Lynch Will Appoint Republican If Obama Nominates Gregg  —  Gov. John Lynch (D-NH) indicated today he'll appoint a Republican to replace Sen. Judd Gregg if Obama nominates the New Hampshire senator to be Secretary of Commerce.  In a statement, Lynch said that Gregg made it clear …

Senate confirms Holder as first black AG  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - Eric Holder won Senate confirmation Monday as the nation's first African-American attorney general, after supporters from both parties touted his dream resume …

US-IRAQ: Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision  —  CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21.

The LA Times takes a cheap shot at Dr. Jill Biden.  —  In an article portraying Jill Biden - who is teaching at a community college in Virginia, though she could doubtless land a gig at Georgetown or GW if she chose - as pompous, the Los Angeles Times falsely suggests her use of the title “Doctor” is fraudulent.

STRAIGHT OUTTA HOOVERVILLE  —  It gets better.  The latest from RNC Chair Michael Steele: “Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job.”  —  This is such transparent nonsense it's hard to know where to start; but I guess it builds on the DeMint nonsense.

Daschle — And Solis, Too  —  While everyone is looking at Tom Daschle's tax problems (I am too, working on a story for tomorrow morning), a new issue has arisen concerning another Obama cabinet nomination, that of Rep. Hilda Solis to be Secretary of Labor.  —  Solis had a rough hearing …

Poll: Republicans Want Party To Be Like Palin  —  A new Rasmussen poll further demonstrates that the GOP could be in for a long stretch in the wilderness: A majority of GOP voters now say that the party should be more like Sarah Palin.  —  The numbers: 55% of Republicans say the party should be like Palin …

Did POTUS diss Jessica Simpson?  —  A comment at the end of Matt Lauer's interview has left people wondering whether Obama called pop singer Jessica Simpson fat:  —  “Mr. President: Didn't Michelle teach you to never, ever comment on a woman's weight - even if you are just reading a headline off an entertainment magazine?”

Is Coleman Aiming for a Do-Over Election?  —  The Coleman team appears to be laying out a continued strategy of casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Minnesota election result by pointing to a fundamental underlying idea of this dispute: The margin of error is simply too big in a race this close.

Ashley Judd: Palin's new foe  —  From Alex Isenstadt:  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has a new foe — Ashley Judd.  —  Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, with a hand from the actress, has launched a Web-based campaign targeting Palin over her environmental record.

HAMAS RALLIES AT MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL  —  On January 5, representatives of Hamas and Fatah rallied on the steps of the Minnesota state capitol in St. Paul.  Their purpose was to condemn Israel, and an Israeli flag was burned.  Mostly, though, the rally turned into a confrontation between …

Joe the Plumber advises GOP-ers  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  Fresh off his stint as a war correspondent in Gaza, Joe the Plumber is now doing political strategy with Republicans.  —  When GOP congressional aides gather Tuesday morning for a meeting …

A free speech killer  —  UN warns: Don't defame religions, especially Islam  —  On Inauguration Day, after it got the United Nations to pass a gag rule on insulting religions, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) told our new president in a New York Times ad that Muslims …

Americans Approve of Most Obama Actions to Date  —  Widespread support for decisions on ethics reform, interrogations, fuel standards  — USA - Government and Politics - Presidential Ratings - The Presidency - Americas - Northern America  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Of seven actions Barack …

How Quickly Will the Stimulus Kick In?  —  You may recall how, the week before last, Republicans were up in arms over a CBO report showing that under 40 percent of the estimated $350 billion in stimulus spending projects would hit the economy in the first two years.

Bailed Out Bank of America Sponsors Super Bowl Fun Fest  —  Morgan Stanley Hosts Conference at 5-Star Resort in Palm Beach  —  Despite a near collapse that required $45 billion in federal taxpayer bailout funds, Bank of America sponsored a five day carnival-like affair just outside …

Bailed Out Bankers To Be Hauled Before Congress  —  Rep. Barney Frank plans to call the heads of major bailed-out banks to testify before his committee next week, two aides to the House Financial Services Committee chairman said.  —  Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, has been a vocal proponent …

The Man Who Made Obama  —  Campaign manager David Plouffe got the first black president elected.  Now he's moving on to something even more difficult, and potentially more important.  —  Plouffe with Obama at the second presidential debate last October.  The prep was serious, he says, “but we had fun.

Deadly Force  —  What a SWAT team did to Cheye Calvo's family may seem extreme.  But decades into America's war on drugs, it's business as usual.  —  Payton swung his big, goofy head onto the bed, worked his snout under a pillow and gave a gentle bump.  The mayor's wife, nudged awake, opened her eyes and smiled.

Dodd: I'll move my Friends of Angelo loans  —  Chris Dodd has decided that the best way to put his sweetheart deals with Countrywide Mortgage behind him is to make them disappear.  Dodd announced today that he will have those mortgages refinanced, and managed by a third party to protect against allegations of influence peddling:

Defining ‘Cruel and Unusual’ When Offender Is 13  —  In 1989, someone raped a 72-year-old woman in Pensacola, Fla. Joe Sullivan was 13 at the time, and he admitted that he and two older friends had burglarized the woman's home earlier that day.  But he denied that he had returned to commit the rape.

OMB Draws Line on Defense Budget  —  The Obama administration has given the Pentagon a $527 billion limit, excluding war costs, for its fiscal 2010 defense budget, an Office of Management and Budget official said Monday.  —  If enacted, that would be an 8 percent increase from the $487.7 billion allocated …

Report: Obama advisors have been meeting with Iran, Syria since before the election  —  Ed asked this morning if any “preparations” have been made for that meeting of the minds Obama's planning with Chavez.  Given this bombshell, a better question might be just how long The One's been “preparing.”

Wells Fargo — A Dividend In Our Favor  —  Good news out of the failing financial sector, finally.  Wells Fargo Bank reports it will pay back the federal government $371.5 million in its first quarterly bailout installment.  —  Wells Fargo is believed to be the first major bank receiving TARP …