Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for ‘careless’ joke  —  President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan this afternoon to apologize for a joke about her having held “séances” in the White House, an Obama aide said.  —  “President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan today …

McConnell reaches out to Lieberman  —  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has reached out to Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) about the prospect of joining the Republican Conference, but Lieberman is still bargaining with Democratic leaders to keep his chairmanship, according to Senate aides in both parties.

Transcript: 'I'm going to confront this economic crisis,' Obama says  —  CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama spoke at a his first news conference as president-elect Friday afternoon.  The following is a transcript of the conference:  —  Obama: Thank you very much, everybody.

Breaking News: Obama wins electoral vote in Nebraska  —  Barack Obama made history today in Nebraska.  —  The Democratic presidential candidate claimed an electoral vote in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District — the first time in more than four decades a Democrat won any of Nebraska's electoral votes.

Rumor Patrol: Romney Camp Spreading Palin Stories?  —  Rumor: Aides and advisers to Mitt Romney are responsible for spreading most of the anti-Palin stories that have been going around; during the campaign, they pressured reporters to look into reports of tension between McCain and Palin factions.

The N-bomb is dropped on black passersby at Prop 8 protests  —  UPDATE: the openly gay president of People for the American Way, Kathryn Kolbert, has released a statement.  It's below the fold.  —  You could see this coming, and this is what I'm talking about when you ignore the elephant in the room.

Change I Can Believe In  —  I have dreams.  I may seem like a boring pundit whose most exotic fantasies involve G.A.O. reports, but deep down, I have dreams.  And right now I'm dreaming of the successful presidency this country needs.  I'm dreaming of an administration led by Barack Obama …

Obama Eyes Consumer Activists for Agency Posts  —  FDA, EPA targeted as needing reformers to lead  —  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other government agencies that affect consumers, are likely to look very different under President Obama than they do under President Bush.

Examples of Obama's Decency  —  I've had some people demanding evidence — any evidence — that Obama is a decent or good man.  I've learned as a lawyer and a blogger that you can't convince someone who resists being convinced, and on the issue of Obama's positive qualities …

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA?  —  When the polls closed Tuesday evening, Minnesota's Secretary of State's office showed that Norm Coleman had a 725-vote win in his closely contested race against Al Franken.  By the next morning, however, Coleman's victory was already shrinking.

The Wounded-Courier: Comedy World Devastated by Obama Victory  —  Comedy World Devastated by Obama Victory  —  As the majority of Americans continue to bask in the glow of Barack Obama's landslide victory on Tuesday, comedians nationwide have suddenly fallen on hard times.  Some literally.

“Irrelevant”  —  Thanks for the memories, but you were all completely “Irrelevant” during the historic victory that Barack Obama achieved during 2008 Presidential election.  All your smears failed to change the course of history.  —  “Irrelevant”  —  “Irrelevant”  —  “Irrelevant”  —  “Irrelevant”

Conservatives blame moderates for GOP losses  —  (CNN) — A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.  —  Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council told CNN …

‘Compassionate’ Conservatism Was a Mistake  —  The liberal pundits who embraced the candidacy of Barack Obama are also eager to issue a death certificate for free market capitalism.  They're wrong, and they remind me of what the great Willie Nelson once said: “I'm ragged but I'm right.”

Nine questions  —  Obama's first press conference as president-elect offered a glimpse of his governing style, looser and more assertive than his cautious campaign mode, though still keeping his interactions with the press brief.  —  This was, of course, a happy occasion for him …

Bozell Says Obama Was A Far-Left Candidate, Seconds Later Says He ‘Won As A Conservative’  —  Reeling from Tuesday's widespread losses, yesterday “about 20 political strategists and social and fiscal conservative leaders met” to discuss the future of the movement at the home of Brent Bozell, head of the right-wing Media Research Center.