Geithner Said to Have Prevailed on the Bailout  —  WASHINGTON— The Obama administration's new plan to bail out the nation's banks was fashioned after a spirited internal debate that pitted the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, against some of the president's top political hands.

At His First Prime-Time News Conference, Obama Is Serious and Expansive  —  In a prime-time debut for the new Oval Office occupant and a press corps often accused of being too enamored of him, President Obama faced journalistic skepticism from the opening question.

Why Obama Wants Control of the Census  —  Counting citizens is a powerful political tool.  —  President Obama said in his inaugural address that he planned to “restore science to its rightful place” in government.  That's a worthy goal.  But statisticians at the Commerce Department …

Taking on Critics, Obama Puts Aside Talk of Unity  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama has made a show of reaching across the aisle since taking office, inviting three Republicans into his cabinet and wining and dining other opposition leaders.  But by Monday, he sounded like a candidate back on the trail …

Is solicitor hearing a trial balloon?  —  With the revelation last week that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is suffering from pancreatic cancer, the political stakes for Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the next solicitor general were raised dramatically.

The Chess Master  —  It was just a week ago that the bad-mouthing of Barack Obama seemed to be reaching a fever pitch.  —  The president was taking heat for the tax problems of Tom Daschle, Timothy Geithner and other appointees and nominees.  Liberal supporters of the president were upset …

Transcript: Obama takes questions on economy  —  (CNN) — President Obama held the first evening press conference of his presidency Monday, with the financial crisis as the main topic.  Before taking questions, he gave a brief speech.  Here is a transcript of the speech and news conference:

The 180-degree reversal of Obama's State Secrets position  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  From the Obama/Biden campaign website, mybarackobama.com, here was what the Obama campaign was saying — back then — about the State Secrets privilege:  —  Apparently, the operative word …

Poll of Afghans Shows Drop In Support for U.S. Mission  —  A new poll in Afghanistan shows sagging support for U.S. efforts in that country, with airstrikes a chief concern.  A quarter of the Afghans polled said that attacks on American or allied forces are justifiable, double the proportion saying so in late 2006.

Connecticut's Rell Is Queen Of The Hill At Midterm, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dodd Has Worst Approval Ever  —  Halfway through her first elected term as Connecticut Governor and one week after a grim budget message, Jodi Rell has a 75 - 19 percent approval rating and tops …

Roll Over the Republicans  —  Bipartisanship is safe and effective when used as directed.  In the present circumstance, however — dire economic crisis, hardheaded Republicans, time running out — bipartisanship is doing more harm than good.  President Obama and the Democratic majorities …

Miranda rule may hamper detainee trials  —  None of the men held at Guantanamo were advised of their rights against self-incrimination.  That and other issues may cause problems for President Obama's goal of trying them in a civil legal system.  —  Reporting from Washington …

Bush Faithful Rewarded With Jobs  —  On the Way Out, He Placed Aides and Big-Money GOP Donors  —  Fred F. Fielding, Emmet T. Flood, William A. Burck and Daniel M. Price worked together at the White House under George W. Bush.  Less than two weeks before leaving office …

Blue Dog nips Obama with a better stimulus idea  —  While President Barack Obama goes on the road to shore up slipping popular support for the $1 trillion stimulus porkfest that he ordered up from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Walt Minnick …

Suspect leads police on low-speed pursuit in a Bentley, kills self during standoff  —  A businessman of Pakistani origin who led police on a more than three-hour chase in a luxury Bentley sedan shot himself to death early today after more than a dozen police cruisers surrounded …

Will Barack Obama Have A Beer With Sean Hannity?  —  President Barack Obama has left himself open to the idea that he could sit down and have a beer with conservative talker Sean Hannity.  And on Fox News the Prez' Press Secretary Robert Gibbs left the suggestion open...and apparently Hannity is open to the idea.