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.

How Obama can make up for his gaffe  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  My older brother has Down syndrome, which hinders his ability to learn.  Despite his disability, he graduated from high school and lived independently with a job for several years until …

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 …

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.

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:

Iran's supreme leader dismisses Obama overtures  —  TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed overtures from President Barack Obama on Saturday, saying Tehran does not see any change in U.S. policy under its new administration.  —  Khamenei was responding …

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.

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 …

Obama to Push Programs in Budget  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama, signaling the start of what promises to be a bruising fight with Congress, said that he expected lawmakers to pass a budget that would fund key programs in his economic recovery plan while at the same time substantially cutting the country's national deficit.

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.

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.

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 …

GOP Candidate Tedisco: “Rush Limbaugh Is Meaningless To Me” [UPDATED]  —  Updated below with a response from Tedisco's office  —  New York congressional candidate Jim Tedisco has boldly gone where few Republicans have been before: publicly blowing off firebrand conservative talk host Rush Limbaugh.