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.

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 …

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.

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.

Gregg reassures GOP on appointment  —  Sen. Judd Gregg has assured Republican leadership that he won't take the job as Commerce secretary unless he's certain his replacement in the Senate will line up with the GOP caucus.  —  Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said this morning that he's …

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!

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.

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 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.

“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:

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 …

OBAMA'S TRADE DILEMMA  —  In less than two weeks in office, Barack Obama has managed to antagonize most of our allies with the “buy American” provisions of the Democrats' pork bill.  The Canadian government, as well as the EU, has protested strongly and warned of a trade war if Obama's protectionist plan is adopted.

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:

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 …

Foreign Radicals Can Be Reasoned With, But Not Domestic Ones?  —  Kay Steiger writes: … It's kind of funny how, when it comes to domestic politics, many liberals employ assumptions about human naturethat are wildly at odds with the assumptions they use about human nature when it comes to foreign policy.