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 …

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.

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 Signals U.S. Is Open to Deal With Russia on Missiles  —  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 …

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.

The Stimulus Tragedy  —  Obama bets that we can spend our way to prosperity.  —  President Obama has started to play the “catastrophe” card to sell his economic stimulus plan, using yesterday's terrible January jobs report to predict doom unless Congress acts.

No President Needs This Kind of Exposure  —  So far six audience members have stormed out midperformance of the Broadway show “You're Welcome America.  A Final Night with George W Bush,” the comedian Will Ferrell's lampooning of the 43rd president, according to those keeping count at the Cort Theater.

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.”

NYT: Republicans Voting for Stimulus Package Are Being Patriotic  —  Roughly five months after Joe Biden informed the nation that paying higher taxes is patriotic, it now appears radically increasing government spending and the federal debt is as well.  —  At least that's what one gets …