White House declines to disclose visits by health industry executives  —  Citing an argument used by the Bush administration, the Secret Service rejects a request from a watchdog group to list those who have visited the White House to discuss the healthcare overhaul.

Durbin: No pre-recess vote on healthcare  —  Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday acknowledged for the first time that a pre-recess vote on healthcare reform is unlikely.  —  “We're going to take a little longer to get it right,” Durbin told The Hill when asked …

'You're Going To Destroy My Presidency'  —  Recall Barack Obama whining the other day how “this isn't about me”?  —  Well, that's nonsense.  Of course it's all about him. … Somebody please send Baracky a waaaahmbulance.  —  Oh wait, are they covered by his plan?

Liz Cheney: No question on citizenship  —  Liz Cheney is taking some heat today for, amid a discussion on Larry King Live of the fringe movement that doubts Obama's citizenship, appearing to defend it.  —  “People are fundamentally uncomfortable, and they're fundamentally increasingly uncomfortable …

Democrats Defeat Concealed Weapons Amendment  —  In a 58-39 vote, supporters of the looser gun law — including all but two Republicans and 20 moderate Democrats — fell two votes short of the 60 they needed under Senate rules to approve the measure.  The amendment, sponsored by Sen. John Thune …

L.I. Man Pleaded Guilty in Attack on U.S. Base in Afghanistan  —  A 26-year-old American-born Long Island man who traveled to Pakistan and trained in a Qaeda camp there last year pleaded guilty in January to trying to kill United States soldiers in a rocket attack against a military base in Afghanistan …

GOP's new youth ambassador: Lady Gaga?  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Politics may make for strange bedfellows — but even for this town, this may be the oddest couple to ever make beautiful music together: House Republicans...and pop diva Lady Gaga.  —  At Tuesday morning's weekly GOP conference meeting …

Orrin Hatch quits health care talks  —  The health care Gang of Seven is now down to six.  —  Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of seven senators involved in bipartisan Finance Committee negotiations, has left the talks.  —  Hatch informed Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Wednesday afternoon …

Dude, Where's My Sperm?  —  I've been freaking myself out over the past 24 hours by reading Reece Rushing's CAP report on dangerous chemicals impairing American fertility.  For the fellows, there's reduced sperm count:  —  And the ladies aren't being spared either:  —  What's to blame?  Well:

53% Now Oppose Congressional Health Care Reform  —  The health care reform legislation working its way through Congress has lost support over the past month.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of U.S. voters are at least somewhat in favor of the reform effort while 53% are at least somewhat opposed.

Oooh, Don't Forget, ‘Now Is The Time To Act’!  —  Senate Republicans e-mail me: … It's good, don't get me wrong, but they left off a few of my favorite Obama cliches, some of which are straw men, some of which are rhetorical crutches: “We inherited these problems”; “the alternative is to do nothing” …

Sarah Palin 2013: A Look Ahead  —  It is noon, Jan. 20, 2013.  Sarah Palin raises her right hand to be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.  —  Palin had won a decisive victory over the incumbent, Barack Obama.  The country was still trapped in economic rubble …

Obama Talks Health Care  —  In a telephone interview with editorial page editor Fred Hiatt Wednesday afternoon, President Obama said he will not accept a health-care reform bill, even one that is deficit-neutral, if it does not also begin to reduce the cost of care.

Toomey Ties Specter In Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Say New Democrat Does Not Deserve Another Term  —  Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's 2010 reelection lead over Republican challenger Pat Toomey has shrunk to a tie with 45 percent for Specter and 44 percent for Toomey …

Rep. Blackburn: “We're Not Going To Cry ‘Emergency’ Every Time We Have A Katrina” … THE MEANING OF “EMERGENCY”  —  While extolling the virtues of a balanced budget during a PAYGO debate on the floor of the House, Rep. Marsha Blackburn shamefully exclaimed: … This statement is shocking on many levels.

John S. Barry, Main Force Behind WD-40, Dies at 84  —  John S. Barry, an executive who masterminded the spread of WD-40, the petroleum-based lubricant and protectant created for the space program, into millions of American households, died on July 3 in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego.

The Ultimate Obama Insider  —  On Jan. 25, 2008, the day before the South Carolina Democratic primary, Barack Obama endured a grueling succession of campaign events across the state.  When his staff informed him that the evening would conclude with a brief show-up at the Pink Ice Ball …

Sarah Palin: Report She Violated Ethics Laws Is ‘Misguided’ And ‘Factually In Error’  —  Leaked Report Says Alaska Governor's Trust Fund Could Violate Ethics Act  —  Independent Counsel Sympathetic to Palin  —  Despite finding probable cause to investigate, Daniel said he was …

Health Insurance Lobby Cherry-Picks Data in Fight Against Public Plan  —  The industry that helped scuttle health reform 15 years ago with its “Harry and Louise” ads is back, voicing support for a central element of the Obama administration's plans: making sure everyone is covered.

About One in Six U.S. Adults Are Without Health Insurance  —  Highest uninsured rates among Hispanics, the young, and those with low incomes  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — As congressional lawmakers debate healthcare reform legislation, partly aimed at expanding coverage to the uninsured …

PETA video shows Ringling Bros. handlers beating elephants  —  The world-famous Ringling Bros. circus faces fresh accusations of animal abuse today after undercover videos show handlers beating elephants before they enter the ring.  —  The tape, made by a man who posed as a stagehand for six months …

Republicans nominate Scozzafava in NY 23  —  Republican party leaders chose state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, a leading moderate in the state legislature, as their nominee to succeed Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) in an upcoming special election.  —  The eleven Republican county chairmen within …