A Powerful Response  —  Jim Webb tore up his party's playbook—and helped point the Democrats in a new direction.  —  Something unprecedented happened tonight, beyond the doorkeeper announcing, "Madame Speaker."  For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech.

The State of the Union  —  The White House spin ahead of George W. Bush's seventh State of the Union address was that the president would make a bipartisan call to revive his domestic agenda with "bold and innovative concepts."  The problem with that was obvious last night — in six years …

The Knee-Jerk Opposition  —  If George W. Bush proposes something, it must be bad.  Such is the knee-jerk state of partisan suspiciousness that when the president actually endorses a tax increase — a tax increase that would primarily hit the well-off, no less — Democrats still howl.

Petraeus Calls Iraq Situation 'Dire'  —  "The situation in Iraq is dire," Lt. Gen. David Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.  But he said the planned increase in troop levels and new tactics should enable American and Iraqi forces to provide security in Baghdad.

Watching the SOTU Speech on ABC  —  Did they really need to drag World News anchor Charles Gibson all the way down from New York just to do a stand-up intro with the Capitol dome over his shoulder?  George Stephanopoulos and Martha Raddatz were in separate locations, so it wasn't as though he was joining them in the studio.

'Scapegoat:' Scooter's Stunning Defense  —  A bombshell detonates on day one of the Libby perjury trial, as Cheney's longtime aide points the finger at Karl Rove  —  Libby leaving the courthouse Tuesday afternoon.  —  A WEB EXCLUSIVE  —  It was the last thing the White House needed …

Watergate plotter Hunt dies at 88  —  Howard Hunt, the CIA officer who helped to plan the Watergate break-in that led to the downfall of US President Richard Nixon has died, aged 88.  —  Mr Hunt, who was jailed over the incident, had died after a lengthy bout of pneumonia in Miami, his son said.

The Web Celeb 25  —  THE FACE OF FAME IS CHANGING.  The ranks of the world's celebrities used to be dominated by millionaire actors, athletes and musicians, but the Internet has leveled the playing field.  A kid with a video camera has access to as large an audience as the biggest Hollywood star.

N Korea helping Iran with nuclear testing  —  North Korea is helping Iran to prepare an underground nuclear test similar to the one Pyongyang carried out last year.  —  Under the terms of a new understanding between the two countries, the North Koreans have agreed to share all the data …

Smears for Fears  —  Wes Clark just got caught up in the rigged rules for discussing Israel-related issues in America.  —  Retired General Wesley Clark is, like me, concerned that the Bush administration is going to launch a war with Iran.  Arianna Huffington spoke to him in early January …

Iraq Parliament Finds a Quorum Hard to Come By  —  Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, the speaker of Parliament, read a roll call of the 275 elected members with a goal of shaming the no-shows.  —  Ayad Allawi, the former prime minister?  Absent, living in Amman and London.  Adnan Pachachi, the octogenarian statesman?

From the President, a Two-Letter Jab at the Democrats  —  President Bush departed from the prepared text of his State of the Union address to graciously congratulate Nancy Pelosi on her history-making selection as the first female Speaker of the House.  Then he departed from the prepared text …

The Lonely Optician  —  Does your love life comply with state regulations?  You may be surprised.  —  Say you live in Washington state, and you find yourself getting to know and becoming attracted to your dental hygienist—or for that matter your optician (that's the person who fits your eyeglasses …

Obama beats Clinton — in website traffic  —  If website hits were votes for the 2008 presidential election, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would be the clear winner.  —  Twelve percent of Internet surfers who visit www.senate.gov click to the freshman senator's homepage, according to rankings on Alexa.com, which tracks website traffic.

Letter to the editor  —  Univ. can and should honor those who serve in military  —  To the Editor:  —  What is Yale doing to recognize those from Yale — graduates, staff, faculty — who have served in combat in the Persian Gulf or in Afghanistan or the other troubled areas of the world …