BAD WILL HUNTING.... George Will, who has always presented himself as something of an intellectual among the conservative chattering class, seems to be struggling a bit now that there's a Democratic president.  Some of his recent columns have varied between wrong and bizarre.

Is The GOP Hopeless?  —  David Frum, pulling no punches: … I spent a lot of time during the election just passed issuing complaints roughly like this one about the McCain campaign, and the GOP more generally.  I've issued fewer over the last few weeks - partially out of exhaustion with the topic …

BEYOND PARODY.... Over the weekend, “Saturday Night Live” had a skit showing Republican officials scheming against President Obama.  The GOP, of course, was made to look ridiculous — mocking the president's substantive answers to questions, arguing over whether Limbaugh or Hannity is the …

STUDY HARDER  —  I'm not sure what other ways he's going to follow in Newt Gingrich's steps.  But GOP House whip Eric Cantor seems to have the megalomania and ego front down pat.  He's been putting out word over the last few days that he's modeling himself off Newt and now apparently Winston Churchill too.

In All Fairness  —  SCREENING OBAMA  —  One wouldn't know it from reading the Washington Post or New York Times, but some inside the White House don't think that President Barack Obama hit a home run with his first national press conference last week.  —  “It looked scripted beyond the scripted part …

Gay snipers stalk WV  —  The same-sex marriage wars, though largely absent from the presidential campaign, remain hot in the states, as this new video from the group wv4marriage.com shows.  —  The narrator warns that same-sex marriage in West Virginia is “a closer reality than you may think” …

California's budget: one vote shy; legislators to return today  —  SACRAMENTO — Despite weeks of painful negotiations and a sleepless weekend of marathon arm-twisting, California lawmakers failed to fix the budget and will have to return to the Capitol today to try to push through a sweeping plan …

Decade at Bernie's  —  By now everyone knows the sad tale of Bernard Madoff's duped investors.  They looked at their statements and thought they were rich.  But then, one day, they discovered to their horror that their supposed wealth was a figment of someone else's imagination.

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris tries to quell new questions about his controversial appointment by Blagojevich  —  Senator addresses Blagojevich ties as Republicans call for inquiry, ouster  —  Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., talks to the media about an affidavit that he filed Feb. 5 with the Illinois House committee.

The Two Progressivisms  —  The definitions of the terms “liberal” and “conservative” have been the subjects of much debate in contemporary American politics.  But it has become increasingly clear that the term “progressive” is equally ambiguous, and is associated with at least two relatively distinct philosophical traditions.

Liberals not pleased with go-slow approach by Obama  —  Activists recall his promises as a candidate and express frustration at his equivocation as president.  They cite stem cell research and the detainee policy as examples.  —  Reporting from Washington — Slowly over the last few weeks …

Livni: Give up parts of ‘Land of Israel’  —  JERUSALEM - Tzipi Livni, who hopes to be appointed Israel's prime minister-designate, said Monday Israel must give up considerable territory in exchange for peace with the Palestinians, drawing a clear distinction with her rival, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dismal scientists: how the crash is reshaping economics  —  With the chattering classes consumed by concern for the devastated value of their 401K funds, and their suddenly precarious lifestyles, there has been much anger and scorn directed at those former masters of the universe, financiers.

Sam Donaldson, Moving Out of Shouting Distance  —  Forceful Newsman to Retire After Four Decades at ABC  —  Whatever else he accomplished in his 41 years at ABC News, Sam Donaldson knows he'll be remembered mainly for his bellowing voice.  —  “I guess it'll be on my tombstone: ‘He yelled at Ronald Reagan,’ ” Donaldson says.

Hotshot greens caught wasting home heat  —  A survey of the homes of top environmentalists has found they leak energy  —  THEY may shout their green credentials from the rooftops, but some of Britain's most prominent environmental champions are living in homes that produce up to half a ton of excess carbon dioxide a year.

Conyers seeks DoJ probe into controversial sheriff  —  House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and three fellow Democrats want the Department of Justice to investigate civil rights complaints against controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio.  —  The lawmakers, in a letter …

C-SPAN ranks presidents: Abe still on top, new shocker at the bottom  —  On this sacred United States holiday devoted to honoring the birthdays of the two most important presidents in the nation's history by selling bed linens and used automobiles at discount prices, we're publishing …

You Gotta Love the First Lady.  No, Really, You Have No Choice.  —  The rise of first lady Michelle Obama as an icon — of fashion, black womanhood, working motherhood and middle-class success — has propelled her onto a pedestal that would surely give the average person vertigo.

Hamburgers are the Hummers of food in global warming … When it comes to global warming, hamburgers are the Hummers of food, scientists say.  —  Simply switching from steak to salad could cut as much carbon as leaving the car at home a couple days a week.

Roberts Sets Off Debate on Judicial Experience  —  For the first time in its history, every member of the United States Supreme Court is a former federal appeals court judge.  Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., in a lively and surprising talk a couple of weeks ago, said that development may be a good thing.