Senate Republicans Deliver Sharp Criticism of Gonzales  —  Senators Say Attorney General Fired Prosecutors Without Explanation  —  Senior Senate Republicans today delivered scathing criticism of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales for his handling of the firing of eight U.S. attorneys …

SENATE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE JOINT RESOLUTION TO TRANSITION THE MISSION IN IRAQ  —  Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today joined Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer, Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray …

Mitt Romney Still Unknown to Many Republicans  —  Giuliani, Obama, and McCain have most favorable images  —  PRINCETON, NJ — One critical measure at this stage of the election campaign is the traditional trial heat that indicates who Democrats and Republicans want to be their party's nominee for president.

'What Has Happened to Dick Cheney?'  —  Is the vice president losing his influence, or perhaps his mind?  That question, even if it is phrased more delicately, is creeping through foreign ministries and presidential offices abroad and has become a factor in the Bush administration's relations with the world.

Exclusive: Report Says FBI Violated Patriot Act Guidelines  —  Brian Ross and Vic Walter Report:  —  The FBI repeatedly failed to follow the strict guidelines of the Patriot Act when its agents took advantage of a new provision allowing the FBI to obtain phone and financial records without a court order …

Rove: Prosecutor Purge Is "Normal and Ordinary"  —  The Arkansas Times' blog has video of Karl Rove speaking today on the topic of the prosecutor purge.  I've typed up a transcript of the remarks, but I'll leave it to readers in comments to point out the many distortions (and some plain lies) in Rove's comments.

Net worth of U.S. households skyrockets  —  WASHINGTON - The net worth of U.S. households climbed to a record high in the final quarter of last year, boosted mostly by gains on stocks, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday.  —  Net worth — the difference between households' total assets …

John Edwards To Skip Nevada Debate  —  Liberal Activists Protest Fox News' Role In Presidential Candidate Forum  —  (CBS/AP) Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards won't participate in a debate co-hosted by Fox News and the Nevada Democratic Party, his campaign said …

Update on Gilly—Not out of the Woods Yet  —  Still here  —  Jen here.  I just got off the phone with Gilly's Mom.  Last night, her message was that "they brought him down from surgery, but he's still under sedation."  I called her this morning to get more details, and here they are:

Gingrich had affair during Clinton probe  —  WASHINGTON - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich acknowledged he was having an extramarital affair even as he led the charge against President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair, he acknowledged in an interview with a conservative Christian group.

Fox Makes Friends And Foes  —  WASHINGTON — Joe Lieberman was beaming.  "Sam Fox represents what America is all about," he said, "and that's why he will be, when confirmed, an extraordinary ambassador."  —  The scene was last week's Senate Foreign Relations Committee.