Howard Dean: “Kill The Senate Bill”  —  In a blow to the bill grinding through the Senate, Howard Dean bluntly called for the bill to be killed in a pre-recorded interview set to air later this afternoon, denouncing it as “the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate,” the reporter who conducted the interview tells me.

Pssst.  This Isn't Over.  (Updated)  —  Via Politico, here's what Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson said as he left a White House meeting with the rest of the Democratic caucus a little while ago:  —  I'm not on the bill.  I have spoken with the president and he knows they are not wrapped up today.

Double Punch of Economy, Health Care Sends Obama to New Lows in Approval  —  ABC News/Washington Post Poll: President Obama's Approval Ratings Keep Sliding  —  A double punch of persistent economic discontent and growing skepticism on health care reform has knocked Barack Obama's key approval ratings …

U.S. gave up billions in tax money in deal for Citigroup's bailout repayment  —  Deal made to recover bailout Firms exempted from rule when U.S. sells its stake  —  The federal government quietly agreed to forgo billions of dollars in potential tax payments from Citigroup as part …

Spiteful Joe  —  I don't think it is betraying any confidences to divulge that I received an email from Atrios about ten days ago or so where he suggested that we really ought not to show any enthusiasm for the Medicare Buy-In plan lest Joe Lieberman decide that he's against it.

It's Official!  Media Matters Morphs Into One-Stop Fisting Information Clearinghouse  —  It's official...  MEDIA MATTERS: ALL THINGS FISTING  —  The Soros-linked far left website is now your premier stop for defending fisting and dental dam indoctrination of children.

An Odd Post-Crash Couple  —  Spurning Obama, McCain and Cantwell propose resurrecting Glass-Steagall to break up Wall Street. … John McCain lost the 2008 presidential election because of the financial crisis—at least that's what his chief strategist, Steve Schmidt, suggested.

Oral Roberts, Fiery Preacher With Vast Empire, Dies at 91  —  Oral Roberts, the Pentecostal evangelist whose televised faith-healing ministry attracted millions of followers worldwide and made him one of the most recognizable and controversial religious leaders of the 20th century, died Tuesday in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 91.

D.C. Council approves bill legalizing gay marriage  —  Bill heads to Fenty's desk, still must survive congressional review period  —  The D.C. Council gave final approval Tuesday to a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, setting off a wave of excitement in the gay community even as opponents vow to continue the fight on Capitol Hill.

Pranksters Make Short Work of GOP's URL Shortener for Conservatives  —  The Republican National Committee's GOP.am home page was offline Tuesday morning, and several URLs entered into the system by pranksters have been blocked.  —  Revised and expanded at 12:50 ET, with comment from Political Media president Larry Ward.

Obama administration to buy Illinois prison for Guantanamo detainees  —  CHICAGO — President Obama, determined to change U.S. detention policy and shut the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, pointed Tuesday to a small town in Illinois as a big part of the answer.

Check from Palin in the mail?  —  Sarah Palin not only annoyed leaders of the Utah Republican Party when she didn't have time for them during her book signing stop in Salt Lake City last week.  She also took off from her hotel after arranging for a last-minute hair appointment without paying …

Time for another blogger bailout  —  I apologize for this, but I need to do some serious begging here.  The car's making noises like it can't decide which of three potential problems it wants to develop and my settle on all three.  The laptop desperately needs an upgrade and a new power cord.

Democrats Put Off Some Difficult Issues Until 2010  —  WASHINGTON — Faced with a shortage of time and an abundance of disagreement, Congressional Democrats are pushing fights over an increase in the federal debt limit and several other tough issues into 2010.