WaPo Columnist Has Undisclosed Conflict of Interest on Roman Polanski Matter  —  In an earlier post I noted substantial inaccuracies and omissions in a post by Washington Post pundit Anne Applebaum in support of Roman Polanski.  (For example, she said Polanski fled during his trial; in fact …

FOX-TV CHICAGO ORDERED NOT TO RUN ANTI-OLYMPICS STORY  —  A local TV station that reported on Chicagoans NOT wanting the Olympics has been told NOT to run the report again, insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT!  —  The Chicago Olympic Committee told FOX Chicago that its broadcast “would harm Chicago's chances” to be awarded the games.

Obama can't downsize to success in Afghanistan  —  The president appears to be dragging his feet on more troops for the struggle, but that's what an effective counterinsurgency strategy requires.  —  During last year's campaign, Barack Obama stressed that while he wanted to withdraw from Iraq, he was no pacifist.

Max's Mad Mandate  —  The Baucus health bill will break 50 state budgets via Medicaid.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The more we inspect Max Baucus's health-care bill, the worse it looks.  Today's howler: One reason it allegedly “pays for itself” over 10 years is because it would break …

Iran Tests Missiles On Eve Of Talks  —  U.S. Considers ‘Severe’ Sanctions, Leaves Door Open for Diplomacy  —  Amid growing international pressure in advance of highly anticipated talks this week, Iran displayed its defiance of Western threats against its nuclear program by announcing Sunday …

New Cheney Taking Stage for the G.O.P.  —  NASHVILLE — Liz Cheney looks nothing like her father, but it is clear who he is.  She was introduced as “our favorite vice president's daughter” at a recent gathering of conservative women here.  She kept invoking him in her speech …

Was Census Worker Bill Sparkman A Child Predator?  —  Update: Before any more people start going bonkers that I'm accusing Sparkman of anything, take a breath.  I've done a fair amount of crime blogging mixed in with politics over time.  One doesn't rule anything in or out without some firm answers.

Bank Pulls Back From Acorn Work  —  Already facing the loss of federal government funding, the community-organizing group Acorn also has run afoul of one of its big corporate partners, Bank of America Corp.  —  In response to questions from The Wall Street Journal, a spokesman for the banking company …

William Safire, Nixon Speechwriter and Times Columnist, Is Dead at 79  —  William Safire, a speechwriter for President Richard M. Nixon and a Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist for The New York Times who also wrote novels, books on politics and a Malaprop's treasury of articles on language …

There Are Only Two Choices Left on Iran  —  An Israeli or U.S. military strike now, or a nuclear Tehran soon.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Unless you are a connoisseur of small pictures of bearded, brooding fanatical clerics there is not much reason to collect Iranian currency.

Secret Agent Editors  —  The Obama scandals bring a new era of opacity at the New York Times.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  (Editor's note: This is an abbreviated edition of Best of the Web Today.  We're on assignment, returning Thursday.)  —  Clark Hoyt, “public editor” …

Cassandras of Climate  —  Every once in a while I feel despair over the fate of the planet.  If you've been following climate science, you know what I mean: the sense that we're hurtling toward catastrophe but nobody wants to hear about it or do anything to avert it.  —  And here's the thing: I'm not engaging in hyperbole.

Welcome to the New Germany  —  After Sunday's election, Germany's political landscape has been shaken up, perhaps for ever.  Angela Merkel's conservatives will be able to form a coalition government with the business-friendly FDP, but the balance of power between the two parties has fundamentally shifted.