'You're now a part of some sobering moments'  —  Following is the complete transcript of PresidentBarack Obama's discussion with Matt Lauer, anchor of NBC's TODAY show:  —  MATT LAUER: We're here in the Map Room at the White House with the 44th president of the United States, President Obama.

On “This Week,” Jim DeMint Gets His Ass Handed to Him by Entire Panel on Stimulus Bill  —  The Republicans might want to enlist another shill for their anti-stimulus crusade.  —  This morning, Jim DeMint feebly trotted out the same old same old tax-cuts-fix-everything plan …

Risks Are Vast in Revaluation of Assets  —  As the Obama administration prepares its strategy to rescue the nation's banks by buying or guaranteeing troubled assets on their books, it confronts one central problem: How should they be valued?  —  Not just billions, but hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake.

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!

NFL Orders Retreat From War Metaphors  —  TAMPA — Just down Dale Mabry Highway, eight miles south of the site of this year's Super Bowl, sits the headquarters of the U.S. Central Command.  There, inside the boundaries of MacDill Air Force Base, is where America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are run.

Out of Gaps In Treaties, First Salvos Of Trade War  —  The world may be on the brink of a gentler kind of trade war.  —  In 1930, Congress fired the first shot in a protectionist battle that prolonged and deepened the Great Depression.  After passing a bill aimed at saving American jobs …

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 …

AIG in Talks for U.S. to Backstop Assets  —  American International Group Inc. is in discussions with the government about Washington backstopping some of its troubled assets and is considering selling units through initial public offerings.  —  “We're looking at a broader array of recapitalization options …

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.

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 …

First gay PM for Iceland cabinet  —  Iceland has announced a new government that will be headed by the modern world's first openly gay leader.  —  Johanna Sigurdardottir was named new prime minister by the country's coalition political parties.  —  Iceland's previous coalition cabinet …

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 sees many troops back home in a year  —  Iraqi election means ‘good news’ for U.S., president says in NBC interview  —  The relatively violence-free Iraqi election means “substantial” numbers of U.S. troops will be able to return home from Iraq within a year, President Barack Obama told NBC News on Sunday.

Under Obama, ‘war on terror’ catchphrase fading  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - The “War on Terror” is losing the war of words.  The catchphrase burned into the American lexicon hours after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is fading away …

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 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 …

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.