the big rick's yamaka  —  OMG. when was the last time i had so many minutes to play with my blog? awesome.  —  so honey met rick warren last night.  well, she spoke to him on the phone beforehand, giving us insight into the man the media has made our latest “HE HATES YOU!” …

A Special Note Re: Third Way  —  This is Jennifer Palmieri, acting CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.  —  Most readers know that the views expressed on Matt's blog are his own and don't always reflect the views of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

For Conservative Radio, It's a New Dawn, Too  —  Amid all the pressures on the radio industry, news-talk stations see an opportunity — and his name is Barack Obama.  —  After eight years of playing defense for President Bush, the conservatives who dominate talk radio are back on offense.

Life Without Bubbles  —  Whatever the new administration does, we're in for months, perhaps even a year, of economic hell.  After that, things should get better, as President Obama's stimulus plan — O.K., I'm told that the politically correct term is now “economic recovery plan” — begins to gain traction.

Popularity Isn't Everything  —  O.K., O.K. ...  you don't have to.  But consider this exchange with Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday”:  —  WALLACE: Did you really tell Senator Leahy, bleep yourself?  —  CHENEY: I did.  —  WALLACE: Any qualms, or second thoughts, or embarrassment?

Stampede for ‘Bush shoe’ creates 100 new jobs  —  Their deployment as a makeshift missile robbed President George Bush of his dignity and landed their owner in jail.  But the world's most notorious pair of shoes have yielded an unexpected bonanza for a Turkish shoemaker.

Iraqi Journalist Who Threw Shoes at Bush Was Tortured in Jail, His Brother Says  —  BAGHDAD — The television reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush was burned by a cigarette in the hours after his arrest on Dec. 14 and was beaten so badly by Iraqi security personnel that one of his teeth …

More Firms Cut Labor Costs Without Layoffs  —  Even as layoffs are reaching historic levels, some employers have found an alternative to slashing their work force.  They're nipping and tucking it instead.  —  A growing number of employers, hoping to avoid or limit layoffs …

Sully = Zero No on Prop 8 Donations?  —  Hey Andrew,  —  I was checking the SF Chronicle's search engine for donations to either side in the battle over Prop 8 and your name didn't turn up.  Your husband, Aaron Tone, also appears to have not donated to the campaign to defeat Prop 8.

Biden Reinforces the Point  —  Vice President Cheney had a little fun at his successor-to-be's expense today, telling Fox News Sunday that he didn't take Joe Biden's criticism of his tenure too seriously because Joe Biden doesn't know the Constitution from a hole in the ground.