Poll finds public split on Obama aides' contacts with Blagojevich  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A new national poll indicates Americans are split on whether aides to President-elect Barack Obama did something inappropriate in their contacts with embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

‘Watermelon Roll’: More Racism from ‘Team Sarah’  —  There is something very ugly happening out there in the hinterlands these days—a brewing cauldron of racist anger being directed at President-elect Barack Obama as he and his family get ready to move into the White House.

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.

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?

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.

Cheney says top congressional Democrats complicit in spying  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  Dick Cheney's interview yesterday with Fox's Chris Wallace was filled with significant claims, but certainly among the most significant was his detailed narration of how the administration …

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.

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.

Where'd the bailout money go?  Shhhh, it's a secret  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - It's something any bank would demand to know before handing out a loan: Where's the money going?  —  But after receiving billions in aid from U.S. taxpayers …

Newspaper Shuns Web, and Thrives  —  With 2008 drawing to a brutal close on the media beat — bankruptcies, daily newspapers that are no longer daily, magazines that are downsizing into brochures — a little ray of light appeared in my e-mail inbox.  It was from a newspaper owner, of all people.

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.

Inauguration Day Crowd Estimate Reduced by Half  —  Officials are casting doubt on an early projection that 4 million to 5 million people could jam downtown Washington on Inauguration Day, saying it is more likely that the crowd will be about half that size.

Krugman in contact with the Obama team?  —  Yes.  —  When master economist, columnist, and plain ole intellectual (so few left these days) Paul Krugman was asked this morning* about whether or not he was “in communications” with the Obama administration regarding the economy, he declared …

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 …

LI REP GETS FACE TIME IN SEN. BID  —  GOV. Paterson will hold direct talks with Long Island Rep. Steve Israel about picking him, and not Caroline Kennedy, to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate during their surprise trip to Iraq, The Post has learned.  Israel has made no...

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 …