Lieberman jokes about waterboarding at black-tie dinner.»  —  At last night's black-tie dinner at Washington's Alfalfa Club, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) couldn't resist cracking a joke about torture.  Politico's Mike Allen reports: … Last year, Lieberman, who has voted against banning waterboarding …

GOP traitors appoint Black racist as Chairman of the Republican Party  —  Listen to Dr. David Duke's Message to the Republican Party!  —  “I strongly support affirmative action” - Michael Steele (The Washington Post, October 30, 2006)  —  To Hell with the Republican Party!

The Washington Post Prints More Nonsense on the Economy  —  If the Washington Post had a science section it would be filled with accounts of creationism and the latest thoughts from the Flat Earth Society.  This is the only conclusion that one can get from reading its treatment of economics in the Outlook section.

Obama preserves renditions as counter-terrorism tool  —  The role of the CIA's controversial prisoner-transfer program may expand, intelligence experts say.  —  Reporting from Washington — The CIA's secret prisons are being shuttered.  Harsh interrogation techniques are off-limits.

14-times Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps caught with cannabis pipe  —  THIS is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history.  —  In our exclusive photo Michael Phelps, who won a record EIGHT gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong.

Around The Sphere  —  Our linkfest taking you to sites of varying viewpoints.  Links do not necessarily reflect the views of TMV or its writers.  —  “My Name Is Barack Obama and I'm copyrighted!!”  —  How Will The Obama Administration Differ From The Bush Administration: You may answer “Let me count the ways!”

Palin stiffs the House Republicans  —  ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: When House Republicans planned their annual winter retreat, they extended an invitation to Alaska Gov. Sara Palin, hoping the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee would give a morale-building speech …

AP Investigation: Banks sought foreign workers  —  SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Major U.S. banks sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers into the country for high-paying jobs even as the system was melting down last year and Americans were getting laid off …

Obama seeks assessment on gays in military  —  No rush to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell'  —  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is telling the Pentagon and gay-rights advocates that it will have to study the implications for national security and enlist more support in Congress before trying …

Putnam set to give up seat  —  Rep. Adam Putnam, the third-ranking Republican in the House until he relinquished that post late last year, will give up his House seat to pursue a bid as the next agriculture commissioner of Florida.  —  His decision to make this run has been the source …

“The Third Jihad” Tells the Truth About Jihadist Plans For America  —  The Third Jihad— a groundbreaking film exposes the truth and reveals what the media is not telling you about the Jihadist quest to rule America:  —  From the website: … My friend Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi sent out this email on the release of The Third Jihad:

Octuplets' mother wants Oprah to turn her into a $2m TV star  —  THE single mother of octuplets born in California last week is seeking $2m (£1.37m) from media interviews and commercial sponsorship to help pay the cost of raising the children.  —  Nadya Suleman, 33 …

Daschle Tax Story - Reeking Of BS  —  The NY Times lets a Tom Daschle spokesflack present his version of the tax cover-up:  —  A spokeswoman for Mr. Daschle, Jenny Backus, said Mr. Daschle became concerned last June that he might owe taxes on the car and driver, and instructed his accountant to investigate.

THE RUSH REVIVAL  —  DERANGED DEMS' OBSESSION WITH LIMBAUGH WILL BE THEIR UNDOING  —  President Obama is throwing a bipartisan Super Bowl party Sunday at the White House.  But one leading conservative football fan won't be in attendance: Rush Limbaugh.  The much-heralded new era of outreach …

Obama remakes political rules  —  Three months after his election, President Barack Obama continues to remake the political landscape—and there's no clearer example than Friday's election of Michael Steele as the Republican National Committee's first black chairman.

Robert E. Lee, confused  —  Obama appears tonight at the Alfalfa Dinner, a gathering of Washington's elite with Confederate roots, a fact on which the president remarked, according to excerpts from his prepared remarks:

Charles Darwin, Abolitionist  —  Charles Darwin, a 22-year-old dropout from medical school who subsequently considered becoming a priest, boarded the Beagle in late 1831 and spent five years on the ship, traveling the world and collecting natural specimens.  Despite its cuddly name, the Beagle was a naval brig outfitted with 10 guns.