Obama Seeks Freeze on Many Domestic Programs  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will call for a three-year freeze in spending on many domestic programs, and for increases no greater than inflation after that, an initiative intended to signal his seriousness about cutting the budget deficit, administration officials said Monday.

Exclusive: Obama Would ‘Rather Be Really Good One-Term President’  —  Obama Tells Diane Sawyer That Health Care Bill Had Political Cost  —  President Obama, buffeted by criticism of his massive health care reform bill and election setbacks, said today he remained determined to tackle health care …

Berry: Obama said “big difference” between '10 and '94 is “me”  —  Rep. Marion Berry's parting shot, published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette [no link, subscription only] offers a warning to moderate Democrats and border state moderates — warning of a midterm bloodbath comparable to the 54-seat D-to-R swing in 1994.

Could Democrats Lose The Senate?  —  The decision by Beau Biden not to run for Senate brings to mind an historical parallel.  With no Biden in the race, with no Ted Kaufman serving another term, the Democratic candidate is likely to be New Castle County executive Chris Coons.

Too Dumb to Thrive  —  Absolutely amazing poll results from CNN today about the $787 stimulus package: nearly three out of four Americans think the money has been wasted.  On second thought, they may be right: it's been wasted on them.  Indeed, the largest single item in the package …

Somerset authorities seize grenade launcher, weapons cache from Virginia man at motel … BRANCHBURG — Somerset County investigators seized a cache of weapons including a grenade launcher and hundreds of rounds of ammunition today from the Branchburg motel room of a Virginia man …

Public's Priorities for 2010: Economy, Jobs, Terrorism  —  Energy Concerns Fall, Deficit Concerns Rise  —  As Barack Obama begins his second year in office, the public's priorities for the president and Congress remain much as they were one year ago.  Strengthening the nation's economy …

Tim Geithner Says to Leave Your Money at Big Banks  —  But he's not sure why.  During an interview with Mike Allen of Politico, Tim Geithner said that the Move Your Money campaign is a bad idea, but didn't actually give a reason why.  Here's the whole segment of the interview (beginning around the 3:30 mark):

Bush Pentagon Hired Conspiracy Theorist As Al Qaeda Specialist  —  When the Pentagon's internal think tank decided in 2004 it needed a better understanding of Al Qaeda, it turned to an unlikely source: the terrorism analyst Laurie Mylroie, who was known as the chief purveyor of the discredited idea …

Dem: Senate thinks it's ‘House of Lords’  —  The third-ranking House Democrat said the Senate thinks of itself as “a House of Lords” that is out of touch with voters.  —  Majority Whip James Clyburn's (D-S.C.) remarks are one of the most significant public shots taken at the Senate …

Oscar Goodman decides not to run for governor  —  Las Vegas Mayor makes announcement at press conference at City Hall  —  Mayor Oscar Goodman laughs as he gives back microphones to television news reporters.  Goodman announced he will not be running for governor of Nevada during …

South Carolina Republican regrets ‘stray animal’ metaphor  —  (CNN) - South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, under fire for drawing a comparison between needy people and “stray animals,” said Monday that he regrets his choice of words.  —  In a phone interview with CNN, Bauer …

Obama: I'd rather be a really awesome one-term president than a mediocre two-termer  —  An irresistible soundbite from today's sitdown with Sawyer.  Keep doing what you're doing, champ.  You're right on track.  —  He's right, though, about how stupid the shifting narratives are concerning his Spock-like demeanor.

Of Fate and Fumbles  —  It has not been a good year for Obama, or for the progressive agenda.  But why?  Ignore all the pontificating about how Obama needed to focus differently, seek bipartisanship with people who have no interest in making a deal, etc.. The primary factor in Obama's troubles is …

Obama in Free Fall — By: Victor Davis Hanson  —  A year ago, a number of “moderate” Republicans and Democratic stalwarts, in the gush of the inauguration, warned us of new Democratic majorities for years to come.  A new race/class/gender dynamic would doom conservatives and their-old-white-guy party …

Tea Party Disputes Take Toll on Convention  —  A Tea Party convention billed as the coming together of the grass-roots groups that began sprouting up around the country a year ago is unraveling as sponsors and participants pull out to protest its expense and express concerns about “profiteering.”

Obama Administration Steers Lucrative No-Bid Contract for Afghan Work to Dem Donor  —  The Obama administration this month awarded a $25 million federal contract for work in Afghanistan to a company owned by a prominent Democratic campaign contributor without entertaining competitive bids, Fox News has learned.

Ford Targets Gillibrand, But Takes On Schumer (Updated)  —  Harold Ford Jr. today took the fight to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand - and her political mentor, Sen. Chuck Schumer - in the junior senator's own backyard, slamming his two fellow Democrats for failing to be sufficiently independent and put New Yorkers' needs first.

Why I Still Think Health Care Won't Pass  —  There's something of a revival of hopes this week among the progressive commentariat.  Perhaps this isn't so bad, they are telling themselves, and me.  —  Here's why I think it isn't going to happen:  —  Health care's popularity drops any time Congress discusses it.