Full text of Obama's speech to Congress and the nation  —  Here is the text of President Obama's first address to a joint session of Congress, as released by the White House moments ago:  —  Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and the First Lady of the United States:

Poll: Positive Reception For Obama Address  —  UPDATED WITH FINAL RESULTS CBS News and Knowledge Networks held a nationally representative poll of 534 people who watched President Obama give his address to Congress to gauge their reaction in the minutes after the president's speech.

What Obama really meant  —  President Obama's maiden speech to Congress was loaded with durable lines, many aimed with precision at specific audiences or political objectives.  As is often the case, the most memorable lines were often written with subtlety and delicacy to keep the speech above petty politics and blame-casting.

Not a War President  —  What can we learn from the few sentences President Obama devoted to foreign policy in his speech to Congress tonight?  —  The main lesson is how very few the sentences were.  Yes, this was a speech focused on the economy.  But it was also Obama's first address to Congress …

Obama Expected to Set Date for Iraq Pullout  —  August 2010 Is Likely Decision, Three Months Later Than Pledged in Campaign  —  President Obama is expected to announce as early as Friday that he will remove all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by August 2010, three months later than promised during his campaign, U.S. officials said.

Group of Rich Americans Sues UBS to Keep Names Secret in Tax Case  —  UBS was sued on Tuesday in a Swiss federal court by wealthy American clients seeking to prevent the disclosure of their identities as part of a tax-evasion investigation by the United States Justice Department.

America Invented Everything  —  Two of Obama's claims from the SOTU: … and … After a period of prolonged study and meditation (ie, I consulted Wikipedia for 45 minutes after the speech), I have concluded that these claims are questionable at best and false at worst.

Japan exports drop 46% in January  —  Japan's exports plunged 45.7% in January compared with a year ago to hit the lowest figure in 10 years, official figures have shown.  —  Japan's trade deficit hit 952.6bn yen ($9.9bn; £6.8bn) in January, the largest since records began in 1980.

A little something for the Teaparty  —  digg it  —  Now that Rick Santelli has become the darling of the right wing, he has, with the help of the usual cast of Malkins, organized “The Chicago Tea Party”.  Where the conservative swells can gather and proclaim that those “losers” who are in foreclosure can suck it.

Political Carnival Exclusive VIDEO: Sarah Palin filmmaker John Ziegler on dating show  —  John Ziegler, a former radio talk show host/current Sarah Palin documentary filmmaker (Media Malpractice... How Obama Got Elected) and prime dating material, was on “The New Dating Story” which aired last year on the Learning Channel.