Questions Arise About the Obama/Blagojevich Relationship  —  “Obviously like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US attorney's office today,” said President-elect Obama this afternoon in Chicago, speaking of the criminal complaint …

Joe the Plumber: McCain ‘appalled me’  —  Joe Wurzelbacher lashed out at former GOP presidential nominee John McCain Tuesday, the man who made Wurzelbacher famous as “Joe the Plumber.”  —  Wurzelbacher told conservative radio host Glenn Beck that he felt “dirty” after “being on the campaign trail …

Favreau's Sexist Photo Is No Laughing Matter  —  Oh, what to do.  An incredibly talented young aide, to an impossibly idealistic new president, gets caught doing something indefensibly stupid and undeniably sexist.  Everyone is uncomfortable.  But should anyone be held accountable?  Apparently not.

Treasury Bills Trade at Negative Rates as Haven Demand Surges  —  A A A  —  Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) — Treasuries rose, pushing rates on the three-month bill negative for the first time, as investors gravitate toward the safety of U.S. government debt amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

O'Reilly And Rove Agree: Reports On The Bad Economy Are Part Of A Media Cabal To Help Obama  —  Yesterday on Fox News, Bill O'Reilly and Karl Rove went on a tirade against the media for hyping the struggling state of the economy.  They claimed that it's not as bad as reports are making it out to be …

The Case For Caroline?  —  After allowing that her head tells her to “recoil from political dynasties,” Ruth Marcus lets her heart make the case for Senator Kennedy of New York: … I don't know about Jesse Ventura, but I find Schwarzenegger and Sonny Bono's pre-political careers as self …

Man who lost family when jet hit house: I don't blame pilot  —  SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) — A Korean immigrant who lost his wife, two children and mother-in-law when a Marine Corps jet slammed into the family's house said Tuesday he did not blame the pilot, who ejected and survived.

A Fighter Jet's Fate Poses a Quandary for Obama  —  Two of President-elect Barack Obama's stated goals — cutting wasteful spending and saving or creating millions of jobs — are on a collision course in a looming decision over whether to keep building the F-22 fighter jet.

Dear Governor Blagojevich:  —  I know you've had a long day.  —  Apparently, federal agents showed up at your house to arrest you at 6 a.m. for trying to sell Barack Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder.  —  You're probably wondering what to do.  I have some advice.

QUOTE OF THE DAY.... A new national poll from CNN/Opinion Research Corporation finds 79% of Americans approve of the job Barack Obama has done so far.  That's probably not too significant — this is still the transition period, when exercising one's limited authority is a lot easier — but 79% is still a pretty solid number.