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.

THE PARTY THAT LOST ITS MIND  —  Have you heard about the marsh mouse?  The little swamp critter that got $30 million of stimulus bill spending thanks to Nancy Pelosi?  Of course you have!  The mouse was highlighted on Drudge and chortled over by Glenn Beck.  One Republican congressman actually dandled a toy mouse in debate.

“The House GOP Is Back”: Republicans Promote Stimulus Opposition With Aerosmith  —  Usually, in war and politics, the victor writes the history.  In the case of the soon-to-be-signed stimulus package, however, neither side is admitting defeat.  —  Republicans in the House of Representatives …

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” …

Exclusive: Lawyer says Rove won't take Fifth  —  Representatives of the Bush White House are no longer advising former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove that he is protected by executive privilege as regards testimony about the alleged political prosecution of an Alabama governor.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Bank solvency and the “Geithner Plan”  —  Warning - a very long and wonky post - and possibly a little self indulgent.  Don't bother reading it unless you are really interested in banks and the crisis.  More an essay than a blog post.  If you are going to read it give me the courtesy of reading it to the end.

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.

Right & wrong is not about religion  —  At least according to most Americans.  The full report of the Pew Religious Landscape Survey has some data not available on the website.  There is a question of the form: When it comes to questions of right and wrong, which of the following do you look to most for guidance?

38% Say Stimulus Plan Will Help Economy  —  Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters nationwide believe the $787-billion stimulus plan passed by Congress will help the economy.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 29% believe the plan will hurt and 24% believe it will have little impact.

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.

The economy writ Short, Tall, Grande  —  To forecast the U.S. economy, look to the rises and falls of Starbucks.  Why?  If you think about what the coffee chain sells, it starts to make sense.  —  In the middle of 2006, Starbucks' stock price peaked at $39.63 a share.

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.

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.

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.