Losing Ugly  —  There's losing.  There's losing honorably.  And then there's John Edwards.  —  Mike Huckabee is not going to be president.  The loss in South Carolina, one of the most highly evangelical states in the union, made that plain.  With a ceiling of 14 percent among nonevangelical Republicans …

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.

The Ideas Bill Forgot  —  It was a remarkable moment: A young, free-thinking presidential hopeful named Bill Clinton sat down with reporters and editors at The Post in October 1991 and started saying things most Democrats wouldn't allow to pass their lips.  —  Ronald Reagan, Clinton said, deserved credit for winning the Cold War.

Weldon won't be seeking re-election  —  Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) will be announcing his retirement today, according to a GOP operative, becoming the 25th House Republican not to run for re-election this election cycle.  —  Weldon, a physician, was elected in the Republican wave of 1994 …

Was that a whisper in Romney's Ear?  —  What's a debate without a little blogging fun?  During the GOP Presidential Debate on MSNBC, a very curious thing happened during a Tim Russert question to Mitt Romney.  You can hear what seemed like an on air-whispered answer directed at Romney …

An Even More Partisan Agenda for 2008  —  Election-Year Economic Ratings Lowest Since '92  —  Summary of Findings  —  With the economy slowing and the stock market reeling, there is greater agreement among Republicans and Democrats that strengthening the nation's economy should be a top priority …

Clinton's Campaign Sees Value in Keeping Former President in Attack Mode  —  ANDERSON, S.C. — Advisers to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton say they have concluded that Bill Clinton's aggressive politicking against Senator Barack Obama is resonating with voters, and they intend to keep …

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  —  We begin, as one always must now, again, with Bill Clinton.  The past week he has traveled South Carolina, leaving discord in his wake.  Barack Obama, that “fairytale,” is low, sneaky.  “He put out a hit job on me."  The press is cruelly carrying Mr. Obama's counter-jabs.

Bush plan for Iraq would be a first  —  No OK from Congress seen; Constitutional issues raised  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush's plan to forge a long-term agreement with the Iraqi government that could commit the US military to defending Iraq's security would be the first time such a sweeping …

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.

How Real Was the Prosperity?  —  We're just beginning to figure out how much of the nation's recent growth was the result of a credit-induced frenzy.  Here are some guideposts  —  Mark it down.  Clear the slate.  Get it all behind us.  That's what the big banks are trying to do now.

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 …