Obama: Economic crisis ‘not as bad as we think’ … WASHINGTON (AP) - Confronting misgivings, even in his own party, President Barack Obama mounted a stout defense of his blueprint to overhaul the economy Thursday, declaring the national crisis is “not as bad as we think” and his plans will speed recovery.

In Interview, Republican Chairman Strays From the Party Line on Abortion  —  WASHINGTON — This was supposed to be the week that Michael Steele, the beleaguered new chairman of the national Republican Party, got his groove on, as he might put it: From filling vacancies left by the mass-firing …

Laura Ingraham mocks Meghan McCain as being ‘plus-sized.’  —  Last night, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) daughter, Meghan McCain, appeared on Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show, where she continued to criticize Ann Coulter.  On her radio show today, Laura Ingraham responded to McCain's critique …

Ross Douthat: the College Years  —  A look at the newest New York Times columnist's undergrad writing.  —  The New York Times reported yesterday that it had hired conservative Atlantic blogger Ross Douthat as an op-ed columnist.  Douthat, who will be one of the youngest—if not the youngest …

Americans See 18% of Wealth Vanish  —  The wealth of American families plunged nearly 18% in 2008, erasing years of sharp gains on housing and stocks and marking the biggest loss since the Federal Reserve began keeping track after World War II.  —  The Fed said Thursday …

Army fired 11 soldiers in Jan. as openly gay  —  The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, according to a Virginia congressman.  Democratic Rep. Jim Moran said he has requested monthly updates …

Sarah Palin: More Earmark Hypocrisy  —  Alaska's governor campaigned as an anti-earmark crusader, but the just-passed omnibus spending bill contains several she sought.  —  Post Comment  —  On the campaign trail last year, Alaska's Republican governor, Sarah Palin, sold herself …

Third Top Treasury Pick Withdraws From Consideration  —  Democratic sources say that H. Rodgin Cohen, a partner in the New York law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and the leading candidate for Deputy Treasury Secretary, has withdrawn from consideration.  —  It's the third withdrawal …

Lawmakers deny Freeman's Israel lobby charges  —  Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said pro-Israel lobby groups did not spur their opposition to Charles Freeman.  —  Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), a senior member of the House intelligence panel …

US missile strike in Kurram agency levels Taliban training camp  —  The US targeted a Taliban compound in a cross-border strike into Pakistan's tribal areas today.  The strike took place in the Kurram tribal agency and was the second attack there since December 2008.

52 days, 52 mistakes  —  Let me count them up, in no particular order.  Some are big.  Some are small.  —  We all make mistakes.  Here's his:  —  1. A do-over on the oath of office.  —  2. Tim Geithner.  —  3. Bill Richardson.  —  4. Tom Daschle.  —  5. Eric “Nation of Cowards” Holder.

Stimulus overseer: Waste ‘inevitable’  —  The chief watchdog for spending from the $787 billion stimulus package says it's guaranteed there will be waste and fraud.  —  Earl Devaney, tapped by President Obama to track the giant spending plan, also said it will be at least a year …

S.C.'s Sanford makes it official, rejects $700 million stimulus  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday became the first governor to reject some of his state's share of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus money, spurning $700 million that he said would harm his state's residents in the long run.

Source: Obama official on leave after FBI raids  —  Source: Obama technology official on leave after FBI raids his old DC office, arrests 2  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — An aide to President Barack Obama is on leave from his White House job after the FBI raided his old District …

‘Hardball with Chris Matthews’ for Wednesday, March 11  —  Guests: Michelle Bernard, Mary Thompson, Lawrence O'Donnell, Pat Buchanan  —  CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: We band of Bushies.  —  Let's play HARDBALL.  —  Good evening.  I'm Chris Matthews.  Leading off tonight: We just can't quit you.

The Man Obama Double-Crossed  —  As George Clooney Returns, Dr. Mehmet Oz On How ER Changed Our Lives.  —  Web  —  Blogs and Stories  —  The president's staffing nightmares began with Bill Richardson, the erstwhile Commerce nominee, who has told confidants that he was promised the secretary of State job.

White House objects to UN calling US ‘deadbeat’  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House objected Thursday to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's description of the United States as a “deadbeat” donor to the world body.  —  Ban used the phrase Wednesday during a private meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol …

I'd have preferred his prosecutor got the job, but I'm vindictive like that  —  I know it's old news, but it's fascinating.  Remember this guy?  —  John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban.”  Caught in Afghanistan after the invasion while fighting on the side of the Taliban against the Northern Alliance …

Obama on Spot as Rulings Aid Gay Partners  —  WASHINGTON — Just seven weeks into office, President Obama is being forced to confront one of the most sensitive social and political issues of the day: whether the government must provide health insurance benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

Congresswoman, Tied to Bank, Helped Seek Funds  —  WASHINGTON — Top federal regulators say they were taken aback when they learned that a California congresswoman who helped set up a meeting with bankers last year had family financial ties to a bank whose chief executive asked them for up to $50 million in special bailout funds.

Michelle Obama tours Fort Bragg  —  On her out-of-town solo trip, First Lady Michelle Obama toured a military base in North Carolina, met with military families, and called on the nation to support soldiers and their relatives.  —  “I encourage everyone...to reach out on your own …

It's true: Jon Stewart has become Edward R. Murrow  —  Through karmic guidance, I sprang awake at the exact moment Jon Stewart was beginning his [merciless demolition of] interview with Jim Cramer of CNBC's “Mad Money.”  —  Yes, it is cliched to praise Stewart as the “true” voice of news …

The Case Against Breast-Feeding  —  IMAGE CREDIT: JOSE LUIS PELAEZ/GETTY IMAGES  —  ONE AFTERNOON AT the playground last summer, shortly after the birth of my third child, I made the mistake of idly musing about breast-feeding to a group of new mothers I'd just met.

The Public Wants to Believe In Big Government  —  Walter Shapiro has an article in TNR titled “Americans Like Big Government: They just don't really know it yet” which is about the importance of branding in building support for a progressive agenda.  I think our new CAP report on the state …