Toxic Asset Plan Foresees Big Subsidies for Investors  —  WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department is expected to unveil early next week its long-delayed plan to buy as much as $1 trillion in troubled mortgages and related assets from financial institutions, according to people close to the talks.

Palin Hits Obama on ‘Special Olympics’ Joke  —  Gov. Sarah Palin responded to remarks made last night by President Obama related to the Special Olympics on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”: … Well, after the way his allies went after her, he really couldn't count on a full-throated defense of a boneheaded comment.

ARE WE A BANANA REPUBLIC?  —  I'm stupefied to find that some people are defending the constitutionality of Nancy Pelosi's discriminatory, confiscatory and retroactive tax on people who receive bonus income from companies that got TARP money.  I would have considered it a bright line rule …

‘Shooting and crying’  —  Less than a month after the end of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, dozens of graduates of the Yitzhak Rabin pre-military preparatory program convened at Oranim Academic College in Kiryat Tivon.  Since 1998 the program has prepared participants for what is considered meaningful military service.

Obama Uneasy About Tax on Bonuses  —  WASHINGTON — The White House stopped short on Friday of endorsing legislation to severely tax bonuses paid to executives of companies that accepted taxpayer bailout funds.  —  Administration officials said instead that President Obama would assess …

WITCH HUNTERY!  —  A great exchange on CNBC between the anchor and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), one of the few elected voices of reason during the financial crisis:

MSNBC In Discussions with Ed Schultz  —  The Observer has learned that MSNBC president Phil Griffin is in discussions with syndicated talk radio host Ed Schultz about possibly joining the network on a full-time basis.  It is unclear what exactly the job would entail should Mr. Schultz and MSNBC come to an agreement.

CNN's March Ratings So Far: More Lamb than Lion  —  More evidence that CNN is going to have to find a new strategy fast or risk becoming a cable news also-ran: In the month of March so far, the Time Warner-owned network has come in fourth place in prime time among adults 25 to 54 …

The Big Takeover  —  The global economic crisis isn't about money - it's about power.  How Wall Street insiders are using the bailout to stage a revolution  —  It's over — we're officially, royally f**ked. no empire can survive being rendered a permanent laughingstock …

Conyers suggests probe of ACORN  —  Calls fraud charges ‘serious’  —  In an startling partisan shift, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. on Thursday proposed holding hearings on claims the liberal activist group ACORN engaged in a pattern of crimes ranging from voter fraud to a mob-style “protection” racket.

US Post Service looks for new ways to cut losses  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service has already suggested dropping a day of mail delivery to save money.  Now, with economic gloom everywhere, it's turning to early retirements, management cutbacks and office closings.

Analysis: Obama rhetoric, reality clash  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's optimistic campaign rhetoric has crashed headlong into the stark reality of governing.  —  In office two months, he has backpedaled on an array of issues …

Tedisco: I'm focused on local interests  —  ONEONTA _ Political commentators may see the 20th Congressional District race as a contest of national consequence, but Republican James Tedisco, 58, is focused closer to home.  —  “Rush Limbaugh is meaningless to me,” Tedisco told the editorial board of The Daily Star on Thursday.

Fox News's Brit Hume Warns That Because Of Blogs, Future News Will Be ‘More Partisan’  —  Fox News's Brit Hume Warns That Because Of Blogs, Future News Will Be ‘More Partisan’  —  Last night, the conservative Media Research Center, which houses the ever on point NewsBusters blog …

RNC outraises DNC  —  In its first full month under the chairmanship of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the Democratic National Committee only raised $3.26 million in February, according to figures released by the committee this afternoon.  —  The total lags behind the February fundraising total …

Battle lines drawn on health care  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  As health care reform moves from conceptual talks to detailed negotiations, what had been a conciliatory tone is turning more confrontational.  —  The emerging fault line betwen the parties …

Companies looking at options on card check  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - Starbucks Corp. and other companies are exploring alternatives to a bill that would make it easier for workers to unionize, but the idea of any compromise drew the wrath …

Much Bigger Deficits Seen in Budget Office Forecast  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama's budget proposals, if carried out, would produce a staggering $9.3 trillion in total deficits over the next decade, much more than the White House has predicted, the Congressional Budget Office said on Friday.