Dems launch defense to save Reid  —  Democrats are preparing to throw the race card back in the laps of Republicans as part of a counter attack designed to help save Harry Reid's political career.  —  First, Reid's allies plan to distribute the NAACP vote ratings of Republican senators who have scolded him.

DNC sends senior aide to Boston  —  Hari Sevugan, the DNC's national press secretary, confirms he's headed to Boston to help with Martha Coakley's effort, a move that underscores how focused the party is on the race.  —  Sevugan's campaign and party role has been on offense …

Sarah Palin to Contribute to Fox News  —  Former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska has signed on as a contributor to the Fox News Channel.  —  The network confirmed that Ms. Palin will appear on the network's programming on a regular basis as part of a multi-year deal.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

Stacking the Deck Against Proposition 8  —  THE much-anticipated trial to determine the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 is scheduled to begin this morning in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger.  What's at stake in this case, filed in federal district court in San Francisco …

Now Harold Ford Jr. backs gay marriage  —  In what will likely be read as another sign of his interest in running against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in this year's Democratic primary, ex-Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. publicly said for the first time that he was in favor of same-sex marriage.

McCain aide: Palin believed candidacy 'God's plan'  —  WASHINGTON — Sarah Palin believed that Sen. John McCain chose her to be his running mate in 2008 because of “God's plan,” according to a top political strategist in the Arizona Republican's campaign.  —  In an interview with the CBS news magazine …

Honey, Will You Be My Game-Changer?  —  Pigeon O'Brien, leading Rielle Hunter expert, thinks the first part of the riveting Heilemann/Halperin excerpt on the Edwards Family Horrorshow story portrays Hunter too much as a stalker.  That would fit in with what seems to be the flaw …

The Most Stunning (and Uncommented on) Revelation in Too Big Too Fail  —  Although I read it two months ago, I haven't made much in the way of comments on Andrew Ross Sorkin's Too Big Too Fail, figuring the ground was well plowed by others.  However, the bit that I found the most shocking …

Learning From Europe  —  As health care reform nears the finish line, there is much wailing and rending of garments among conservatives.  And I'm not just talking about the tea partiers.  Even calmer conservatives have been issuing dire warnings that Obamacare will turn America into a European-style social democracy.

Health Care Overhaul Bill Is ‘Hanging by a Thread’: Dodd  —  Health care reform is “hanging on by a thread,” and one or two votes could determine the outcome of the heavily-debated bill, Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd told CNBC Monday.  —  “Everyone feels, I guess, to some degree who have been for this …

The mini ice age starts here  —  The bitter winter afflicting much of the Northern Hemisphere is only the start of a global trend towards cooler weather that is likely to last for 20 or 30 years, say some of the world's most eminent climate scientists.  —  Their predictions …

The Bogus Flight 253 ‘One-Way Ticket’ Meme: Anatomy Of A Myth  —  In a remarkable example of how bad information can travel far and wide, dozens of media outlets around the world have said Umar Abdulmutallab was traveling on a one-way ticket to Detroit when he allegedly tried to blow up Flight 253 …

TSA nominee in 2008: Alliances with Israel, France make us subject to terror attack  —  Erroll Southers, President Obama's nominee to head the Transportation Safety Administration, said in a 2008 web interview on terrorism that America is subject to terror attacks because of its alliances with countries like Israel and France.

The Notorious Blago  —  The former Illinois governor has a new dog (Skittles), a new source of income (Elvis impersonations) and — despite an old worry (prison) — a confounding optimism.  You have to read this.  —  From the February 2010 “People Who Matter” issue — on sale this week

CNN Poll: Majority confident Obama can handle terrorism  —  Washington (CNN) - In the wake of the Christmas day attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner, most Americans remain confident that the Obama administration can protect the country from terrorism, according to a new national poll.

No one punished under congressional ethics rules  —  WASHINGTON — Nearly three years after Congress approved sweeping ethics rules to “drain the swamp,” as incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put it, no member of Congress has been punished for wrongdoing.  —  In that time, allegations …