Politics

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry has defeated rivals easily in his home state, but his poor showing as a Republican presidential candidate on the national stage exposes the limits of "Moneyball." (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Sen. John McCain (center), Arizona Republican and ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, flanked by Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (left), Arizona Republican, and fellow committee member Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire Republican, speaks Dec. 14, 2011, during a news conference on Capitol Hill to announce an effort to replace the defense sequester mandated as a result of the supercommittee's failure. (Associated Press)

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This image released Dec. 14, 2011, by Time Magazine shows the Person of the Year issue featuring "The Protester." The magazine cited dissent across the Middle East that has spread to Europe and the U.S. and says these protesters are reshaping global politics. (Associated Press/Time Magazine)

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Florida A&M University drum majors pay their respects Nov. 22, 2011, during a memorial service in Tallahassee, Fla., for Robert Champion, a drum major for FAMU's Marching 100 band who was suspected of being hazed. (Associated Press/Tallahassee Democrat)

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Speaker of the House John Boehner (left), Ohio Republican, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican, talk to reporters Dec. 13, 2011, after passage of legislation to extend Social Security payroll tax cuts at the Capitol. (Associated Press)

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Cars burn after being attacked by supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Homs, Syria, on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, in this image taken from amateur video. (AP Photo/Sham News Network via Associated Press Television News)

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**FILE** Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, gestures during a speech as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie listens at a fundraising event in Parsippany, N.J., Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

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A New York judge said in ruling on a petition seeking to relax FDA rules on the morning-after pill that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius could be added as a defendant. (Associated Press)

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Zach Walters, acquired in July, proved his versatility for the Scottsdale Scorpions this year in the Arizona Fall League. (Rick Scuteri/Special to The Washington Times)

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HE'S CLEAR: President Obama has said he will veto the bill extending the payroll-tax cut because of its proposed spending cuts and lack of tax hikes on the wealthy. (Associated Press)

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CHALLENGE: "The Senate can take up our bill and amend it, or it can pass its own bill. But the Democrats who run the Senate can't continue to shirk their responsibility to govern," says House Speaker John A. Boehner. (Associated Press)

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Majority Leader Harry Reid and fellow Democratic senators came in for criticism from House Speaker John A. Boehner, who said, "The Democrats who run Washington have a responsibility to act." (Associated Press)

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House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and fellow Republicans meet with reporters Tuesday before the House voted 234-193 to pass a bill that renews the payroll-tax-cut extension but does not include the tax hikes on the wealthy President Obama wants. The bill also pushes for a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. (Associated Press)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Despite the continued violence and political uncertainty in Iraq, President Obama thinks the Iraqis are ready to deal with their own national security, a spokesman for the president said Tuesday.

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Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, sponsor of one of two rival balanced-budget amendment measures, called the proposal a historic opportunity to lower the nation's $15 trillion debt. (Associated Press)

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Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks to military personnel during his visit to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti on Tuesday. Mr. Panetta arrived in Afghanistan later in the day. He will also visit Iraq, Libya and Turkey. (Associated Press)

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The presidential dollar coin has been sacrificed to cost-cutting needs. The White House said Tuesday it is stopping nearly all production of the coins, which carry the likeness of every deceased president. The lack of demand has resulted in nearly 1.4 billion coins, or 40 percent of those produced, being returned to the Federal Reserve, which costs money. (Associated Press)