico reports. Politico has the contract here.


The move drew a swift attack from Nancy Pelosi. “The hypocrisy of this legal boondoggle is mind-blowing. Speaker Boehner is spending half a million dollars of taxpayer money to defend discrimination,” a spokesman said. “If Republicans were really interested in cutting spending, this should be at the top of the list.”

News Flash: 'This Is Pelosi's Moment'

No doubt there's some serious backroom dealing going on right about now in the halls of Congress. And that's perfect for Nancy Pelosi, writes Marc Sandalow. She didn't become Speaker because of her tact but because of her "mastery of the inside game." A West Coast liberal? Remember, she grew up in Baltimore, and her dad was an equally "hard-headed" politician. "This is Nancy Pelosi's moment."

Whether she succeeds is still up in the air, writes Sandalow at the San Francisco Chronicle. "But this is her legacy. If she fails, buildings will still be named after her for being the nation's first female Speaker. But her reputation for legislative accomplishment hangs in the balance. If she succeeds, in addition to health care reform, America may finally gain an insight into why Pelosi was the first woman to shatter the marble ceiling."