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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Obama Seeks Accord With Military on Iraq  —  WASHINGTON — As President Obama moves to redefine the nation's mission in Iraq, he faces a difficult choice: Is he willing to abandon a campaign promise or risk a rupture with the military?  Or can he finesse the difference?

Palin, Obama to share stage  —  In what could be a preview of the 2012 presidential race, Sarah Palin and President Barack Obama will share a stage together this Saturday night in Washington, Politico has learned.  —  The Alaska governor and former GOP vice presidential nominee …

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 …

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.

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 …

Sen. McConnell Calls on GOP to Redefine Itself  —  John D. McKinnon reports on politics.  —  In a major political-strategy statement, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky - one of the country's highest-ranking Republicans - will warn his party leadership later this afternoon …

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.

FBI Cuts Off CAIR Over Hamas Questions  —  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has cut off contacts with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) amid mounting concern about the Muslim advocacy group's roots in a Hamas-support network, the Investigative Project on Terrorism has learned.

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 …

You've got hate mail!  —  There has been an interesting uptick in the usual volume of hate mail.  —  I sense a disturbance in the Obama Force.  The nutroots aren't happy with how the Generational Theft Act debate is playing out.  They're impatient with the pace of Revolutionary Change.

The Age of Obama: Heat for me, but not for thee  —  Last week, Barack Obama caused quite a stir when he allowed himself to be photographed in the Oval Office without wearing a suit jacket, ending the Bush tradition of coat-and-tie for the West Wing.  The New York Times reports …