Why Gregg Bailed  —  When he took the job, Republicans searched for a diplomatic way to ask: Are you crazy?  —  After 16 years as a Republican senator from New Hampshire, Judd Gregg has a lot of friends among GOP lawmakers, and in the past two weeks, many of them — perhaps most of them …

Stimulus Bill Passes in the House With No G.O.P. Support  —  WASHINGTON — The House approved a $787 billion economic stimulus package Friday afternoon, with Democrats successfully promoting it as a boost for middle-class Americans and Republicans countering in vain that it will only stimulate wasteful government spending.

Friday Senate Line: Gregg Adds to GOP Pain  —  The withdrawal of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) as President Obama's commerce secretary nominee on Thursday was initially greeted with relief by Senate Republicans who believed that the incumbent might now stay on and seek reelection in 2010.

Predator drones flown from base in Pakistan, U.S. lawmaker says  —  Sen. Feinstein's surprise disclosure likely to complicate joint campaign against Taliban militants  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. - A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown …

Specter Vote For Stimulus Hurts Him Back Home  —  Senator Arlen Specter is one of only three Republicans to support the economic stimulus bill in Congress, and the latest Rasmussen Reports survey in Pennsylvania shows that his position is costing him support back home.

Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife  —  Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband — an influential member of the local Muslim community — reported her death to police Thursday.

End The Honeymoon  —  Why the left is to blame for the lackluster stimulus and bank bailout.  —  There are many good things to say about the stimulus bill.  But all in all, it wasn't as good as it could be: It's probably too small and too skewed toward tax cuts, and particularly cuts …

The Audacity of Audaciousness  —  It takes a certain amount of nerve to have an event at the National Press Club and then ban the press from covering it.  —  It takes another level of chutzpah entirely to admit members of the general public to your event at the National Press Club …

Will the stimulus actually stimulate?  Economists say no  —  WASHINGTON — The compromise economic stimulus plan agreed to by negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate is short on incentives to get consumers spending again and long on social goals that won't stimulate economic activity …

Nationalize the Banks!  We're all Swedes Now  —  The U.S. banking system is close to being insolvent, and unless we want to become like Japan in the 1990s — or the United States in the 1930s — the only way to save it is nationalization.  —  As free-market economists teaching at a business school …

Democratic Senator Predicts None of His Colleagues ‘Will Have the Chance’ to Read Final Stimulus Bill Before Vote  —  (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) predicted on Thursday that none of his Senate colleagues would “have the chance” to read the entire final version …

Phrase ‘Religious Right’ Misused, Conservatives Say  —  The term “Religious Right” pops up every election cycle, but leaders often identified with the political movement say that while their constituencies remain strong, the catchphrase deserves a proper burial.

Dems target right-wing talk radio  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — More and More Democrats in Congress are calling for action that Republicans warn could muzzle right-wing talk radio.  —  Representative Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat from New York is the latest to say he wants to bring back the …

The Stimulus Plan: A Detailed List of Spending  —  Congress released its compromise of the economic stimulus plan at 11 p.m. Thursday.  Debate began in the House at 9 a.m., with voting set for 1 p.m. Want to know what's in it?  You could read the 1,071-page gorilla they've posted.

Unrest in Tennessee: House GOP chairman joins suit to overturn Obama's presidency  —  Democrats say GOP congressman joining suit is ‘from Mars’  —  A Supreme Court decision apparently isn't enough for Tennessee lawmakers in the House.  —  Despite the fact that the Court rejected an effort …

The Ever-Bolder GOP  —  It seems that Republicans are feeling pretty good about themselves these days: … This reminds me of what Eve Fairbanks wrote back on February 9 when she observed that they are “completely obsessed with winning the media “cycle” and getting the sexiest …

If The Right Were Intellectually Honest ...  This Manzi post would be their argument going forward.  Here's why they are not being intellectually honest, and Manzi's post includes the relevant facts.  The GOP has passed what amounts to a spending and tax-cutting and borrowing stimulus package …

Don't Let Judges Tear Up Mortgage Contracts  —  That's the last thing troubled securities markets need.  —  The nation faces a foreclosure crisis of historic proportions, and there is an understandable desire on the part of the federal government to “do something” to help.

Authoritarianism Just Around the Corner  —  It's possible you've also already been following the debate prompted by Damon Linker's attack on Andrew Bacevich's vision of conservatism; if not, go here and here and here; here for Linker's response to his critics; and here and here for more.