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 …

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.

Obama to Offer Aid for Families in State of the Union Address  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will propose in his State of the Union address a package of modest initiatives intended to help middle-class families, including tax credits for child care, caps on some student loan payments …

Sources: John Edwards Has a Sex Tape  —  Sources have told us that, in the throes of their affair, John Edwards and Rielle Hunter made a sex tape that contains “several sex acts.”  And that his aide, Andrew Young found it on an unmarked DVD.  —  The tape, say both our sources …

Why did Beau Biden really drop out?  ; Update: Cook Political Report classifies DE-Sen. race “Solid Republican”  —  Daddy has been grooming Beau Biden for the Senate from time immemorial.  —  To smooth his son's path, Joe Biden installed his old crony aide, Edward Kaufman …

Updated Bernanke whip count  —  Democratic leaders have whipped at least 30 votes in support of Chairman Ben Bernanke's return for a second term at the Federal Reserve Board, while 13 lawmakers remain opposed, according to The Hill's latest whip count.  —  Additionally, two lawmakers …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Dem Aides: House Members Can Still Be Persuaded To Pass Senate Bill With Fix  —  Hey all, here's something that could lend a bit of comfort to those still hoping the House will pass the Senate bill.  —  Senior aides on both sides tell me that despite Nancy Pelosi's claim that she doesn't have the votes …

RNC ‘census’ mailer draws fire  —  Officials of both parties are sharply criticizing a fundraising mailing from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele they say could be confused with official correspondence regarding this year's census.  —  The fundraising letter comes in the form of a …

HEALTH CARE REFORM WON'T SAVE ME.  —  I'm asking for your help.  —  For several years I've, finally, been in the process of applying for Social Security Disability, something I desperately needed to do decades earlier, but wrongheadedly struggled to avoid as my life spiraled into hell.

Obama's Approval Most Polarized for First-Year President  —  Shows much greater party differences than approval for any prior first-year president  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The 65 percentage-point gap between Democrats' (88%) and Republicans' (23%) average job approval ratings for Barack Obama …

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 …

Project for a Healthy American Future  —  The way forward on health care reform in 2010  —  About 16 years ago, William Kristol crafted a lengthy strategy memo for congressional Republicans, advising them on how best to deal with then-President Clinton's health care reform initiative.

Steve Jobs delivers the annual presidential address.  —  Read all of Slate's coverage on the expected announcement of Apple's tablet computer. … —New York Times, Jan. 18, 2010 … Thank you for coming.  And thank you to President Obama for asking me to deliver this year's speech.

Dems' Bush-bashing goes bust  —  After three consecutive losses in statewide races, some top Democrats are questioning a tactic aimed at boosting the party's candidates in each of those contests: Bush-bashing.  —  Running as much against the Bush White House as he was running against Sen. John McCain …

Big Babyism  —  Listen to an enraged Independent: … If this is the basis for revolt, what can one say?  —  If Obama and Bush had refused to bail out the banks, does this small business owner believe she'd be in business at all?  Is she demanding - in a conservative outlet …

How I'd Create a New ‘Contract With America’  —  Dear Fellow Americans:  —  During the past few months, a number of people have asked me about the possibility of a new Contract with America for the 2010 elections.  They remember the clarity, the positive focus, and the election results of the 1994 contract.

Terror alert: Two men on ‘no-fly’ list stopped at Heathrow  —  Two men were stopped boarding US-bound planes at Heathrow days before Britain's terror threat was raised to “severe”.  —  News of the incidents came hours after Home Secretary Alan Johnson lifted the threat level amid fears that al-Qaeda is planning an attack.