Steele's Campaign Spending Questioned  —  Agents Contact Sister After Ex-Aide's Claims  —  Michael S. Steele, the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, arranged for his 2006 Senate campaign to pay a defunct company run by his sister for services that were never performed …

Results in on Obama's grassroots appeal: It's a bust  —  WASHINGTON — Few supporters are answering President Barack Obama's call for nationwide house-party gatherings this weekend to build grass-roots support for his economic stimulus plan.  —  A McClatchy survey of sign-up rosters for a score …

CRAZY PEOPLE.... Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) gave a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, complaining not only about the government stimulus, but the process by which the stimulus was put together. … Similarly, John McCain said the bill should have been “bipartisan,” and it doesn't count …

Palin's husband, aides found in contempt by Senate  —  TODD PALIN, OTHERS: No punishment urged in troopergate matter.  —  scockerham@adn.com  —  JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate voted Friday to find Gov. Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, and nine Palin aides in contempt for failing to show …

Compromise  —  There was bad news and then there was good news.  —  Yesterday we learned that in January, the country suffered its largest one-month job loss in 34 years.  —  But last night, the Senate struck a compromise on the economic recovery plan and put us on our way to giving …

Biden Says U.S. Is Open to Deal With Russia on Missile Plan  —  MUNICH — The United States will pursue a missile defense plan that has angered the Kremlin, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said Saturday, but he also left open the possibility of compromise on the issue and struck …

Obama's growing pains  —  Next week can't come soon enough as administration learns early lessons  —  WASHINGTON - By this time next week, the White House will have quite an accomplishment topping their list of early victories — passage of a massive economic stimulus package in less than a month.

KBR Wins Contract While Under Criminal Investigation  —  Don't tell me we can't change.  Yes we can! … As Glenn Reynolds might say, “They told me if I voted for McCain we wouldn't see the end of big contracts going to Halliburton*.  And they were right!”

The RNC begs for help on right wing talk radio  —  John Amato's virtual online magazine...OK, It's a blog!  — Advertising- Commenting- General Problems- Media Problems- Supported Browsers- User Registration  —  Blogs » John Amato's blog  —  C&Lers Tony and Karen emailed me this tidbit and I thought I would share.

Why the Innocent Are Punished More Harshly Than the Guilty  —  The AP reports on a really tragic case of wrongful conviction: … The part of the story that caught my eye was the fact that Cole's insistence on his innocence is what led to his imprisonment and prevented his release on parole:

John Kerry: You Know What's the Problem With Stimulus Tax Cuts?  All That Freedom.  —  Sen. John Kerry took to the Senate floor today to pace, rant, and raise his voice in a monotone simulation of human passion as he spoke up for the massive spending bill the Democrats want to pass today under the guise of “stimulus.”

New Plan to Help Banks Sell Bad Assets  —  WASHINGTON — After weeks of internal debate, the Obama administration has settled on a plan to inject billions of dollars in fresh capital into banks and entice investors to purchase their most troubled assets.  —  The new financial industry rescue plan …

Gird your loins: The Senate thieves rush to pass trillion-dollar porkulus  —  Here's where things stand.  The Senate will be in session today from about noon to 3:00pm Eastern.  Members will speak, but there won't be any roll call votes.  Cloture will reportedly be filed on the Cave-In/"Compromise" …

Waltzing Among the Rockets  —  War, dining out, a high stakes election: Israeli life is back to normal.  —  Tel Aviv  —  The cover of the January 15-22 issue of Time Out Tel Aviv—a free weekly rundown of culture, dining, and night life—offers a juxtaposition at once incongruous …