(images: New York Times left; McClatchy right)

Tuesday was all about the votes. Three ace pitchers (and one second baseman) were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, while one Republican pitchman got enough run support to keep his job on the mound in the House of Representatives. But what the two elections showed is that a lot of the people who cast a ballot aren’t particularly happy with either process.

In the opening session of the 114th Congress, John Boehner was re-elected as House Speaker, fighting off a conservative rebellion that eventually yielded 25 dissenting votes – the most against a sitting Speaker since 1923. It didn’t take long for the Speaker to dish out a little payback.

One of the first priorities of the new Republican congress will be a bill authorizing construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, a measure President Obama has indicated he will veto. The president himself, meanwhile, hits the road tomorrow, heading to Detroit to talk manufacturing as part of a three-day road trip in the run-up to his State of the Union address on January 20.

All in all, an interesting first day in the nation’s capital. But real opening day is still April 5.

* POLITICS * Elsewhere, Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years on public corruption charges. HIs wife Maureen will be sentenced next month. During the hearing, there was an ‘extraordinary” appearance by former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder as a character witness for McDonnell.

Chris Christie’s weekend trip to Dallas to watch the Cowboys is the subject of a complaint to the New Jersey State Ethics Commission.

Jeb Bush has a new PAC, The Right To Rise, but wants people to know that the big news today was his parents’ 70th wedding anniversary.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered a moving eulogy at the funeral of his father, three-term Governor Mario Cuomo.

* WORLD * There was a shooting incident Tuesday at a VA hospital in El Paso, Texas, where a shooter apparently killed one person before taking their own life. The FBI is investigating and updates are expected tomorrow.

According to Goldman Sachs, David Cameron’s Conservatives are headed for victory in Britain’s general election this May. Goldman also said that Brazil would win last year’s World Cup.

Cameron meanwhile, will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel in London on Wednesday. As well as talks at Downing Street, the leaders are set to visit the British Museum’s exhibit Germany – Memories of a Nation.

* BUSINESS * The Euro hit fresh lows ahead of inflation data on Wednesday, amid continuing uncertainty about Greece, which is preparing for a snap election on Jan 25.

Shell agreed an $84m settlement over two oil spills in the Niger Delta.

* MEDIA * Tom Watson at Forbes has an interview with Andy Carvin about his new project, Reported.ly.

There’s an analysis at the Columbia Journalism Review on whether UpWorthy is “moving closer to journalism”

The FT looks at the new generation of social media influencers and their use by marketers.

Elected official? Don’t want your name mentioned in a local news story? Here’s how not to go about that.

* CULTURE * Neil Young’s Pono music player will go on sale on Monday. Kickstarter backers of the hi-res music device got an early look in October and the player will retail for $399,

If you were waiting to see the line-up before booking your trip to Coachella, you’re in luck. 

* SPORTS *  As mentioned, Baseball’s Hall of Fame will welcome Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio at this year’s induction day in July. The three pitchers were elected at their first attempt, while Biggio had fallen two votes short last year. It was the first time since 1955 that four players were elected and Martinez will be the first member of the Hall to be born in the 1970s. But the debate over PEDs and recognition for players of the era shows no sign of resolution.

The Chicago Cubs are close to a broadcast deal that would return a number of their season’s games to WGN television, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The New York Knicks are apparently so bad, the NYT is giving their beat writer a break from covering them.

Could Messi to Chelsea really happen? He’s still only 27 and may have fallen out of love with Barca. The Blues and Manchester City are among a small universe of clubs that could afford him, even before Financial Fair Play considerations.

Finally, the US skiing community is mourning two young skiers who were killed in an avalanche in Austria. Ronnie Berlack 20, and Bryce Astle 19 were described as two of the US ski team’s brightest young prospects.