Clinton Joins '08 Field, Fueling Race for Money  —  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton jumped into the 2008 presidential race yesterday, immediately squaring off against Senator Barack Obama and the rest of the Democratic field in what is effectively the party's first primary, the competition for campaign donations.

Media Blackout: "I Shot the Non-Muslim"  —  The assassination of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink is being universally portrayed as ethnic strife, a political act by Turkish nationalists against an Armenian critic.  —  Call me Mr. Suspicious, but when I see the entire media monolith pushing …

Dirge for a 'Surge'  —  In the latest NEWSWEEK poll Bush's approval rating remains at its all-time low as his plan to increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq is met with widespread disapproval.  Looking to '08, declared candidate Hillary Clinton is in a statistical dead heat with other potential nominees.

Bush to Urge New Tax Plan for Health Care Coverage  —  President Bush intends to use his State of the Union address Tuesday to tackle the rising cost of health care with a one-two punch: tax breaks to help low-income people buy health insurance and tax increases for some workers whose health …

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2007  —  A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America  —  America was founded on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with the right to life and that every individual has dignity and worth.

State aims for Feb. 5 primary to boost clout  —  The move from June 3 would give California more influence in the 2008 presidential race.  —  SACRAMENTO — With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's backing, state lawmakers from both parties are moving rapidly to make California a player in choosing …

Waiting Room — Saturday Edition  —  (Screen grab from Breakfast At Tiffany's.)  —  Just spoke to folks at the hospital.  Jane is doing well, and was getting ready to take a nap.  Howie and Matt Stoller are apparently going to visit this afternoon, and I hope to get a first hand report from them at some point.

Chavez admits Castro gravely ill  —  Cuban leader Fidel Castro is battling to save his life, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said.  —  Mr Chavez, a close friend of Cuba's left-wing leader, said he hoped Mr Castro would recover but admitted he faced a hard struggle.

Unbowed  —  Joe Lieberman: "It is critical that we take advantage of this opportunity to win."  —  WASHINGTON—The war in Iraq brings to Joe Lieberman's mind an old Mark Twain story.  "When a cat jumps on a hot stove, the cat never jumps on the stove again because the cat always assumes the stove is hot …

Former FEMA head in NYC: party politics played role in Katrina response  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Political storm clouds gathered again over the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina as former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown said party politics influenced decisions …

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO GETTING YOUR SURGE ON  —  Or: "How to stop choosing the wrong damn side in this war"  —  President Bush announces The Surge - 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.  "The vast majority of them — five brigades — will be deployed to Baghdad."  —  Americans respond: