Bill Richardson: What I've Learned  —  The just-tapped Secretary of Commerce shares intimate new stories on how Barack Obama saved his ass before he became his boss, Saddam Hussein's guile, Bush's charm, racial politics and more.  —  After the campaign, I grew a beard as a rebellion …

Chambliss: Palin ‘allowed us to peak’  —  Fresh off his runoff victory Tuesday night, Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss credited Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with firing up his base.  —  “I can't overstate the impact she had down here,” Chambliss said during an interview Wednesday morning on Fox News.

Franken claims he is in the lead  —  Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken's campaign said Wednesday that the comedian has taken the lead in his race against Sen. Norm Coleman (R).  —  Franken's lawyer, Marc Elias, has been pressing for the media to focus on the campaign's internal vote totals …

Bushes Planning a Move to Dallas  —  ABC News Ann Compton Reports: President and Laura Bush are moving to Dallas once they leave the White House, the First Lady said on Wednesday.  —  Laura Bush confirmed that she and the President are buying a house in Dallas, about two hours from his beloved Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Obama Gives Political Ambassadors Their Pink Slips  —  The incoming Obama administration has notified all politically-appointed ambassadors that they must vacate their posts as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office, a State Department official said.

Judicial Watch Announces Hillary Clinton Constitutionally Ineligible to Serve as Secretary of State  —  Ineligibility Clause of Constitution Prohibits Clinton Appointment  —  Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption …

Novak: 'I Don't Think I Hurt Valerie Plame' And I Would Out Her Again Because The Left ‘Tried To Ruin Me’  —  During a recent interview with the National Ledger, conservative columnist Robert Novak was asked if he would reveal Valerie Plame Wilson's secret CIA identity if he could go back and do it all over again.

Newt Gingrich Hasn't Gotten The Memo  —  Michelle Goldberg is the author of Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism.  Her new book, The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power and the Future of the World, will be published in April by Penguin Press.  —  As I was walking out the door yesterday evening, the phone rang.

Campbell Brown: Sexism sneaks in over open mic  —  Editor's note: Campbell Brown anchors CNN's “Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull” at 8 p.m. ET Mondays through Fridays.  She delivered this commentary during the “Cutting through the Bull” segment of Tuesday night's broadcast.

Bill Clinton eyes role, too  —  Former President Bill Clinton says he is open to the possibility of a role in the Obama administration but said he otherwise plans to be deferential to both the president and Clinton's wife, the soon-to-be secretary of state.  —  Clinton could be named as a sort …

Against Soft Power  —  Via Michael Chertoff is making sense: … I might note that draconian security rules and visa policies are not helpful in this regard, something Chertoff might want to consider.  Foreigners don't like being treated as if there's a presumption that citizens …

Mandate Watch: Obama Backs Off Promise to Pass Windfall Profits Tax on Big Oil  —  Good news and bad news in the last day.  The good news: Barack Obama has appointed a NAFTA critic, Rep. Xavier Becerra, as the next U.S. Trade Representative (more on that here).  The bad news is this just off the Reuters wire:

A Bridge Loan to the 21st Century  —  Auto industry executives, from left, General Motors CEO Richard Wagoner; Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli; and Ford CEO Alan Mulally, take their seats on Capitol Hill on November 19, 2008.  Congress could create a federal bridge loan of $38 billion that would help …

Obama Team Restates Strong Support For Union Bill  —  An aide to Barack Obama reaffirmed the President-elect's support for the labor movement's chief legislative priority in a one-word statement issued to the Huffington Post on late Tuesday.  —  Asked if Obama's support …

Federal Prosecutor Is Making Inquiries in the Investigation of the Dismissal of 9 U.S. Attorneys in 2006  —  A prosecutor who is investigating the dismissals of nine U.S. attorneys has been meeting with defense lawyers, dispatching subpoenas and seeking information about the events, according to legal sources familiar with the case.

Jeb: I am considering Senate run  —  Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush - the younger brother of the president - is weighing a run for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Mel Martinez.  —  Martinez announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in 2010.

Discourse Watch: Obama's Citizenship A Legit Topic?  —  Townhall.com is a mainstream, legitimate, comprehensive, informative, and entertaining conservative news and opinion magazine and website.  Disclosure: they've written nice things about me.  To liberals and non-conservatives, their content can sometimes be edgy.