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.

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 …

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 …

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.

RNC Chair Race Reaches Finish Line  —  By Greg Bobrinskoy  —  With this Friday's RNC Chair election fast approaching, the divide between what committee members are looking for has come down to the two buzzwords of competency versus change.  The race has been seen as a virtual tie among …

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.

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 …

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.

Chip Saltsman Withdraws From RNC Chairman's Race  —  Chip Saltsman's letter to the voting membership of the Republican National Committee: … Always a darkhorse, Saltsman's candidacy for RNC chair careened off the tracks when it was publicized that Saltsman gave a CD of political satire composed …

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 …

Jailed C.I.A. Mole Kept Spying for Russia, U.S. Says  —  WASHINGTON — Since 1997, Harold Nicholson has been locked in a federal prison in Oregon, the highest-ranking officer of the Central Intelligence Agency ever convicted of espionage.  —  But even as federal inmate No. 49535-083 …

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:

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Public Support for Economic Recovery Plan Slips to 42%  —  Public support for the economic recovery plan crafted by President Obama and congressional Democrats has slipped a bit over the past week.  At the same time, expectations that the plan will quickly become law have increased.

Sticking It to Rahm  —  We Hate Rahm: Inside the GOP's Obama Revolt by John Batchelor  —  Blogs and Stories  —  Emanuel, working with his old boss and ally, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, made it easy for the Republicans to resist.  Every penny in the more than 600-page bill came …

Bad  —  As the Obama administration apparently prepares to launch Hankie Pankie II — buying troubled assets from banks at prices higher than they will fetch on the open market — it occurred to me that an updated version of an old Communist-era joke may be appropriate: under Bush …

Life goes on around body found frozen in vacant Detroit warehouse  —  DETROIT — This city has not always been a gentle place, but a series of events over the past few, frigid days causes one to wonder how cold the collective heart has grown.  —  It starts with a phone call made by a man …