Fred Thompson Quits Presidential Race  —  NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson quit the Republican presidential race on Tuesday, after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states.  —  “Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States.

Heath Ledger, Actor, Is Found Dead at 28  —  The actor Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon in an apartment in Manhattan, according to the New York City police.  Signs pointed to a suicide or an accidental overdose, police sources said.  Mr. Ledger was 28.

Obama most likely Democrat to unify America  —  THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY in South Carolina this year offers voters an unusual choice.  Earlier votes have winnowed out the most experienced candidates, leaving a field with fewer accomplishments and differences on policy, but including two candidates …

Gov. Blunt won't seek second term  —  Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican, just announced that he's not running for re-election this fall.  —  In a statement that shocked political leaders, in both parties, Blunt released a TV address “announcing that having achieved virtually everything …

Huckaproblems  —  As Fred Thompson departs and frees up a share of conservative voters, Huck's difficulties in trying to compete in one large state and then in a slew of others are coming to the fore.  —  He confirmed today that some of his aides aren't getting paid anymore and adviser Ed Rollins said others had quit.

OBAMA vs. CLINTON....AGAIN....It's possible — likely, even — that everyone is tired of conversations about whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton would be more effective if they win the presidency.  That's doubly true since it's essentially unknowable at this point.

Barack Obama Talks to The Brody File  —  I just finished my sit-down interview with Sen. Barack Obama here in Greenville, S.C. We talked about everything from last night's debate, his troubles with Sen. Hillary Clinton and continuing Internet rumors that he's a Muslim.

Found in Translation  —  FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds spills her secrets.  —  Most Americans have never heard of Sibel Edmonds, and if the U.S. government has its way, they never will.  The former FBI translator turned whistleblower tells a chilling story of corruption at Washington's highest levels …

Will the Democratic presidential candidates adhere to their rhetoric?  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  Time's Massimo Calabresi predicts the likely outcome of the imminent FISA and telecom immunity fight, to begin this week or next: … Here we have a perfect expression …

Dow Plunges then Recovers; Fed Lowers Rates; The Case Against Fiscal Stimulus  —  Today, as expected after the foreign markets plunged over the MLK holiday, the Dow started off by plunging almost 500 points (just about what the prediction markets expected, btw).  But then it gained most of it back:

Petraeus: I Need Another Six Months To Determine Whether 'We've Reached A Turning Point'  —  In the past few months, conservatives such as Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have been quick to declare victory in Iraq.  In November, McCain said that “we've succeeded militarily.”