‘DROPPING LIKE FLIES’?.... Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) is retiring.  So is Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).  And before anyone could catch their breath, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) announced he's not seeking re-election, either.  —  It led ABC News to report that “Democrats are dropping like flies.”

“Sick” Of The Israelis And The Palestinians  —  Ben Rhodes has denied that Rahm said this to the Israelis.  Well, it sure sounds like Rahm.  —  More to the point, who wouldn't be sick of the Israelis and the Palestinians at this point?  —  I too am sick of the Israelis for their contempt …

The First Senator From the Tea Party?  —  Charlie Crist's perma-tanned face bears none of the strain you would expect from the archetype of the embattled Republican.  Politicians are supposed to keep up appearances, but Crist is especially convincing, one of the more earnest politicians you will see, whether or not he means it.

White House budget director ditched pregnant girlfriend for ABC News gal  —  President Obama's budget guru has a secret love child — with the woman he jilted for his hot new fiance, The Post has learned.  —  White House budget director Peter Orszag's ex, shipping heiress Claire Milonas …

The C-SPAN Lie?  See Eight Clips of Obama Promising Televised Healthcare Negotiations  —  “One of my jobs as President will be to guide this process...”

An opening for Arnold?  —  Here's the best rumor I've heard today, inspired in part by the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger has, of late, been saying nice things about the president at every turn and by the announcement that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is retiring.

Election 2010: Arkansas Senate Race  —  2010 Arkansas Senate Race Still A Referendum on Lincoln  —  As 2010 begins, the numbers for Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln are pretty much the same as last year's while she prepares to face Arkansas voters in November.

Nelson: We should have waited on health care  —  Sen. Ben Nelson said Tuesday it was a mistake for the Obama Administration to take on massive health care reforms in 2009, and suggested efforts would have been better spent addressing the economy.  —  Nelson, who provided the crucial 60th vote …

‘You Are a Bad, Bad, Bad Journalist’  —  I couldn't believe I was having this conversation.  It felt like a scene from a movie that conveniently ties plot points together when two critical characters in the storyline share a moment of implausible significance - where the intrepid reporter finally runs his target to ground.

Obama ‘Frustrated’ By ‘Slow’ Confirmation For Nominees, Expected To Re-Nominate  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  President Obama is increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of confirmation for his judicial and executive appointees, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Exclusive: Air Marshal Surge in ‘Race Against Time’  —  U.S. Fears More Airplane Bombers Are in the Terrorist Pipeline.  —  President Barack Obama has ordered a “surge” of federal air marshals to be in place by Feb.1 in what officials said was a “race against time,” with other suicide bombers believed …

Arnold blasts health care bill: ‘Trough of bribes, deals and loopholes’  —  So scratch that thing about cozying up to the White House.  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in California's perpetual budget hell, blasted the elements of health care legislation that impose new burdens on the states in his State of the State speech today:

Ford Jr. weighs longshot bid for NY-Senate  —  Former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. is weighing the possibility of challenging appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand later this year, a longshot candidacy for the one-time rising star in Democratic politics.  —  Ford, according to a report …

Without a movement, progressives can't aid Obama's agenda  —  Every Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson — Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — has raised the hope that he would bring with him a new era of progressive reform.  The legislative torrents of the New Deal and the Great Society …

Top 20 Democrats Who Could Lose Their Seats over Health Care Vote  —  Embattled Democratic Rep. Vic Snyder (AR-02)  —  I've been going over the list of Republican challengers, to try and figure out which present the most serious threats to those who voted “yes” on the health care bill the first time it went through the House.

Worst RNC cash flow in a decade  —  A 2009 spending spree has left the Republican National Committee (RNC) with its worst election-year cash flow this decade.  —  A 2009 spending spree has left the Republican National Committee (RNC) with its worst election-year cash flow this decade.

Watch Out for GOP Populism  —  Rep. Paul Ryan an enemy of business?  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  It's easy to underestimate conservatism's chances in these dark days.  Over the last year, the Republican Party has appeared to be either a gang of obstructionists or a confused relic …

‘Frozen Gore’ sculpture returns in Fairbanks to fuel climate change debate  —  FAIRBANKS - In what might become an annual tradition, an ice sculpture of former Vice President Al Gore has taken its place in front of Thrifty Liquor along Airport Way.  —  The two-ton “Frozen Gore” sculpture isn't exactly a tribute.

14 terror suspects mistakenly kill themselves  —  Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Fourteen suspected terrorists died Tuesday night when the bus they rigged with explosives blew up prematurely, police said.  —  The explosion occurred as the suspects were riding the bus in the province of Kunduz, said police chief Abdul Raziq Yaqobi.

Banks take revenge for new consumer rules  —  They're introducing all sorts of new fees and changes as laws take effect that are designed to make financial heavyweights friendlier to customers.  —  Happy new year.  Now pay up.  —  That's the message from our friends in the banking industry …

DHS Comments On Yon Post (?!?)  —  Well, down in my short little post on Mike Yon's latest problems with the Border Bullies as he calls them, Johnnie von Bernhardi pops up to accuse Mike of lying, and me and all conservatives of flying off the handle.  Since he hasn't posted since July …

GOP Congress members wade into same-sex marriage debate  —  Thirty-nine congressional Republicans, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), have filed an amicus brief in D.C. Superior Court calling for a voter referendum on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the District.

City Says 9/11 Trials Will Cost $200 Million a Year  —  The Bloomberg administration has placed the price for security operations for the trials of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and other terrorism suspects connected to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, at more than $200 million a year …