Bush takes swipes at Obama policies  —  Defends interrogations  —  Former President George W. Bush fired a salvo at President Obama on Wednesday, asserting his administration's interrogation policies were within the law, declaring the private sector not government will fix the economy and rejecting the nationalization of health care.

Not Just Walpin - 3 IG Firings Being Questioned  —  (Just a note — Why are we reading about this in the Chicago Tribune?  Perhaps his local paper doesn't have an Oba-worship problem?)  Just a thought.  —  Update: Moe Lane with a little more background.  —  This is interesting.

U.S. Struggling for Right Response to Iran  —  Obama Seeks Way to Acknowledge Protesters Without Alienating Ayatollah  —  The political unrest in Iran presents the Obama administration with a dilemma: keep quiet to pursue a nuclear deal with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader …

Outcry on Federal Same-Sex Benefits  —  WASHINGTON — The package of domestic partnership benefits that President Obama established for federal workers on Wednesday drew the loudest protests from some of those it was intended to help, gay men and lesbians who criticized the move as too timid.

Day of Mourning, Protests, Called by Mousavi on Thursday  —  Mir-Hosain Mousavi, who maintains he won last Friday's presidential election despite official assertions that he lost 2 to 1 to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is calling for another rally Thursday, this time in part to honor the persons killed …

Hillary Clinton Fractures Her Elbow  —  The Secretary of State will undergo surgery to repair the damage next week  —  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fell down on her way to the White House late Wednesday afternoon, fracturing her right elbow, her Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills …

Why are Iranian police markings written in English?  —  Post-election protests continued in Tehran for the fifth day on Wednesday.  In many photos, riot police wear uniforms with the English word police on them.  Ambulances, too, bear the word ambulance in English.

Just Tell the World, ‘Go Hang’  —  Events in Iran catch President Obama flat-footed.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  “Wading into Iranian politics, President Barack Obama said on Tuesday there appeared to be few policy differences between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and rival Mirhossein Mousavi,” Reuters reports.

Months After Ted Stevens Debacle, Justice Department Corruption Unit in Disarray  —  Two months after prosecutors abandoned the criminal conviction of former senator Ted Stevens, the Justice Department unit that polices public corruption remains in chaos, coping with newly discovered evidence …

Bailout Costs vs Big Historical Events  —  It is exceedingly difficult to convey exactly how much we are spending on all these bailouts.  Whenever I start talking trillions (versus mere billions), I get puzzled looks from people.  Humans have a hard time conceptualizing any number that large.

ABC REFUSES OPPOSITION ADS DURING WHITE HOUSE SPECIAL  —  ABC is refusing to air paid ads during its White House health care presentation, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, including a paid-for alternative viewpoint!  —  The development comes a day after the network denied a request …

Panel of Clerics Offers Talks With Iranian Opposition  —  TEHRAN — Days after it was urged to investigate the outcome of last week's disputed presidential election, Iran's authoritative Guardian Council said on Thursday that it had invited the three candidates challenging the official results …

Obama and the Fly  —  Well, I guess it can't be said that President Obama wouldn't hurt a fly.  The commander in chief was recently pestered by a fly during an interview.  He swatted at the insect and killed the little guy instantly.  —  Believe it or not, we've actually been contacted …

A Man of the Cities  —  Cities everywhere in the world are more broadly liberal and cosmopolitan than small towns and villages.  Rural areas in the Middle East are often startlingly conservative, especially from the point of view of Western visitors like me and my colleagues in the media.

Iran election turnouts exceeded 100% in 30 towns, website reports  —  At least 200 polling stations across Iran had participation rates of 95% or above, say sources of centrist Auyandeh site  —  Turnouts of more than 100% were recorded in at least 30 Iranian towns in last week's disputed …

Remarks With Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman  —  Treaty Room  —  Washington, DC  —  SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon.  It is my pleasure to welcome Foreign Minister Lieberman to the State Department today for his first official visit to Washington in his new role.

Lisa Madigan, weighing Senate bid, meets with Obama, Jarrett and Emanuel at the White House  —  WASHINGTON—The Obama White House is pushing to have Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan run for the U.S. Senate; she was at the White House last Friday meeting with President Obama …

‘Public Option’: Son of Medicaid  —  Lard atop lard that only a politician or bureaucrat could love.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  In his speech on health care to the American Medical Association, President Obama explained why the U.S. has “failed” (yet again) to provide comprehensive reform that “covers everyone.”