Obama to GOP: ‘I won’  —  President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning - but he also left no doubt about who's in charge of these negotiations.  “I won,” Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

Paterson Picks Gillibrand for Senate Seat  —  ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson has selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, a 42-year-old congresswoman from upstate who is known for bold political moves and centrist policy positions, to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton …

Palin's “Donated” Clothes Stashed in Trash Bags at RNC  —  Despite the Republican National Committee's promise to donate Sarah Palin's $180,000 campaign wardrobe to charity, word has it the Alaska governor's clothes remain stuffed in trash bags at RNC headquarters, NewMajority has learned.

The 25 Most Influential Liberals In The U.S. Media  —  Edited by Tunku Varadarajan, Elisabeth Eaves and Hana R. Alberts, 01.22.09, 04:02 PM EST  —  Listen for their voices during the Obama era.  —  Barack Obama's inauguration was the formal point at which the reigning ideology in Washington changed from “conservative” to “liberal.”

Obama signs order reversing abortion-funds policy  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Friday quietly ended the Bush administration's ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option.

Bruno indicted  —  Grand jury issues 8-count indictment for mail and wire fraud  —  ALBANY — A federal grand jury today indicted former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, accusing him of eight counts of public corruption.  —  Bruno is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate at 1:30 p.m. today.

John McCain Does the Impossible  —  John McCain has prompted me to say the unthinkable.  —  The right man won in 2008.  —  I say this because the circumstances of Hillary Clinton being Secretary of State, while foreign governments have donated $41 million to her husband's foundation …

NRCC: “Economy is Robust and Job Creation is Strong”  —  Looks like our counterparts at the National Republican Congressional Committee still have their heads in the sand.  —  NRCC.org:  —  I'm sure the millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet in this “robust” …

Former Bush Speechwriter: Obama Is “Most Dangerous Man Ever To Occupy Oval Office”  —  Former Bush chief speechwriter Marc Thiessen kicked up a big fuss yesterday with a Washington Post Op ed slamming Obama's executive orders by saying that if there's another terror attack, “Americans will hold Obama responsible.”

Infrastructure: It's Job 1 to Americans  —  A poll finds near unanimous support for rebuilding.  —  I'm a pollster and political consultant associated with Republican causes: the Contract with America, the “death tax” and, of course, ending wasteful Washington spending.

JON CHAIT IS RIGHT.  —  I actually agree with one part of Jon Chait's attack on J Street: There is, among liberals, a sort of “narrative of persecution and bravery” attached to criticizing Israel.  And Chait is right: This narrative is wrong.  It's wrong despite his best efforts, but wrong nevertheless.

Suspected US missile strike kills 18 in Pakistan  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Suspected U.S. missiles killed 18 people on the Pakistan side of the Afghan border Friday, security officials said, the first attacks on the al-Qaida stronghold since President Barack Obama took office.

Why Judith McHale would be a bad public diplomacy choice  —  Al Kamen reports today that: … This would be a terrible, terrible selection.  I don't know Judith McHale at all, and obviously have nothing against her personally.  But the position of Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy …

Obama press aide gets bashed in debut  —  The White House press operation got off to a fumbling and stumbling start Thursday, with the day's opening briefers insisting on being identified only as “senior administration officials,” followed swiftly by the new president's spokesman accidently outing …

Media advance falsehood that Pentagon has confirmed that 61 former Guantánamo detainees have returned to battlefield … Since President Barack Obama signed an executive order requiring that the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay be closed within a year …

Obama's Inaugural Surprise  —  Fascinating speech.  It was so rhetorically flat, so lacking in rhythm and cadence, one almost has to believe he did it on purpose.  Best not to dazzle on Opening Day.  Otherwise, they'll expect magic all the time.  —  The most striking characteristic …

Ill. gov tells AP that strain is like Pearl Harbor  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois' embattled but defiant governor turned to the history books to describe the emotional strain on him and his family, comparing his arrest last month to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

No Snickering: That Road Sign Means Something Else  —  CRAPSTONE, England — When ordering things by telephone, Stewart Pearce tends to take a proactive approach to the inevitable question “What is your address?”  —  He lays it out straight, so there is no room for unpleasant confusion.