Obama's train ride: Lincolnesque imagery  —  by Mike Dorning and Mark Silva, updated at 10:45 am EST  —  PHILADELPHIA - President-elect Barack Obama, delivering a pledge “to take up the work” that the patriots of American independence started here, launched a thematic train ride that will deliver the incoming president to Washington.

The Only Thing We Have to Fear . . .  is Obama.  —  Barack Obama is the apostle of hope.  But he also arouses the flipside of hope—fear.  And while the fear he stirs may turn out to be unfounded, it's not irrational.  People don't know who Obama really is or where his ideological center of gravity rests …

Bush's Final Approval Rating: 22 Percent  —  CBS News/N.Y. Times Poll Finds President Will Leave Office With Lowest Final Approval Rating Ever  —  (CBS) President Bush will leave office as one of the most unpopular departing presidents in history, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll showing …

RNC candidates turn up the partisan heat on Obama  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Despite the climate of national goodwill surrounding Barack Obama as he prepares to take the oath of office, two of the candidates vying to lead the Republican National Committee unleashed harsh attacks against the president-elect on Friday.

Barnicle Man, Barnicle Man, Doing The Things That Barnicles Can  —  Matthew Yglesias at Think Progress catches this Mike Barnicle/Mika Brezenski exchange on “Morning Joe”: … http://www.youtube.com/watch?  v=1MEjX6ITLqY  —  Yup, sure is a disgrace to journalism when you're anonymous ...

Ethics cloud still hangs over Rangel  —  A herd of tax reporters trails Charles B. Rangel everywhere he goes these days, like a team of pilot fish feasting on whatever morsels the raspy, talkative Ways and Means Committee chairman casts aside.  —  Late last year, that media herd was feasting …

Sen. Cornyn Urges Clinton Foundation To Adopt Stronger Foreign Fundraising Restrictions  —  Sends letter to Secretary of State nominee seeking additional transparency measures from husband's organization  —  WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today sent a letter to Secretary …

Hamas and Hezbollah supporters return to Calgary's Jewish neighbourhood  —  I don't get it.  Glenmore Landing is private property; with a word RioCan, the landlord, could demand that the pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah goons, who now gather there weekly, leave.  That's what mall security does when teens loiter on skateboards.

For a Power Lawyer, a New High-Wire Act  —  WASHINGTON — During 40 years in politics, Gregory B. Craig has learned the art of the balancing act.  —  As a Harvard student in 1968, he was enthralled by Allard K. Lowenstein, the antiwar candidate who preached change from within.

‘Drug-crazed idiot’ Boy George jailed for 15 months for chaining male escort to wall and beating him … Boy George was jailed for 15 months yesterday for falsely imprisoning a male escort.  —  The former Culture Club singer - real name George O'Dowd - shackled Audun Carlsen to a wall …

Arabs lost 2.5 trillion dollars from credit crunch: Kuwait … Arab investors have lost 2.5 trillion dollars from the credit crunch, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah, whose country hosts an Arab economic summit next week, said on Friday.  —  “The Arab world has lost 2.5 trillion dollars …

Justices to Hear 2 Cases Brought Against Schools  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide two cases pitting parents against public schools.  —  One concerns a 13-year-old honor student who was subjected to a strip search by school officials in Arizona looking for prescription-strength ibuprofen.

Recount: Trial on Coleman challenge to begin on Jan. 26  —  Republican Norm Coleman's trial challenging DFLer Al Franken's lead in the U.S. Senate recount will begin Jan. 26, according to an order issued this afternoon by the three-judge panel that will hear the case.