Politics

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Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday, "We simply cannot afford a government that just grows bigger and bigger with each passing year." (Associated Press)

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Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker (right), speaks with Italian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mario Monti at the EU Council building in Brussels. The 17 finance ministers of euro-using countries met Tuesday in a bid to save their currency and to protect the rest of the global economy from a debt-induced financial tsunami. (Associated Press)

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"It's very clear to me that we're seeing the rights of employers and employees under attack," said Rep. John Kline, Minnesota Republican. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, says a Republican president "could absolutely gut the vast majority" of the health care law by executive order. (Associated Press)

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Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist "is hilarious," says an acquaintance. "If you've only seen him in little sound bites talking about tax policy, you're missing out." Mr. Norquist, who writes a lot of his own jokes, will compete Wednesday night at the D.C. Improv in Northwest for the title of "the Funniest Celebrity in Washington." (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Ruins of homes destroyed by Iranian artillery during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-88 remain standing in Mandali, a mixed Kurdish-Arab city about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. (Associated Press)

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Iranian goods are displayed at a shop in Baghdad. Iran's presence is already visible in Iraq, from the pilgrims at Shiite holy sites to the brands of yogurt and jams on grocery shelves. (Associated Press)

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Pianist and composer Jason Moran, 36, will take over as the artistic adviser for jazz at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (Kennedy Center via Associated Press)

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Gen. Lloyd Austin (left), the top U.S. commander in Iraq, looks on as Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. (right) shakes hands with the James Jeffrey, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, upon Mr. Biden's arrival in Baghdad on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

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"We're going with Graham. It really had nothing to do with Graham, with the missed field goal or the missed extra point. That was totally on our protection scheme." - Redskins coach Mike Shanahan

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** FILE ** In this Oct. 3, 2011, file photo Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain stops to address the media as he arrives for a meeting with developer Donald Trump in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

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A hard-line Iranian protester runs inside the British Embassy in Tehran as a diplomatic vehicle is set on fire by demonstrators who stormed the embassy compound on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

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Protesters condemn the weekend NATO strikes on Pakistani border posts as they demonstrate in Lahore, Pakistan, on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary)

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** FILE ** U.S. soldiers board a military plane as they leave Afghanistan from the U.S. base in Bagram Air Field north of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, July 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

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Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said he would give some illegal immigrants permanent resident-worker status - but not citizenship. (Associated Press)

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Ginger White goes public near Dunwoody, Ga., on Monday. In an explosive allegation, Ms. White said she and Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain had a 13-year extramarital affair that lasted nearly until the former businessman announced his candidacy for the White House several months ago. (Associated Press)