Despair over financial policy  —  The Geithner plan has now been leaked in detail.  It's exactly the plan that was widely analyzed — and found wanting — a couple of weeks ago.  The zombie ideas have won.  —  The Obama administration is now completely wedded to the idea …

The Problem With Flogging A.I.G.  —  Can we all just calm down a little?  —  Yes, the $165 million in bonuses handed out to executives in the financial products division of American International Group was infuriating.  Truly, it was.  As many others have noted, this is the same unit whose …

Busload of Crazies to Tour Homes of AIG Executives This Weekend  —  Less than a year ago, the most repellent area bus tour we knew of was the one that induced Sex and the City-crazed tourists to put $40 on their Citi cards for a cupcake and a glimpse at Carrie Bradshaw's brownstone.  How times have changed!

Now showing at Supreme Court: ‘Hillary: The Movie’  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - Months after its debut, “Hillary: The Movie” faces nine of the nation's toughest critics: the Supreme Court.  —  The justices' review of the slashing documentary financed …

Iran's supreme leader dismisses Obama overtures  —  TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's supreme leader rebuffed President Barack Obama's latest outreach on Saturday, saying Tehran was still waiting to see concrete changes in U.S. policy.  —  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was responding to a video message Obama released Friday …

Palin's legal debts pile up  —  ‘SUBSTANTIAL’: Governor may create fund to pay the bills.  —  ldemer@adn.com  —  Gov. Sarah Palin owes more than a half million dollars to an Anchorage law firm that has defended her against ethics complaints, and she may create a legal fund to pay the bill, she said Friday.

Israeli Soldier Says Military Rabbis Framed Gaza Mission as Religious  —  A soldier involved in Israel's recent military offensive in the Gaza Strip said in published reports Friday that the military's rabbinical staff distributed material characterizing the operation as a religious mission to …

Not bowled over by Obama's Special Olympics joke  —  Despite the president's apology, athletes and others say they are disappointed with his remark on Jay Leno's show.  —  Reporting from Chicago — When she met Barack Obama two years ago, Caitlin Cox proudly wore the two bronze medals she had won at the Special Olympics.

VIDEO: Obama's 4 budget principles  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  Previewing a critical week for his administration, President Barack Obama on Saturday called on Congress Saturday to pass a budget that adheres to four principles: increasing energy independence …

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 …

North Korea confirms two Americans detained  —  SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea on Saturday confirmed that it had detained two American journalists for illegally entering the country from China earlier this week and said their case was under investigation.  —  The US State Department had expressed concern …

Why South Carolina Doesn't Want ‘Stimulus’  —  Columbia, S.C.  —  America's states are laboratories of democracy.  They are both affected by, and relevant to, the larger national debate.  What we've found in our own corner of the country is that carrying a substantial debt load limits our options when it comes to running government.

No laughing matter  —  In turbulent times, it's good to know some things never change.  After a week in which President Obama thanked himself for inviting him to the White House, compared AIG executives to suicide bombers, and did the first Presidential retard joke on national TV …