U.S. Plans to Curb Executive Pay for Bailout Recipients  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is expected to impose a cap of $500,000 for top executives at companies that receive large amounts of bailout money, according to people familiar with the plan.

Well, That Certainly Didn't Take Long  —  On 9/11, President Bush learned of disaster while reading “The Pet Goat” to grade-school kids.  On Tuesday, President Obama escaped from disaster by reading “The Moon Over Star” to grade-school kids.  —  “We were just tired of being in the White House …

Senate Lacks Votes to Pass Stimulus  —  Democrats Trying to Trim $900 Billion Plan to Gain GOP Support  —  Senate Democratic leaders conceded yesterday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill as currently written and said that to gain bipartisan support …

Did WH encourage defiance of Pelosi?  —  Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) — one of the lead Blue Dogs — made a startling admission to lefty Liberadio on Sunday, suggesting the White House quietly encouraged him to buck House leadership on the stimulus.  —  Cooper was one of 11 Dems to vote no — joining every GOP House member.

Czar Mitt  —  President Obama could do worse.  Romney has a bad reputation among Congressional Democrats, so I can't imagine they'd cotton to this.  In fact, it's highly unlikely.  But what Romney, in a bipartisan fashion, was able to do in Massachusetts — even with caveats …

President Obama to water down ‘Buy American’ plan after EU trade war threat  —  Obama seeks Russia deal to slash nuclear weapons 80 per cent  —  The European Union warned the US yesterday against plunging the world into depression by adopting a planned “Buy American” policy, intensifying fears of a trade war.

The wondrous ways Obama's Washington works—and doesn't get it  —  The night in 1865 that John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln in downtown Washington not far off the recent inaugural parade route for the man who used the same red Bible for his 2009 presidential oath …

Rahm Emanuel's Illegal D.C. Basement Rental  —  He's the cheapskate of staff.  Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's right-hand man, lives in a basement apartment on Capitol Hill rented to him by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.  Just one problem: He's not allowed to live there.

IBM Offers To Move Laid Off Workers To India  —  Big Blue wants to help redundant U.S. employees relocate to developing markets, according to an internal document.  —  The climate is warm, there's no shortage of exotic food, and the cost of living is rock bottom.

Mark Halperin, Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper Skew Obama Ratings … It all started with Mark Halperin's brief note in Time Magazine, http://thepage.time.com/2009/02/03/ poll-obama-approval-rating-drops/ , which stated “Poll: Obama Approval Rating Drops”.

Democrats' call for civility 8 years late  —  ANALYSIS/OPINION:  —  The day before Barack Obama's inauguration as president, “Purple Nation” columnist Lanny Davis pleaded on this page for a return to civility in our nation's politics.  —  Mr. Davis, a proudly self-professed liberal Democrat …

Analysis: Daschle debacle humbles Obama  —  WASHINGTON - Two weeks into his presidency, Barack Obama proved that even a clearly gifted politician cannot escape the gravitational pull of Washington forces that have humbled many of his predecessors.  —  The new president, seen by some as arrogant, was anything but on Tuesday.

Obama campaign manager getting 7-figure book deal  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Obama campaign manager David Plouffe has agreed to a seven-figure deal to write a book about last year's presidential election.  —  “The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory” will be published by Viking next fall.

Despite Vow, Target of Immigrant Raids Shifted  —  The raids on homes around the country were billed as carefully planned hunts for dangerous immigrant fugitives, and given catchy names like Operation Return to Sender.  —  And they garnered bigger increases in money and staff from Congress …

India warns Obama over Kashmir  —  India has warned US President Barack Obama that he risks “barking up the wrong tree” if he seeks to broker a settlement between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.  —  MK Narayanan, India's national security advisor …

Cheney warns of new attacks  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney warned that there is a “high probability” that terrorists will attempt a catastrophic nuclear or biological attack in coming years, and said he fears the Obama administration's policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed.

Ben Stein responds to UVM flap  —  Calls commencement flap ‘pathetic,’ denies he's anti-science  —  Ben Stein described the brouhaha over his selection as commencement speaker at the University of Vermont as “laughable” on Tuesday called the whole episode “pathetic.”

Recount trial: Judges rule thousands of ballots can be considered  —  The court order applies to about 4,800 rejected absentee ballots and indicates that any that complied with state law should be counted.  —  Nearly 4,800 rejected absentee ballots may be reconsidered in the U.S. Senate recount trial …

Obama Calls for More Narrowly Focused Policy for Afghan War  —  Situation Is Much Worse Than New Administration Realized and Will Take Time to Address  —  As President Obama prepares to formally authorize the April deployment of two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan …