Mark Steyn: Jackson, Sanford and weirdness  —  Big government more or less guarantees rule by creeps and misfits.  —  Recommend  —  In a lousy week, Mark Sanford had one stroke of luck: Michael Jackson chose the day after the governor's news conference to moonwalk into eternity …

Obama contemplates Executive Order for detention without charges  —  (updated below)  —  When Obama first unveiled his “preventive detention” policy, many defenders praised him (and claimed he was different than Bush) because of his vow that — as he put it — “my Administration will work …

The 8 cap-and-tax Republicans...and the 44 Democrats who voted no  —  Introducing the GOP's Cap-And-Tax 8...  I listed them earlier tonight, but am breaking out a separate post to spotlight them again.  —  The 8 cap-and-tax Republican turncoats again are:  —  Bono Mack (CA) (202) 225-5330

On the House floor  —  By all appearances, the House is about to vote on a very long bill of which it has no completed official copy.  —  Texas Republican Reps. Joe Barton and Louie Gohmert have just asked the chair whether there exists a complete, updated copy of the Waxman-Markey carbon-cap bill.

Climate Vote Shows White House Still Really Knows How To Work The Hill  —  You don't have to like the climate bill that was approved last night by the House to be impressed by the White House's ability to get it passed.  The bill 219-212, with eight Republican votes in favor.

Froomkin Departs, Leaving Angry Loyalists And Questions  —  Dan Froomkin's online White House Watch ended today in The Post, leaving an army of angry followers and a string of unanswered questions about the decision to terminate his contract.  —  His release sparked an outcry from a loyal audience built after five and a half years.

THIS WEEK IN GOD.... First up from the God Machine this week is the resolution of a recent controversy involving the late Jerry Falwell's college in Virginia, which no longer wanted to allow its students to organize an official Democratic student group on campus.

Baucus ups pressure on health groups  —  The Senate Finance Committee is pressuring hospitals and insurers to follow the lead of the pharmaceutical industry and pony up to help pay for health reform, industry insiders say.  —  With the Democrats' high-stakes gambit to overhaul …

Deficit disorder  —  He needs to keep pumping the US economy while ensuring a return to fiscal responsibility once a recovery arrives  —  Back in February, Barack Obama's presidency suffered an early setback when Judd Gregg, the Republican senator from New Hampshire, withdrew as his nominee for commerce secretary.

The Road to Hell: Part II  —  27 June 2009  —  With so many contractors, journalists, and even tourists floating around Afghanistan, some are bound to be kidnapped.  The recent escape by David Rohde provides a happy conclusion, though these things often end up with a bullet in the head, or a head sawed off for all to see.

House climate bill passes by slim margin  —  In a 219-212 vote, sweeping legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions is a major victory for Obama and Pelosi.  —  Reporting from Washington — In one of the narrowest votes in its recent history, the House on Friday evening passed a sweeping energy …