Waiting for Barack  —  Every Hill office I've spoken to in the past week has had the same complaint.  “Where,” they ask, “is the White House?”  —  There's been no clear message on the way forward for health-care reform.  No clear articulation of preferences.  No public leadership to speak of.

In Speech, Obama to Admit Missteps in First Year  —  WASHINGTON — For all the questions circulating in Democratic quarters as President Obama tries to weather the worst storm of his administration, perhaps none is as succinct as this: Are the missteps at the White House rooted in message or substance?

Senate Aides To House Dems: Back Off  —  Okay, I've got a bit more for you on what's going on in discussions between the Senate and House on how to proceed with health care, and it helps explain the hold-up.  —  The latest: Senior Senate aides say they've hit an impasse …

Pelosi floats two-track health reform  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday floated the idea of a two-track plan for health care reform — with Congress pursuing easier-to-pass incremental changes now and comprehensive reform later.  —  “We believe that it's possible …

Oregon's Rich Tax is Not a Victory for Liberals  —  Yesterday, Oregon voters ratified two tax increases, one on high earners, and another a revision of the state's corporate income tax.  This is their strategy for plugging an enormous budget gap, like the ones that have opened up in state budgets around the country.

Louisiana ‘Watergate:’ Glenn Beck is out  —  James O'Keefe has lost Glenn Beck.  —  O'Keefe, the young video warrior who surreptitiously taped employees of ACORN offering advice to him, dressed as a pimp, and his friend, dressed as a prostitute, had the backing of FOX News Channel's Beck all the way.