What we're seeing in Massachusetts  —  Because of the heavy interest we'll try to get our Massachusetts numbers out over the weekend.  But because we've already conducted most of the interviews for it here are some of the major storylines we're seeing:  —At this point a plurality …

Rudy Giuliani Wrong in Saying ‘No Domestic Attacks Under Bush’  —  President Obama yesterday took personal responsibility for failures in the Christmas day terror plot, but Rudy Giuliani still isn't convinced.  —  I spoke to the former mayor of New York City this morning on GMA …

Steele comments have GOP aides pleading, ‘Get him to stop’  —  Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele, under fire this week for a string of controversial statements he has made while promoting his new book, has so angered the party's congressional leaders that their aides …

Gruber responds: ‘Completely consistent’  —  One of the key voices for Congressional health care legislation, MIT economist Jon Gruber, is taking fire from the precincts of the left that oppose the Senate plan over the fact that he is on contract with Department of Health and Human Services.

Senate Democrats look at infrastructure and ‘caulkers’ in jobs bill  —  Senate Democrats are crafting a job creation bill that would boost funding for small businesses, public services, infrastructure projects and energy efficiency programs.  —  An aide to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin …

Carville: Airport scanners can ‘measure my penis’  —  The debate over full body security scans just got a lot more graphic, thanks to Democratic political strategist and frequent flyer James Carville.  —  Speaking on The Tony Kornheiser Show Friday, Carville laid out, or unzipped, his vision for airport security.

Ford Says He Won't Be ‘Bullied’  —  Under assault from allies of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former congressman Harold E. Ford Jr. fired back on Friday afternoon, saying he would be not be “bullied or intimidated” by “party bosses” as he considers challenging her in this fall's Democratic primary.

British woman ‘arrested in Dubai after being raped’  —  A 23-year-old British woman on holiday in Dubai told police she had been raped, only to be arrested herself for having illegal sexual intercourse.  —  The woman, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, was celebrating her engagement …

Memo to Palin: Get Over Yourself  —  Okay, now that I have ensured that I will receive lots of hateful comments.... Sarah Palin's decision not to attend CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference) is ridiculously petty.  I will grant that CPAC should not have let the Birchers be minor sponsors.

White House: Geithner ‘not involved’ in latest AIG flap  —  The White House claimed Friday that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner did not play a role in alleged improper actions government officials took in the bailout of insurance giant American Insurance Group.

The Risk of Catastrophic Victory  —  Obama is in the midst of one.  Can the GOP avert one of their own?  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Passage of the health-care bill will be, for the administration, a catastrophic victory.  If it is voted through in time for the State of the Union Address …

A blogger's parting with the right  —  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times / January 7, 2009)  —  Charles Johnson's Little Green Footballs website once was devoted to writing about the ‘Loony Left.’ Now he prefers to focus on his liberal social views and disagreeing conservatives.

Loud Protests on NPR's ‘Tea Party’ Cartoon  —  For nearly two months, the animated political cartoon sat on npr.org virtually unnoticed.  And then someone discovered it, was disgusted and launched it into the blogosphere — making it a raucous rallying point for conservatives.

The Secret History of Kubrick, the Blog Theme That Changed the Internet  —  Kubrick, the template that launched millions of beautiful blogs and helped transform the Internet, is expected to be retired mid-year as the default theme for the popular WordPress blogging platform.

Cheney group recalls ‘24’  —  Liz Cheney's group, Keep America Safe, is out with a new video that casts President Obama's response to the Christmas Day terror attempt as a parody of the television show “24.”  —  The video uses unflattering moments from the administration's response …

Craig James eyeing politics, not ruling out U.S. Senate run  —  DALLAS Former SMU football star and ESPN Analyst Craig James has made news recently regarding his role with his son and former Texas Tech Football Coach Mike Leach.  But James could be making news this year in politics, too.

Democrats Trapped In A Vicious Circle  —  FROM RETIREMENTS TO PARTY DEFECTIONS, THE BAD NEWS FOR 2010 KEEPS COMING.  —  In the world of economics, a virtuous circle is created when a series of positive events triggers a self-perpetuating pattern of other good occurrences — a positive feedback loop, in other words.