Obama plans combative turn  —  President Barack Obama plans a combative response if, as White House aides fear, Democrats lose Tuesday's special Senate election in Massachusetts, close advisers say.  —  “This is not a moment that causes the president or anybody who works for him to express any doubt …

Dem GOTV picking up Brown supporters  —  Stunned?  Seriously, the Dems crashed and burned by picking Obama and Pelosi to run their agenda.  —  What a grossly biased and misleading headline versus the story  —  LOL I assume they are interested in the Democratic process and giving ALL voters a ride.

After the Massachusetts special election  —  I don't know who will win today's special election in Massachusetts.  But I do know what should happen — and what can happen — after the votes are counted and the winner is seated: Democrats should pass health-care reform.

FBI broke law for years in phone record searches  —  The FBI illegally collected more than 2,000 U.S. telephone call records between 2002 and 2006 by invoking terrorism emergencies that did not exist or simply persuading phone companies to provide records, according to internal bureau memos and interviews.

Joe Scarborough Slams ‘Reckless’ Olbermann for Unhinged Personal Attacks on Scott Brown!  —  Here is what the infamous, deplorable Keith Olbermann spewed tonight (via The Right Scoop):  —  Moments later, in a rare example of criticism from his own colleagues, his diatribe was blasted by MSNBC's Joe Scarborough:

Poll: Most Don't Want Sarah Palin to Run for President  —  Posted by Kevin Hechtkopf A new CBS News poll finds that a large majority of Americans say they do not want former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to run for president.  —  Specifically, 71 percent say they do not want the former …

VIDEO: Why is this woman handing out blank absentee ballots?  —  These appear to be blank absentee ballots being handed out in Lawrence, MA.  Developing....

The Pragmatic Leviathan  —  When I was in college, I was assigned “Leviathan,” by Thomas Hobbes.  On the cover was an image from the first edition of the book, published in 1651.  It shows the British nation as a large man.  The people make up the muscles and flesh.

US accused of ‘occupying’ Haiti as troops flood in  —  France accused the US of “occupying” Haiti on Monday as thousands of American troops flooded into the country to take charge of aid efforts and security.  —  The French minister in charge of humanitarian relief called on the UN to …

Paterson Seeks $1 Billion More in Taxes and Fees  —  ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson proposed what would be the largest cut to school aid in more than two decades and nearly $1 billion in new or increased taxes and fees as he unveiled his budget on Tuesday, a plan that is sure to touch off fierce opposition in the Legislature.

Abercrombie in slight lead for governor  —  U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is slightly ahead of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the race for governor, according to a new survey of registered voters.  —  The poll taken by telephone Jan. 8-12 among 800 registered voters across the state has a margin …