Blagojevich Ousted by Illinois State Senate  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois State Senate on Thursday convicted Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on a sprawling article of impeachment that charged him with abusing his power.  The vote prompted the governor's immediate and permanent ouster …

More Republican Triangulating On Bipartisanship: Cantor Responds To White House  —  House Republicans are reacting strongly to reports that the White House plans a political onslaught to pressure Republicans into supporting the stimulus package and to punish those who don't.

Judd Gregg: Commerce Secretary?  —  There is a strong possibility that Barack Obama will ask Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) to serve as his Secretary of Commerce, Democratic Senate aides tell the Huffington Post.  —  The move would fill a vacancy that has lingered since Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination.

Obama slams Wall Street on bonuses  —  President calls the $18.4 billion in bonuses paid last year ‘shameful’  —  President Barack Obama issued a withering critique Thursday of Wall Street corporate behavior, calling it “the height of irresponsibility” for Wall Street employees to be paid …

Pelosi dismisses need for bipartisanship  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she didn't come to Washington to be “bipartisan”, one day after shuttling through an $819 economic stimulus bill without a single Republican vote.  —  “I didn't come here to be partisan …

What a 1988 college thesis by the former vice president's daughter tells us about the Bush presidency.  —  When I worked at the library at Colorado College, I quickly discovered the job had few perks.  The free book loans on demand were little better than subprime mortgages when you realized anyone could get them.

Army suicides at record high, passing civilians  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - Stressed by war and long overseas tours, U.S. soldiers killed themselves last year at the highest rate on record, the toll rising for a fourth straight year …

For GOP, a Case of Misshapen Identity  —  Who am I?  Why am I?  Where am I going?  —  So very, very much for the Republican to ponder in this Winter of the Democrats' Contentment.  So many questions.  Even the reliable color scheme has gone blurry.  Isn't that big-shot GOP strategist …

Former President George W. Bush, wife attend Baylor women's basketball game  —  ccarlton@dallasnews.com  —  A big women's basketball game between No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Baylor just gained added prestige.  —  Former President George W. Bush and wife Laura attended Wednesday's game.

Military Judge Denies Obama Request to Suspend Hearings at Guantanamo  —  A military judge in Guantanamo Bay has denied the Obama administration's request to delay proceedings for 120 days in the case of a detainee accused of planning the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole warship …

Senate passes bill to expand child health coverage  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled Congress moved a step closer to handing President Barack Obama an early health care victory Thursday as the Senate passed …

Who's Undercutting Obama?  —  For the moment, at least, it's his press office  —  It's 3 p.m. and the phone in the White House press secretary's office is ringing.  It rings and rings and rings.  Eventually, a recorded voice asks callers to leave a message—followed by a second voice saying the voicemail box is full.

Professor who slammed Clinton will be Obama aide  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Samantha Power, the Harvard University professor who earned notoriety for calling Hillary Rodham Clinton a “monster” while working to elect Barack Obama president, will take a senior foreign policy job at the White House, The Associated Press has learned.

Republican Strategy: Just Have Nancy Pelosi Continue to Explain the Stimulus  —  I'm pretty sure with every interview, she's chipping away at public support.  —  Below, her stellar explanation of why STD prevention education is stimulative.  Because it just is:

U.S. Says Jailed C.I.A. Mole Kept Spying for Russia  —  Jailed spy Harold Nicholson is said to have sought more money from his handlers, using his son as a go-between.

NBC Rejects Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad Educating Viewers on Obama and Abortion  —  Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — NBC is coming under fire from pro-life advocates for rejecting a television commercial a pro-life group hoped to run during the Super Bowl.  The ad shows a beautiful picture …

More From the Pony Riders In the Psychedelic Fantasyland  —  The pony riders from the psychedelic fantasyland continue to push the unfathomably stupid theory that Democrats are realistically hoping that by being nice to Republicans on the stimulus bill, Republicans will be more inclined to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

White House Breaks Transparency Promise  —  In a blog post announcing the President's signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation he has signed, we are informed that the bill has been posted on the White House web site and is now open for comment... after the President signed it.

Obama Made a Rash Decision on Gitmo  —  The president will soon realize that governing involves hard choices.  —  During his first week as commander in chief, President Barack Obama ordered the closure of Guantanamo Bay and terminated the CIA's special authority to interrogate terrorists.