The collapse of Karl Rove  —  The Pygmalion strategist from Texas built up the Republican Party by exploiting the religious right — and now his handiwork is crumbling.  —  Karl Rove prepares to speak during the Republican National Committee 2006 annual winter meeting in Washington on Jan. 20, 2006.

BARNES STORMING:  —  I don't know how I let myself get almost through the day without reading Fred Barnes' encomium to Karl Rove.  (Make that, his latest encomium to Karl Rove.)  The basic theme is that Rove is responsible for every good thing that has happened to the GOP since 2000, but responsible for none of the bad things.

Press Gaggle by Dana Perino  —  MS. PERINO: Good morning, everybody, from Crawford junior high [sic].  Today the President had his normal briefings this morning.  He also had three foreign leader calls, which I will read out for you.  The President spoke this morning separately to President Karzai and to President Musharraf.

Toward a Realistic Peace  —  Summary: The next U.S. president will face three key foreign policy challenges: setting a course for victory in the terrorists' war on global order, strengthening the international system the terrorists seek to destroy, and extending the system's benefits.