Primary Choices: John McCain  —  We have strong disagreements with all the Republicans running for president.  The leading candidates have no plan for getting American troops out of Iraq.  They are too wedded to discredited economic theories and unwilling even now to break with the legacy of President Bush.

Why was this debate so bad?  —  One of my GOP candidates had an expression: “WOT."  Waste of time.  —  Did this debate accomplish anything, other than to remind us that Tim Russert is the most overrated journalist in television?  —  I'm trying to imagine what Florida voter watched that and went—"OK, now I'm ready to vote!"

YEP, HE SAID IT  —  Seems McCain did say that.  —  Here's the video to refresh your memory ...  TPM Reader BY just sent in this clip from the Boston Globe ...  I guess it was too much to ask to have Russert crash and burn on this one.  —  Russert's quote was: “I know a lot less …

Kucinich drops presidential bid  —  Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich is dropping out of the Democratic race for president.  —  Kucinich will make the announcement Friday at a news conference in Cleveland.  In an exclusive interview with Plain Dealer editors and reporters, Kucinich said he will explain his “transition” tomorrow.

Interrogator: Invasion Surprised Saddam  —  Tells 60 Minutes Former Dictator Bragged About Eluding Capture  —  (CBS) Saddam Hussein initially didn't think the U.S. would invade Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction, so he kept the fact that he had none a secret to prevent an Iranian invasion he believed could happen.

Obama Winning Spin War Over Who's Victim In Campaign  —  One of the central struggles between the Obama and Hillary campaigns right now is this: Which of the two can successfully persuade voters that he or she is the fair-fighter being victimized by the other's out-of-control aggression?

In Senate, a White House Victory on Eavesdropping  —  WASHINGTON — A White House plan to broaden the National Security Agency's wiretapping powers won a key procedural victory in the Senate on Thursday, as backers defeated a more restrictive plan by Senate Democrats that would have imposed more court oversight on government spying.

Fact Sheet: New Growth Package Meets Criteria to Keep Our Economy Healthy  —  President Bush Discusses the Bipartisan Economic Growth Agreement  —  Today, President Bush announced his Administration reached a bipartisan agreement with House leadership on an economic growth package …

Immigration officials detaining, deporting American citizens  —  FLORENCE, Ariz. — Thomas Warziniack was born in Minnesota and grew up in Georgia, but immigration authorities pronounced him an illegal immigrant from Russia.  —  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has held Warziniack for weeks …

Georgia Republican Presidential Primary  —  Georgia: Huckabee 34% McCain 19% Romney 16%  —  While John McCain and Mitt Romney are fighting for the lead in Florida's Presidential Primary on January 29, Mike Huckabee has the lead in Georgia.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey …

Strains on the I.R.S. Could Delay Rebate Checks for Months  —  The checks will be in the mail — eventually.  —  But President Bush's plan to send payments to 117 million households to stimulate the economy would impose major strains on the Internal Revenue Service, delays in answering calls …

Partisan Retreat  —  A few months ago, in a packed, stuffy room atop a hotel in downtown Washington, a prominent speaker made a startling remark.  Even more startling, no one in the audience seemed startled.  —  The audience was a predominantly conservative crowd assembled by the Ethics …

Wolfowitz Picked for Arms Control Panel  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department will name former World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz to head a high-level advisory panel on arms control and disarmament, The Associated Press has learned.  —  The move by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice marks …