Clinton targets pledged delegates  —  Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign intends to go after delegates whom Barack Obama has already won in the caucuses and primaries if she needs them to win the nomination.  —  This strategy was confirmed to me by a high-ranking Clinton official on Monday.

Castro resigns as president, state-run paper reports  —  HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) — Fidel Castro announced his resignation as president of Cuba and commander-in-chief of Cuba's military on Tuesday, according to a letter published in the state-run newspaper, Granma.

THE OBAMA BUBBLE....Paul Krugman this morning: … Right on cue, here's David Brooks tonight: … A “backlash” from a conservative like Brooks is hardly a surprise.  Still, I think Krugman is right: bubbles always burst, and Obama has been riding a major league bubble for months now.

A landmark day for bloggers — and the future of journalism  —  The George Polk Awards are kind of like the Golden Globes of American journalism .  Not as well known as those Oscars of the news business, the Pulitzer Prize, the Polk Awards are nevertheless probably a close second in terms of prestige …

U.S. strikes in Pakistan — without notice  —  Unilateral attack on al-Qaeda commander called a model for operations  —  In the predawn hours of Jan. 29, a CIA Predator aircraft flew in a slow arc above the Pakistani town of Mir Ali.  The drone's operator, relying on information secretly passed …

Has Obama Been Sufficiently Vetted to Survive the GOP Machine?  —  Larry C. Johnson of No Quarter has been arguing for quite some time that Obama is insufficiently vetted to withstand attacks from the right.  In a recent piece in The Huffington Post, he discusses the basis of his concerns.

Top court rejects ACLU domestic spying lawsuit  —  Supreme Court decision doesn't explain reason for turning down appeal  —  WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court rejected a challenge Tuesday to the Bush administration's domestic spying program.  —  The justices' decision, issued without comment …

The Note: Blue Cheese  —  On Wisconsin, A Chance for Obama to Roll — Or Clinton to Mount a Comeback  —  The polls are open and voting is already under way in the Badger State.  The polls are set to close at 9pm ET in Wisconsin, but don't lose any sleep staying up for the Hawaii caucus results.

Feels Like The First Time  —  Does a hostility about one's own country provide a good basis for a campaign?  John Podhoretz notes the very strange assertion from Michelle Obama as she campaigned for her husband in Wisconsin.  It comes as a piece with her exhortation at UCLA two weeks ago …

Obama Gaining Among Middle-Aged, Women, Hispanics  —  Also running even with Clinton among core Democrats  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The momentum in the Democratic nomination race has clearly swung toward Barack Obama.  Not only has he won all of the post-Super Tuesday contests …

Toshiba quits HD DVD business  —  TOKYO - Toshiba said Tuesday it will no longer develop, make or market HD DVD players and recorders, handing a victory to rival Blu-ray disc technology in the format battle for next-generation video.  —  “We concluded that a swift decision would be best,” …

Why I'm voting for Obama in the Wisconsin primary.  —  I said I was going to write this post, so I'd better do it.  As I said, I want to do an archaeology of the archive and trace my response to Barack Obama as I did to John Kerry in an old 2004 post called “How Kerry lost me.”

Bob Geldof in Rwanda gives Bush his props  —  KIGALI, Rwanda — Bob Geldof has parachuted into the White House travel pool here in Rwanda, and will join us on the flight from Air Force One to Ghana tonight.  —  He's going to interview President Bush for Time magazine and several European outlets …

Obama seeks Ohio's blue-collar vote  —  Barack Obama on Monday made an aggressive pitch at Ohio's blue-collar workers by proposing a “Patriot Employers” plan that would lower corporate taxes for companies that did not ship jobs overseas.  —  The proposal, which came two weeks …

The Next Slum?  —  Strange days are upon the residents of many a suburban cul-de-sac.  Once-tidy yards have become overgrown, as the houses they front have gone vacant.  Signs of physical and social disorder are spreading.  —  At Windy Ridge, a recently built starter-home development seven miles northwest …