Edwards's Bloggers Cross the Line, Critic Says  —  Two bloggers hired by John Edwards to reach out to liberals in the online world have landed his presidential campaign in hot water for doing what bloggers do — expressing their opinions in provocative and often crude language.

Scooter Libby and the media debacle  —  The New York Times made headlines last week when it tapped a new D.C. bureau chief.  But if the paper of record really wanted to jump-start its Beltway news operation, maybe it should have tried to lure Patrick Fitzgerald away from the Department of Justice.

Live-blogging McCain's blogger outreach...  I've been invited to a bloggers conference call... You get a front-row seat too.  Why?  Because I care about you.  (Note: I'm paraphrasing the quotes because I'm not a "real" reporter.  Deal.)  —  3:06 PM: After a five-minute wait with really piss poor music …

Ban Proposed On Walking While Talking, Listening To iPod  —  Ban Would Apply To MP3 players, Blackberrys  —  A state senator from Brooklyn said on Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would ban people from using an MP3 player, cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic device …

GOP Views Clinton As Virtually Unbeatable  —  What many conservatives regard as the nightmare scenario — President Hillary Rodham Clinton — is increasingly seen by veteran Republican politicians and strategists as virtual inevitability.  —  In GOP circles, the Democratic front-runner is seen as so strong …

Deputy Attorney General Defends Prosecutor Firings  —  A senior Justice Department official acknowledged yesterday that a top federal prosecutor in Arkansas was removed to make room for a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove, but he said that six other U.S. attorneys were fired for "performance-related" issues.

New Takes on the New Deal  —  When it released its budget proposal Monday, the Bush administration — and its congressional critics — focused anew on the country's giant Social Security program.  Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has said "significant political differences" …

Black women face dilemma in Democratic primary  —  Barack Obama is black.  Hillary Rodham Clinton is a woman.  —  So if you're an African-American woman - and therefore, presumably, a Democrat - how do you choose between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton in what could turn out to be a precedent-setting presidential election?

In Campaign 2008, Candidates Starting Earlier, Spending More  —  Starting as early as last June, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was hiring staffers and consultants in New Hampshire and Iowa and building the foundation for his 2008 presidential bid at a time when those in early battleground states typically …

As Inflation Soars, Zimbabwe Economy Plunges  —  For close to seven years, Zimbabwe's economy and quality of life have been in slow, uninterrupted decline.  They are still declining this year, people there say, with one notable difference: the pace is no longer so slow.

Lawmakers Revolt Against Long Hours  —  Even before Democratic leaders have made good on promises to harness lawmakers five days a week, cross-party opposition is growing, with senators ready to revolt and House members simmering over the new schedule.  —  The most popular move afoot …

Many Voices, No Debate, as Senate Is Stifled on War  —  At a time when even President Bush acknowledges that the war in Iraq is sapping the nation's spirit, the Senate has tied itself up in procedural knots rather than engage in a debate on Iraq policy.  —  Given the influence that voter frustration …

Dodd Uses Wall Street `Juice' to Outraise His Rivals (Correct)  —  Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) — Senator Christopher Dodd, trailing in presidential polls, ran ahead of his Democratic rivals in the race for money in the last quarter of 2006, propelled by contributions from the financial-services industry that he oversees.

9/11 Dad  —  Welcome to the Tuesday guest blog.  Every Tuesday "On Balance" features the views of a guest writer.  It could be your neighbor, your boss, your most loved or hated poster from the blog, or you!  Send me your original, unpublished entry (300 words or fewer) for consideration.

Baghdad Push Begins, U.S. Military Says  —  The long-awaited Baghdad security operation has begun, the top United States military spokesman in Iraq said today, also confirming that a transport helicopter had come down near Baghdad.  He declined to comment on any casualties.