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?

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.

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.

Surprise!  Banks won't tell where bailout money goes  —  When the Bush administration first proposed the TARP bailout plan, it gave Henry Paulson absolute authority to spend the money without any oversight.  Congress eventually balked and forced the White House to accept transparency and accountability …

Fundraiser seeks immunity in Blagojevich probe  —  Blagojevich allegedly pressured ‘Individual D’ for cash to pick Jackson  —  A key figure in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell a U.S. Senate seat has sought immunity from federal authorities in return for his cooperation in their ongoing probe, the Tribune has learned.

Mika Brzezinski, Letting Her Opinions Percolate on ‘Morning Joe’ and the Radio  —  Mika Brzezinski doesn't mince words about what happened when CBS dropped her as a correspondent two years ago.  —  “Nobody wanted me,” she says.  “I spent a year looking for a job.

Toyota Expects Its First Loss in 70 Years  —  TOKYO — Toyota Motor, the Japanese auto giant, announced Monday that it expected the first loss in 70 years in its core vehicle-making business, underscoring how the economic crisis is spreading across the global auto industry.

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.

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!” …

Bush, Cheney comforted troops privately  —  Met with thousands of war injured, kin out of spotlight  —  For much of the past seven years, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have waged a clandestine operation inside the White House.  It has involved thousands of military personnel …

Blago records may stay under wraps  —  Barack Obama is promising that next week he'll disclose contacts between his staff and disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office, but he's stopped short of pledging to release e-mails or other records that could be key to understanding those contacts.

Baghdad celebrates first public Christmas amid hope, memories  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — From a distance, it looks like an apparition: a huge multi-colored hot-air balloon floating in the Baghdad sky, bearing a large poster of Jesus Christ.  Below it, an Iraqi flag.

Developers Ask U.S. for Bailout  —  With a record amount of commercial real-estate debt coming due, some of the country's biggest property developers have become the latest to go hat-in-hand to the government for assistance.  —  They're warning policymakers that thousands of office complexes …