Politics

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Sen. Thomas R. Carper (right), Delaware Democrat, succeeds the now-retired Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The ranking Republican is also new. (Associated Press)

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Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, may have lost his bid for vice president, but his influence will still be felt on Capitol Hill as chairman of the House Budget Committee. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii Democrat, is greeted by Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, for the re-enactment of her swearing-in Thursday on the first day of the 113th Congress. Ms. Gabbard is the first Hindu in Congress. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Newly elected Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, is a tea party favorite with serious legal chops who already has advised the Republican Party to adopt the motto “Opportunity Conservatism.” (Associated Press)

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Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, is a barometer of grass-roots ferocity, reminding the press that the tea party is still percolating and libertarian conservatism remains a force. (Associated Press)

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D.C. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan testifies in front of the D.C. Board of Elections on his opposition to a proposed ballot referendum already passed by the D.C. City Council and signed by D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray that could give the city more budget freedom from congress, Washington, D.C., Monday, January 7, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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President Obama (center) announces in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, that he is nominating John Brennan (right), his deputy national security adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism, as the new director of the CIA, and former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel (left) as the new defense secretary. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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A Bahraini anti-government protester poses for a photograph flashing the victory sign in front of burning tires on a road in the village of Dumistan, Bahrain, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. The country's highest court has upheld jail sentences against 20 opposition figures convicted of plotting to overthrow the Western-allied government, including eight prominent activists facing life in prison. The ruling is almost certain to bring strong criticism from rights groups and touch off more street protests in the violence-wracked Gulf kingdom. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

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Eric Schmidt (left), executive chairman of Google, and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (right) arrive in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Mr. Schmidt wants a first-hand look at North Korea's economy and social media in his private visit to the communist nation, his delegation said, despite misgivings in Washington over the timing of the trip. The man in the center was not identified. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

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A camouflage convoy of Dutch military trucks carrying two batteries of Patriot missiles is lined up for a media opportunity before departing from De Peel Air Base in Vreedepeel, Netherlands, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Twelve Patriot missile launching systems from the Dutch military are on their way to help Turkey defend its border against Syrian rockets. The missile batteries are scheduled to be fully operational by Jan. 26. (AP Photo/Mark D. Carlson)

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William Hilton Paul, 19-year-old son of Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, was arrested at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C., and charged with underage drinking and disorderly conduct on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, after flying from Kentucky to North Carolina. (AP Photo/Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via WCNC-TV)