Clintons Move to Tamp Down Criticism From Blacks About Recent Comments  —  WASHINGTON — The Clinton campaign moved Friday to try to quell a potentially damaging reaction to recent comments by Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton that have drawn criticism from African-Americans …

De-Baathification Reform Law Passes In Iraqi Parliament  —  Note: I'm leaving this post on top for the morning; newer posts are below.  —  Those who claim that the surge strategy in Iraq has paid no dividends because it hasn't met Congressional benchmarks may wish to skip to the next post.

‘Filipino Monkey’ may be behind radio threats, ship drivers say  —  The threatening radio transmission heard at the end of a video showing harassing maneuvers by Iranian patrol boats in the Strait of Hormuz may have come from a locally famous heckler known among ship drivers as the “Filipino Monkey.”

Mitt vs. Michigan  —  Will the state reject a native son?  —  Many of the same pundits who predicted Mitt Romney would be a natural front runner in New Hampshire have predicted that he would be a natural front runner in the Michigan primary on Tuesday.  After all, Mitt grew up in the state …

Bush and Congress Seen Pushing for Stimulus Plan  —  WASHINGTON — The Bush administration and Congressional leaders, increasingly concerned about a possible recession, are moving closer to agreeing that an economic stimulus package is needed soon, Washington officials said Friday.

Baghdad Embassy Is Called A Fire Risk  —  ‘Serious’ Problems Were Ignored, Says State Dept. Official  —  The firefighting system in the massive $736 million embassy complex in Baghdad has potential safety problems that top U.S. officials dismissed in their rush to declare construction largely completed …

Clinton Aide: Obama Is For People Who Want “Imaginary Hip Black Friend”  —  An anonymous Clinton adviser made an interesting comment to The Guardian, explaining the difference between Hillary supporters and Obama supporters.  —  “If you have a social need, you're with Hillary,” the aide said.

Fears About Economy Increase  —  Debt Crisis Grows; Top Mortgage Firm Sold at a Bargain  —  Major banks and mortgage companies yesterday sharply accelerated an industry consolidation that is set to change the landscape of American lending, while a convergence of events exposed fresh worries about the U.S. economy.

Democrats See Enthusiasm Gap in Their Favor  —  It used to be the credibility gap that afflicted politicians.  Now Republicans and Democrats are peering over the edge of the enthusiasm gap.  —  The term doesn't refer to the chasm between how politicians see themselves and their actual public standing.

Supreme Court to Review ‘Millionaires’ Amendment'  —  The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will review the constitutionality of the so-called Millionaires' Amendment, which allows opponents of some self-funded congressional candidates to raise more money than federal law normally allows.