Clinton, Obama steal Bush's final show  —  All eyes were on Democratic presidential frontrunners Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) Monday night as spectators and pundits followed their every move during President Bush's final State of the Union address.

Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Poll: McCain Lead Widens As Primary Election Day Dawns in Florida  —  Giuliani, Huckabee tied in battle for distant third place  —  UTICA, New York - Arizona Sen. John McCain's lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is growing wider as the Republican campaign ends …

The Kennedy Mystique  —  Something fundamental has shifted in the Democratic Party.  —  Last week there was the widespread revulsion at the Clintons' toxic attempts to ghettoize Barack Obama.  In private and occasionally in public, leading Democrats lost patience with the hyperpartisan style of politics …

Text of the State of the Union Address  —  Following is the text of President Bush's State of the Union address on Monday, as transcribed by the Federal News Service:  —  Thank you, Madame Speaker.  Thank you all.  —  Madame Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress …

Cash to fugitive's family  —  Some of the $3.5 million went to pay off certain Rezko debts, while $20,000 went to the family of Alber Najjar, who also had extensive connections with Rezko's food companies but became a federal fugitive in 2004 when he fled to Lebanon following his indictment on bookmaking charges, prosecutors said.

Video: Olby names Mary Katharine Ham “worst person in the world”  —  What deadly sin could she have committed to earn such a distinction?  Quote: … Mind you, she's referring to a man whom certain members of the press literally offered to fellate.  But never mind that.

Less of a Draw, a Subdued Giuliani Stays Upbeat  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — For weeks, as he was getting shellacked in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and South Carolina, Rudolph W. Giuliani, former front-runner for the Republican nomination, answered his skeptics with a simple refrain …

Rep. Grijalva switches to Obama from Edwards  —  PHOENIX — Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona is endorsing Barack Obama after earlier backing John Edwards in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.  —  Grijalva cited Obama's electability and his intention to …

GOP Unable to Force Vote on Bush Surveillance Bill  —  Senators Can't Stop Democratic Debate; Current Law Set to Expire Thursday  —  The Senate yesterday left the fate of a new electronic surveillance law backed by the Bush administration up in the air, as a Republican-led effort to cut off …

The Story of the George Bush Presidency: Unstable, Unfinished & Uncomprehending  —  Hard to believe, but I still can muster a modicum of sympathy for George Walker Bush.  This is because it is apparent after the last seven long years that this son of the Texas oil patch really didn't know what hit him …

Lefties Revisited  —  A few months ago, I posted a short extract from Vanessa Engle's Lefties documentary series, which seemed to go down well, possibly due to the heady mix of affectation and farce.  I watched the third episode again recently and, as it made me laugh and despair …