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 …

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 …

Richardson's Choice  —  SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Bill Richardson's phone has been ringing off the hook.  Sen. Hillary Clinton called Sunday night.  That was followed by a call from former president Bill Clinton, then a call from Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who's supporting Clinton.

Crist endorsement is surprising, risky … For Rudy Giuliani, Nov. 18 was to be a pivotal day on his march to the Republican nomination.  —  Popular Gov. Charlie Crist was to anoint him as the best choice for Florida Republicans, and the two of them, starting in St. Petersburg …

Where Did All Those Gorgeous Russians Come From?  —  THE SAME PLACE AS THE UNGLAMOROUS ASSEMBLY-LINE WORKERS.  —  There was a particular historical moment, round about 1995 or so, when anyone entering a well-appointed drawing room, dining room, or restaurant in London was sure to encounter a beautiful Russian woman.

President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address  —  Chamber of the United States House of Representatives  —  THE PRESIDENT: Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum.

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.

Earmark debate roils GOP ranks  —  President Bush made a war on earmarks a key priority of his State of the Union address Monday night — but Republicans remain paralyzed by internal struggles over how to curb their addiction to spending projects.  —  Even as Bush called on Congress …

Doesn't Anyone Remember Anthrax?  —  Yglesias: … Indeed.  And anthrax was what made things like “mobile chemical weapons labs” sound so scary.  Not everyone agrees, but I think more than 9/11 the anthrax freaked the country out. 9/11 was horrible, but the anthrax made it seem like we'd reached …

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 …

Tonight: Clinton Parties In Florida  —  Note: polls close in Florida at 7...and 8.  This event begins at 7.  —  Will this really help her?  She is going to be overshadowed tonight by the GOP contest.  This is would be like the New England Patiots celebrating a pre-season victory.  Weird.

Markos Calls Us Out  —  Libertarian Democrat* Markos Moulitsas asks where just-plain-libertarians—like the editors and readers of this magazine—are on FISA. … Reason has been on the FISA beat for a while, but Moulitsas is right: the hated Orange Line Mafia is not doing near enough to pressure Congress on this.