GOP Launches Strategy to Trip Up Health Bill  —  Senate Republicans, acknowledging they lack the votes to block a health care reform bill outright, have implemented a comprehensive political strategy to delay, define and derail.  —  With Democratic leaders and White House officials holed …

The Banks Are Not Alright  —  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  O.K., maybe not literally the worst, but definitely bad.  And the contrast between the immense good fortune of a few and the continuing suffering of all too many boded ill for the future.

Hillary Clinton suffers ‘mis-speaking’ relapse with Belfast bomb claims  —  Hillary Clinton has been caught out “mis-speaking” again in a manner that suggests that she hasn't learnt from past experiences of her globe-trotting, “lily-gilding” speeches.  —  The US Secretary of State …

Decision on Afghan Troops May Wait  —  WASHINGTON — The White House signaled Sunday that President Obama would postpone any decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan until the disputed election there had been settled and resulted in a government that could work with the United States.

Top Obama advisers walk away from public option  —  There was a reason the White House sent out Obama's top three advisers to the talk shows today.  As I said below, “they're selling something as we approach the final push for health insurance reform.”  Unfortunately, what they're selling, most of us aren't buying.

In New Jersey, It Was Christie's Race to Lose — and He May Have Lost It  —  NORTH BERGEN, N.J. - Jon Corzine - the bearded, gray-haired, former Wall Street titan running for his second term as New Jersey's Democratic governor - would never be confused with the toothy-smiled, broad-shouldered …

Superfreakingmeta  —  Brad DeLong does the heavy lifting.  Legalistic quibbling about who said what in an email isn't going to help Dubner and Levitt here: in this crucial chapter, there's an average of one statement per page that's either flatly untrue or deeply misleading.

White House admits: We ‘control’ news media  —  Communications chief offers shocking confession to foreign government  —  TEL AVIV - President Obama's presidential campaign focused on “making” the news media cover certain issues while rarely communicating anything to the press unless it was …

Foreclosures Force Ex-Homeowners to Turn to Shelters  —  CLEVELAND — The first night after she surrendered her house to foreclosure, Sheri West endured the darkness in her Hyundai sedan.  She parked in her old driveway, with her flower-print dresses and hats piled in boxes on the back seat …

Colorado insurers say health care bill would lead to “system collapse”  —  Executives, who critics say are using scare tactics, contend proposed penalties for opting out are too low.  —  Colorado insurance executives, cautious supporters of health care reform throughout the past year …

The GOP's Rangel dilemma  —  Convinced that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is on the ropes because of a tangle of ethical issues, House GOP leaders are debating whether to aggressively press for his removal as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee or try to drag out the controversy as long as possible for maximum political advantage.

Lawmakers Battle on Census Question  —  WASHINGTON — A measure gaining traction in Congress would require the 2010 Census to include a question about citizenship, a change that would cost millions of dollars and possibly derail a full count.  —  Two Republican senators …

Israel, the U.S. and the Goldstone Report  —  Joining the U.N. Human Rights Council was a mistake Obama should correct.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The U.N.'s Human Rights Council (HRC) voted overwhelmingly on Friday to endorse the recommendations of the lopsidedly anti-Israel Goldstone Report.

Cash for Clubbers  —  Congress's fabulous golf cart stimulus.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  We thought cash for clunkers was the ultimate waste of taxpayer money, but as usual we were too optimistic.  Thanks to the federal tax credit to buy high-mileage cars that was part …