Protocol is abandoned as Michelle Obama cosies up to Queen  —  Protocol seems to be dispensed with when the Obamas come to town.  —  When the President and his wife, Michelle, attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, the First Lady and the Queen slipped their arms around each other towards the end of the evening.

The President Is ‘Keeping Score’  —  Chicago politics has moved into the White House.  —  “Don't think we're not keeping score, brother.”  That's what President Barack Obama said to Rep. Peter DeFazio in a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week, according to the Associated Press.

Dodd Falls Way Behind As Approval Drops To Lowest Ever, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Are Angry At AIG Bonuses And Blame Dodd  —  Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd trails former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a possible Republican challenger, 50 - 34 percent in the 2010 Senate race …

Senate rejects controversial fast-track budget procedure  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Senate overwhelmingly voted Wednesday not to use a fast-track budget procedure to pass President Obama's “cap and trade” plan to combat global warming.  —  The vote was a victory for Republicans …

Indictment in Blagojevich case coming later today  —  The U.S. Attorney's office said this morning it plans to make an announcement about a “significant criminal matter” later today, which sources said is the indictment of ex-governor Rod Blagojevich.  The indictment will likely be handed down within the next several hours.

Romney breaks with GOP on the issue of deregulation  —  Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) said Wednesday that his party needs to take a fresh approach to government regulations in the wake of the economic crisis that has rattled the U.S. and world economies.

Former AIG chief says bailout ‘failed’  —  Former AIG CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg says the bailout has “failed” and he's proposing a 10-point alternative focused on saving, not breaking apart, the mega-insurer.  —  Greenberg will reveal his plan during a hearing before the House Oversight …

Cantor: Dems ‘overreacting’ to crisis  —  GOP Whip Eric Cantor thinks his party can retake the House in next year's midterm elections — and accused Democrats of “overreacting” to the economic crisis by embarking on a federal spending spree.  —  UPDATED: I cleaned up the transcript and transcribed his full quote from the tape.

U.S. Military to Request More Troops for Afghanistan  —  Request for 10,000 Not Yet Submitted To White House  —  Gen. David H. Petraeus disclosed yesterday that American commanders have requested the deployment of an additional 10,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan next year …

Sen. Stevens ‘got screwed’ by Justice  —  The Justice Department's stunning decision to drop all charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) had GOP senators hailing the news as a vindication while government watchdogs fretted over the impact on other corruption cases against public officials.

North Korea is fueling rocket, U.S. military says  —  CNN Senior Pentagon Producer  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — North Korea has begun fueling its long-range rocket, according to a senior U.S. military official.  —  The fueling signals that the country could be in the final stages of what North Korea …

How to Fight a Smear  —  Dahlia Lithwick has a really good piece lamenting the fact that the mainstream media has failed to take on the right-wing smear campaign against Yale Law prof—and Obama's nominee to serve as the State Department's top lawyer—Harold Koh:

Franken puts Pawlenty in a jam  —  The legal fight between Al Franken and Norm Coleman is headed to the desk of Gov. Tim Pawlenty — a no-win predicament for a Minnesota Republican with his eye on a White House run in 2012.  —  Franken won big Tuesday when a three-judge panel allowed …

Gingrich warns of third party in 2012  —  (CNN) — Former House speaker Newt Gingrich is warning of a third party mutiny in 2012 if Republicans don't figure out a way to shape up.  —  “If the Republicans can't break out of being the right wing party of big government, then I think you would …

G-20 Pact Tries to Bridge Gaps on Stimulus and Bank Rules  —  LONDON — Attempting to bridge deep divides in policy and financial philosophy, the leaders of nearly two dozen of the world's largest economies agreed Thursday to a broad array of new fiscal and regulatory steps, in a desperate effort to revive the paralyzed global economy.

Specter attacks Toomey in early campaign ad  —  Facing a serious threat from his right in next year's primary, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) is wasting no time preparing for his re-election.  —  Specter is already up with an expensive campaign ad throughout the state of Pennsylvania attacking …

Earmarks of Scandal  —  Speaker Nancy Pelosi should listen to the wise Democrats who are pushing for an ethics inquiry into the far-too-cozy relationship between lawmakers and the PMA Group of superlobbyists.  —  The Justice Department is investigating whether PMA used illegal straw donors …