EPA Eases Emissions Regulations for New Power Plants  —  The Environmental Protection Agency ruled yesterday that new power plants are not required to install technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, rejecting an argument from environmental groups.  —  The ruling, in a memorandum signed …

Document drop: The story behind Change.gov  —  I've obtained documents sent to a reader in response to his FOIA request regarding the creation of Barack Obama's Change.gov website.  It gives you the rest of the story.  You'll recall last month that I blogged several questions about the propriety …

GERRY: SHE'S NOT READY  —  Geraldine Ferraro gave a thumbs down to Caroline Kennedy's bid for the Senate yesterday - even as the Camelot daughter won her biggest endorsement for the job, The Post has learned.  —  Ferraro, the first woman nominee for vice president, sent a letter …

If criminal penalties are removed, what will deter lawbreaking by political officials?  —  (updated below)  —  The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus today perfectly expresses the consensus view of establishment Washington regarding the exemption which political elites should and do enjoy from the rule of law …

Palin's boyfriend's mom arrested on drug charges  —  (CNN) — Sherry Johnston, whose son is having a baby with the daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was arrested Thursday on drug charges, Alaska State Police said.  —  Johnston's teenage son, Levi, is the boyfriend of Bristol Palin …

Veep-Hunting  —  Looking for the party line on Cheney?  Here it is.  —  Angler  —  The Cheney Vice Presidency  —  by Barton Gellman  —  Penguin, 384 pp., $27.95  —  Anyone still interested in the sorry state of mainstream journalism should have a good, long look at Barton Gellman's blistering portrait of Dick Cheney.

A Chance for Consensus on Iraq  —  After our visit to Iraq this month, it is clear that what was once unthinkable there is now taking place: A stable, safe and free Iraq is emerging.  Violence has fallen to the lowest level since the first months of the war.

We're in the fast lane to Bailoutistan  —  Recommend  —  “See the USA in your Chevrolet!” trilled Dinah Shore week after week on TV.  —  Can you still see the USA in your Chevrolet?  Through a windscreen darkly.  —  General Motors now has a market valuation about a third of Bed …

Tech followups on NYTimes.com blockage in China (updated)  —  On December 19, the NYTimes.com site was apparently blocked all across China.  For the sake of completeness, these followups.  —  1) Could the problem be related to a recent physical break in three of the four main internet cables connecting Asia to North America?

Rick Warren and the Presidency  —  Barack Obama's invitation to evangelical powerhouse Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation has angered abortion and gay rights advocates.  They are overreacting.  The invitation merely confirms Obama's admirable willingness to reach out across a relatively broad ideological spectrum .