$14B auto bailout dies in Senate  —  WASHINGTON - A bailout-weary Congress killed a $14 billion package to aid struggling U.S. automakers Thursday night after a partisan dispute over union wage cuts derailed a last-ditch effort to revive the emergency aid before year's end.

Obama Worked to Distance Self From Blagojevich Early On  —  Like every other politician in Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich waited for Barack Obama's call this summer.  He told colleagues that he expected a speaking role at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a nice bit of payback …

Blagojevich fundraiser held by Jackson allies Saturday  —  As Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to pick Illinois' next U.S. senator, businessmen with ties to both the governor and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage …

Bernard Madoff arrested over alleged $50 billion fraud  —  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bernard Madoff, a quiet force on Wall Street for decades, was arrested and charged on Thursday with allegedly running a $50 billion “Ponzi scheme” in what may rank among the biggest fraud cases ever.

The Real Obama  —  Barack Obama has garnered praise from center to right — and has highly irritated the left — with the centrism of his major appointments.  Because Obama's own beliefs remain largely opaque, his appointments have led to the conclusion that he intends to govern from the center.

Powell: GOP ‘polarization’ backfired in election  —  (CNN) — The Republican party must stop “shouting at the world” and start listening to minority groups if it is to win elections in the 21st century, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.  —  In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria …

McCain pollster: Wright wouldn't have worked  —  John McCain's top pollster, Bill McInturff, said this evening that attacking Barack Obama over his relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright would not have helped McCain's campaign and could have destroyed his presidency, had he been elected.