MS. KENNEDY REGRETS  —  She's unable to be in the Senate today.  —  Last Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy attended the Presidential Inauguration.  The sun was shining on the Capitol, the sky was blue, the Marine Band was playing.  Barack Obama, for whom she had campaigned ardently for nearly a year …

Obama Starts With 68% Job Approval  —  One of the better initial ratings of post-World War II presidents  — USA - Gallup Daily - Government and Politics - Leadership - Presidential Job Approval - Americas - Northern America  —  PRINCETON, NJ — In the first Gallup Poll job approval rating …

Gaia Re Gaia  —  Proto-warmalist James Lovelock, originator of the “Gaia” theory of self-regulating planet spoiled by evil humans, is interviewed by a chick named “Gaia.”  Gaia the resource user wants to know what can be done to save both Gaias, the planet one and herself, the rather hot in an earthy kind of way if airheaded human one.

Disgraced pastor faces more gay sex accusations  —  DENVER - Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday that the gay sex scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male church volunteer who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard …

Michelle Obama: ‘Inappropriate’ to use daughters to sell dolls  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - They've been in the White House less than a week, but the first daughters have already been co-opted by marketers — and Michelle Obama isn't happy about it.  —  Ty, the toy company responsible …

OBAMAS' PICTURE PERFECT 1ST DAYS  —  INTIMATE LOOK AT FIRST FAMILY  —  WASHINGTON - It's good to be the king.  —  These dramatic photos provide an intimate glimpse into the historic first 48 hours of the Obama administration.  —  The President and First Lady Michelle Obama …

2 U.S. Airstrikes Offer a Concrete Sign of Obama's Pakistan Policy  —  Two remote U.S. missile strikes that killed at least 20 people at suspected terrorist hideouts in northwestern Pakistan yesterday offered the first tangible sign of President Obama's commitment to sustained military pressure …

President Obama delivers Your Weekly Address  —  In his first weekly address since being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, President Barack Obama discusses how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan will jump-start the economy.  —  “This is not just a short-term program to boost employment,” he said.

Despite shrines to Obama, the bookstore was nearly deserted.  —  Shrine #1:  —  Shrine #2:  —  Overview of the deserted place:  —  Where is everyone?  It's about 5:30 p.m. here at Borders, and I feel as though I've stayed until after closing time.  I used to like to go here to browse …

First Bailout Formula Had It Right  —  “Blink,” the mega-best-seller by Malcolm Gladwell, is about the importance of first impressions, and Mr. Gladwell's belief that “those instant conclusions that we reach are really powerful and really important and, occasionally, really good.”

Conservatives' 40-Minute Tribute To Bush On House Floor: He Was A ‘Knowing Lion’ Who ‘Walked Among Us’  —  George W. Bush is gone from office...but he is not forgotten, at least not by Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Mike Pence (R-IN), and Steve King (R-IA).  On Thursday, the three men spent …

Iran in scramble for fresh uranium supplies  —  Western powers believe that Iran is running short of the raw material required to manufacture nuclear weapons, triggering an international race to prevent it from importing more, The Times has learnt.  —  Diplomatic sources believe …

ABOUT THAT CBO REPORT.... This week, congressional Republicans seized on a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing the limited short-term stimulative effects of the Democrats' proposed rescue package.  It's also led to widespread media coverage undermining the White House's arguments …