“John Thune” on The Daily Caller

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans weighing a White House bid fiercely oppose a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia and stand in stark contrast to two presidents, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George H.W. Bush, on a critical foreign policy issue. (more)

There was growing concern in Washington Tuesday that President Obama’s tax cut deal would add roughly $900 billion to the federal budget deficit and national debt. (more)

The 2012 presidential campaign began immediately after the midterms ended. (more)

Outgoing Florida Republican Sen. George LeMieux plans to make his Senate colleagues put their money where their mouth is on deficit and debt reduction by forcing them to vote on it before the end of the year. (more)

Even as Senate Republicans approved a “moratorium” on congressional earmarks, a small but significant contingent of the caucus is openly vowing to flout the new rules. (more)

Conservatives are asking for a two-year timeout from earmarks. Mike Huckabee is ready to ban them for the next 20 years. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sarah Palin is the most polarizing of the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, while impressions of Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney lean more positive, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. As for the rest — Pawlenty, Barbour, Thune, Daniels — most Americans say, “Who?” (more)

A look of the key races in the 50 states: (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Change at the top? Not necessarily. (more)

There’s no doubt the main catalyst for the Tea Party movement and the motivation of other independent voters today is the out-of-control spending, bailouts, trillions in debt, and the unprecedented aggressive expansion of government into our lives, businesses, health care, and earnings, by the Obama administration, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their allies.  The debt in the trillions dwarfs all other deficits in our nation’s history many times over, and, if it is not reversed, it will be the ruin of our country. To preserve the American Dream, millions of freedom-loving Americans are going to stand up on Election Day and demand change. (more)

The latest betting odds for the 2012 presidential election peg President Barack Obama as the favorite. But if the opening odds for the 2008 presidential election are any guide, 2012 could be the year Sarah Palin is elected president. (more)

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a potential presidential candidate, this weekend defended his vote for the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which Tea Party activists vehemently oppose. (more)

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the “Daschle slayer” who beat the Senate Democratic leader in 2004, is ramping up plans for a presidential run in 2012, associates say. (more)

John Thune leaned forward, peered out of the small window in the 9-seat King Air 200, extended his index finger, and smiled. (more)

This past week I gave a speech to a group of investors. The organizer of the event e-mailed me the night before, asking that I please try to be optimistic. Well, that’s my usual habitat. But optimism has been hard for me this year. Our muddle-through economy and lackluster stock market, challenged by so many taxing, spending, and regulating problems coming out of Washington, are the reasons why. (more)

Sen. John Thune has already spent more than $4.6 million on a re-election campaign that doesn’t have an opponent. (more)

Financial experts and banking industry insiders gathered at the Treasury Department in Washington Tuesday to discuss the future of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The general consensus? There is agreement that Fannie and Freddie cannot continue to exist in their current state of government conservatorship — but the agreement ends there. (more)

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Friday that he expects former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) to be among the crowd of GOP presidential candidates in 2012. (more)

We may be in the midst of the craziness that is the 2010 midterms, but this week has seen a number of developments on the 2012 Republican presidential nomination front: (more)

With speculation growing that he’ll join the wide-open 2012 Republican presidential field, South Dakota Sen. John Thune plans to roll out a sweeping proposal Tuesday to remake the congressional budget process. (more)