Ashley Judd once again finds herself the center of mockery from Republicans. She just makes it so easy sometimes. The starlet is currently considering a run for Senate in Kentucky next year to unseat current Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- even though she currently lives in Tennessee.

Although the actress was raised in Kentucky, it’s unlikely that her self-proclaimed radically leftist political leanings offer even the slightest bit of electability in the solidly red state. Cue the GOP super PAC Crossroads, who put out an ad Wednesday poking fun at her Senate dreams.

Kat Cammack is the 24-year-old girl wonder in House freshman Ted Yoho’s congressional office. The former pageant girl and head cheerleader is the unlikely congressman’s chief of staff, and she’s hoping to shake things up on the Hill.

Ted Yoho isn’t exactly what you’d expect to find roaming the halls of the Capitol, so it makes sense that his chief of staff isn’t either. He doesn’t come from the typical background of a lifelong career in politics or law -- he comes from the farm. Literally. Prior to challenging 12-term Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns in the primary last August, Yoho spent 30 years as a large animal veterinarian.

Since the presidential campaign ended last fall, many people have been wondering what the Romney’s plans for the future are. Whatever they are, they apparently don’t include a turn on the dance floor for season 16 of Dancing with the Stars.

Ann Romney, the wife of former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was in talks with DWTS executives about an appearance on the show, sources say. She was “very interested,” but ultimately decided against it.

Ben Affleck announced Wednesday that he will not be running for Senate in Massachusetts, finally putting to rest the speculation swirling around the actor and his potential foray into politics. Rumor had it that Ben (raised just outside of Boston) was considering running for the seat that will be left vacant if Senator John Kerry is confirmed as Hillary Clinton’s replacement for Secretary of State.

Although I’m a fan of much of Ben Affleck’s work, I’m glad he decided to sit this one out. Partly it’s because I am a fan. If he were busy performing his legislative duties, we might not have Argo, which he directed and starred in. That movie was great! But mostly, I’m glad he’s not running because, with few exceptions, I think actors should stick to acting and leave the politics for the politicians.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This year saw some glorious highs, like the camaraderie and triumph of 2012 London Olympics, and some tragic, heartbreaking lows, like the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre and Hurricane Sandy's devastation in New York and New Jersey.

We saw acts of kindness, and startling acts of rage and violence. And we reelected the nation's first African American president to his second term. Here are some of the news highlights from 2012. What else would you put on the list?

Remember when the auto industry started crashing and the government came in and spent our money to prop it up? In 2009, we spent $50 billion on GM, to purchase just over 25% of the company -- 500 million shares. Then remember a few months ago, when President Obama campaigned hard on the premise that they had saved the auto industry? Joe Biden even illustriously cried from the podium at the Democratic National Convention, “Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive!”

So what’s all this news now about the U.S. Treasury selling off its GM shares at a loss to taxpayers? Didn’t GM already pay off their loans? President Obama praised them as a great example, and GM even said “thanks” to America in a commercial about it. Did they pay back the loans in full and with interest or did they not?

Barbara Walters is apparently obsessed with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's weight. She brought up Christie's weight before and she's doing it again. This time to his face.

Yep, despite deciding that Christie is one of her "10 Most Fascinating People" this year, she somehow missed the fact that in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, he seemed to be everywhere at once and never missed a beat. She actually had the nerve to ask him if he thought he's too fat to be President of the United States.

Is she kidding, shockingly rude, or just completely oblivious?

GQ says its list of the 25 LEAST influential people of 2012 is in no particular order, but I don't buy it. Because really, at the top of that list we find everyone's favorite failed Republican presidential candidate (well, there really can only be one...): Mitt Romney.

And thank goodness! I am tickled pink that Mr. Romney will remain a figure of little to no influence because as a woman (and a human being), I kind of like the "gifts" that Obama allegedly "gave" us. What am I grateful that Romney won't be influencing this holiday season? Oh so very many things.