PREZ ZINGS GOP FOE IN A $TIMULATING TALK  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.  —  “You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh …

Controversial CBO Report On Stimulus Turns Out Not To Exist  —  Reports of a recent study by the Congressional Budget Office, showing that the vast majority of the money in the stimulus package won't be spent until after 2010, have Democrats on the defensive and the GOP calling for a pullback in wasteful spending.

Matthews questions if Palin can read  —  MSNBC host Chris Matthews suggested Friday that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) may not have the reading or writing ability needed to complete the book she is reportedly shopping.  —  The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that Palin is seeking …

Obama Reverses Rules on U.S. Abortion Aid  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama repealed rules on Friday that restricted federal money for international organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas, sweeping aside a pillar of the social policy architecture of George W. Bush's presidency.

President Obama ‘orders Pakistan drone attacks’  —  Missiles fired from suspected US drones killed at least 15 people inside Pakistan today, the first such strikes since Barack Obama became president and a clear sign that the controversial military policy begun by George W Bush has not changed.

Blagojevich's lead attorney to resign  —  (CNN) — Prominent Chicago defense lawyer Ed Genson said Friday he intends to resign as attorney for embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the criminal case against the governor.  —  “I never require a client to do what I say but I do require them to at least listen to what I say. ...

Gillibrand unpopular among peers  —  Within the high school gossip circle that is New York's congressional delegation, Kirsten Gillibrand's nickname is “Tracy Flick” — a not-so-flattering reference to the over-eager, blonde, bubbly and viciously competitive Reese Witherspoon character from “Election.”

Once a Boon, Euro Is Now a Burden to Some Nations  —  ATHENS — “The Italians, the Spaniards, the Greeks, we all have been living in happy land, spending what we did not have,” said George Economou, a Greek shipping magnate, contemplating his country's economic troubles and others' from his spacious boardroom.

Obama waives lobbying rules for Lynn  —  The Obama administration has waived its ethics rules to allow William Lynn to serve as the deputy secretary of Defense.  —  Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said he supports Lynn's nomination and looks “forward to prompt consideration by the Senate.”

Will Obama Revive the Fairness Doctrine?  —  Those of us who fear a revival, directly or indirectly, of the Fairness Doctrine need to be aware of the following exchanges that occurred during the Senate Judiciary Committee's January 15th confirmation hearing for Attorney General-Designate Eric Holder.

“Drunken Negro Face” Cookies On Sale at Greenwich Village Bakery  —  [UPDATE BELOW] At at a time when any decent baker should have been selling racially harmonious black and white cookies by the truckload, one Greenwich Village bakery popular with celebrities and shows like Sex and the City …

One last chance to save mankind  — For similar stories, visit the Interviews and Climate Change Topic Guides … Your work on atmospheric chlorofluorocarbons led eventually to a global CFC ban that saved us from ozone-layer depletion.  Do we have time to do a similar thing with carbon emissions …

Bank Employing GOP House Leader's Wife Got Bailout Bucks  —  House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, a rising star in the Republican party, has been a prominent voice demanding accountability in how the government doles out hundreds of billions for bank bailouts.

Don't just stand there, do something!  —  Tyler Cowen calls this, from Warren Buffet, the best argument for stimulus so far: … At least it's honest.  And it may well be that merely being seen to be doing something is necessary—that aggregate demand will sag worse if the public perceives that there is no sheriff in town.

Toomey bags Senate run, takes steps in possible guv bid  —  Former Lehigh Valley Congressman Pat Toomey has decided against a repeat run for Senate in 2010, turning instead toward a possible bid for governor as he reaches out to Republicans statewide to assess his potential candidacy next year.