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.

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.

Obama Admits ‘Mistake’ in Handling of Daschle Nomination  —  President Obama tells FOX News he takes responsibility for the handling of Tom Daschle's Cabinet nomination; he also says he's standing firm on a Feb. 16 deadline for the economic stimulus.  —  FOXNews.com

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.

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.

My Economic Wish List  —  The House plan doesn't spend fast enough.  —  While wiping my desk lamp the other day, a genie appeared, offering me — you guessed it — three wishes.  I first asked him to restore my portfolio to its former glory.  He demurred: “No, I only grant wishes for the national economy.

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 …

The Bad Bank Assets Proposal: Even Worse Than You Imagined  —  Dear God, let's just kiss the US economy goodbye.  It may take a few years before the loyalists and permabulls throw in the towel, but the handwriting is on the wall.  —  The Obama Administration, if the Washington Post's latest report …

Stimulus Debate: Democrats “Do Not Have The Votes”  —  Media reports suggest Senate Republicans have become a key focus of stimulus talks, an acknowledgement that they appear to hold the balance of power in that chamber despite having only 41 seats to the Democrats' 58.

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 …

The Impending Obama Meltdown  —  Some of us have been warning that it was not healthy for the U.S. media to have deified rather than questioned Obama, especially given that they tore apart Bush, ridiculed Palin, and caricatured Hillary.  And now we can see the results of their two years of advocacy rather than scrutiny.

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.

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.

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 …

Stimulus Brings Out City Wish Lists  —  Most Ask for Roads, Sewers, but Some Want the Kitchen Sink — and a Frisbee Golf Course  —  Las Vegas, which by some accounts already glitters, wants $2 million for neon signs.  —  Boynton Beach, Fla., is looking for $4.5 million for an “eco park” …

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.