Senators Announce Stimulus Agreement  —  WASHINGTON — Senate negotiators announced on Wednesday an agreement on a $789 billion economic stimulus bill, apparently clearing the way for final Congressional action and President Obama's signature.  But House conferees were not so quick to endorse the package.

Cantor's Office Responds: Video Depicting AFSCME Members As Goons  —  Updated below with call on Cantor to apologize.  —  This isn't going to make the big unions very happy.  GOP House leader Eric Cantor's office has come up with an intriguing response to the AFSCME ad bllitz targeting GOP leaders …

67% Say They Could Do A Better Job On The Economy Than Congress  —  When it comes to the nation's economic issues, 67% of U.S. voters have more confidence in their own judgment than they do in the average member of Congress.  —  Nineteen percent (19%) trust members of Congress more …

Steve Austria (R-OH) Doesn't Know When the Depression Happened  —  Austrian economics (pardon the pun) continues to take over the Republican Party: … Probabilities indicate that this is not the stupidest conservative in congress.

Solicitor general nominee says ‘enemy combatants’ can be held without trial  —  Elena Kagan tells a senator she agrees with Attorney General Holder that the U.S. is at war and therefore may detain suspected terrorists indefinitely.  —  Reporting from Washington — Harvard Law Dean Elena Kagan …

Give Geithner a Break  —  I don't think he did well yesterday.  I don't know that he's the right guy for the job.  But what I do know is the following:  —  1. Nobody, absolutely nobody, has more incentive to get this right than the Obama Administration.  If the economy collapses — well …

Why Markets Dissed the Geithner Plan  —  Here's how he should handle the banks.  —  One of the cool things about being Treasury Secretary is that you get your signature on dollar bills, giving them authority, defending their honor.  Timothy Geithner's plan to save the struggling banking system probably does …

A Stunning Israeli Election  —  As I noted, I'm pretty far from Israel (geographically, that is), but my cell phone works in the western desert, and I've been talking to friends in Tel Aviv.  A number of quick observations:  —  1. The stunner, for me at least: The Labor Party is dead.

So Far, Amateur Hour  —  The first however-many days of Barack Obama's presidency have been a study in amateurism.  —  Many suspected that Obama wasn't quite ready, but kept their fingers crossed.  Optimistic disappointment is the new holding pattern.  —  What's missing from Obama's performance …

On State Secrets, Why Didn't The Administration Seek A Continuance?  —  Of all the responses to the administration's endorsement of the state secrets privilege in Mohamed et. al. v. Jeppesen, one question pops out: why, if the administration were simply overwhelmed with information …

Bailed-Out Firms Distributing Cash Rewards: “Please Do Not Call It A Bonus”  —  Two Wall Street firms that received at least $60 billion in government bailout funds will be rewarding their financial advisers with controversial retention payments, the terms of which one senior executive described as …

RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT HUSSEIN: “A $550 Billion Electronic Run on the Banks” … This is un-frickin-believable.  The financial crisis was deliberate, planned, staged.  Who made the run? … Electronic Run On Banks - $550 Billion Withdrawn In 1 Hour, Federal Reserve Halts Withdrawals …

Opportunites pour in for Cape teen who captured Obama's attention  —  Julio Osegueda's 15 minutes of fame is starting to bring in opportunity.  —  Since the 19-year-old Cape Coral resident had the opportunity to ask the president about receiving better benefits at his McDonald's job Tuesday during …

Behind The Palin Pull Out  —  Sarah Palin is pulling back from her post-election media spree by withdrawing from CPAC, a move that can only help her if she wants a national political role.  —  Palin's pull out CPAC is striking because it represents a break in her media modus operandi …

Maxine Waters brings the crazy  —  Her questions to the bankers are so bizarre that they don't know what to do.  Ken Lewis looks like a deer in the headlights as Waters asks her about offshore loss mitigation efforts.  He can't even figure out what she's talking about …

Where does the conservative movement go from here?  —  ANALYSIS/OPINION:  —  The conservative movement has a simple and almost certainly successful future if it does three things:  —  1. Advocate first principles with courage, clarity, persistence and cheerfulness.

Town hall: House offered to homeless woman  —  LEE COUNTY  —  One moment from Tuesday's town hall touched the hearts of our viewers.  Henrietta Hughes has been living in her car and made an emotional plea to the president for help.  —  “I have an urgent need,” Hughes told the president.

Ari Fleischer on “the grid in front of” the President  —  (updated below)  —  Daily Kos' Meteor Blades points to a rare moment of television candor last night, as Ari Fleischer explained to Bill O'Reilly how and why the White House determined which reporters were allowed to ask questions …

Report: ‘Dirty bomb’ parts found in slain man's home  —  Agency says radioactive materials recovered in home of man allegedly slain by his wife  —  BELFAST, Maine — James G. Cummings, who police say was shot to death by his wife two months ago, allegedly had a cache of radioactive materials …

Why Tom Zarek Was Right  —  The following is a Letter to the Editor from “Concerned Colonial Citizen”, regarding the prospects of a permanent alliance between the Colonial government and the rebel Cylon.  It is titled “Why Tom Zarek Was Right”.  The letter is spoileriffic.

Salmonella found at Ga. plant as early as 2006  —  Owner Stewart Parnell refused to testify at hearing; 9 have now died  —  Stewart Parnell, owner of Peanut Corp. of America, invoked his right not to incriminate himself after a House subcommittee hearing on a national salmonella outbreak blamed on his company.

Sarah Palin turns 45 today.  How are you celebrating?  —  Well, today is the Big 4-5 Sarah Louise Palin, the lipstick-wearing, pit-bull hockey mom whom some folks still can't get enough of — and others long ago did.  (But, look, you're still here reading!)

Obama on Sweden  —  In response to a very good question for ABC News' Terry Moran, President Barack Obama specifically addressed why he's rejected a “Swedish” approach to the financial crisis: … Obama makes two arguments here, one about scale and one about national tradition.

Show ‘torture’ evidence, US politician Bill Delahunt demands  —  A senior Democrat on Capitol Hill has mounted a fresh challenge to Britain's insistence that its relations with US intelligence agencies would be threatened by disclosing evidence of torture.  —  Bill Delahunt said that the …