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.

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 …

Reid the Quarterback May Call on Obama to Referee  —  WASHINGTON — As the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, takes on the delicate task of melding two competing versions of major health care legislation, aides say he will lean heavily on President Obama to arbitrate …

U.S. commander in Afghanistan talked with Obama only once  —  The military general credited with capturing Saddam Hussein and killing the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, says he has spoken with President Obama only once since taking command in Afghanistan.

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.

Whitman, Fiorina reject California GOP ‘straw poll’  —  (CNN) - Two Republican statewide candidates in California are touting the results of a state GOP convention straw poll that showed conservative activists overwhelmingly rejecting the gubernatorial bid of former eBay CEO Meg Whitman …

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” …

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 …

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 …

The Limits of Charisma  —  Mr. President, please stay off TV.  —  If ubiquity were the measure of a presidency, Barack Obama would already be grinning at us from Mount Rushmore.  But of course it is not.  Despite his many words and television appearances, our elegant and eloquent president remains …

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 …

Huckabee in St. Louis: Get America Out of the U.N.  —  ST. LOUIS — Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.), speaking to a very friendly dinner crowd at the “How To Take Back America” conference, said that he'd “nearly had an Elvis moment” watching this week's United Nations general assembly sessions …

Iran Reported to Have Tested Long-Range Missiles  —  PARIS — Locked in a deepening dispute with the United States and its allies over its nuclear program, Iran was reported Monday to have test-fired its longest-range missiles capable of striking Israel, parts of Europe and American bases …

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.

Leave Jim Cooper Alone!  —  It's really amazing how much effort national progressives are putting into going after Jim Cooper.  Posts by national bloggers giving Coop crap for a pushing healthcare reform bill that doesn't provide for a public option is one thing.