Poll finds most Americans are unhappy with government  —  Two-thirds of Americans are “dissatisfied” or downright “angry” about the way the federal government is working, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.  On average, the public estimates that 53 cents of every tax dollar they send to Washington is “wasted.”

Obama ‘Agnostic’ on Deficit Cuts, Won't Prejudge Tax Increases  —  Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama said he is “agnostic” about raising taxes on households making less than $250,000 as part of a broad effort to rein in the budget deficit.  —  Obama, in a Feb. 9 Oval Office interview …

Iran protests: live blog  —  Protesters clashed with the security forces and a number of opposition figures were rough-up, as the regime stamped its authority on the 31st anniversary of the revolution.  Read how the day unfolded  —  8.00am:  —  The Iranian opposition has been gearing …

Joe Biden update: Iraq one of Obama's ‘great achievements’  —  Who knew?  —  Thank goodness, Vice President Joe Biden went on CNN to chat with Larry King Wednesday night.  So many think things are not going so well for the Democrat administration, as The Ticket chronicled here.

Elizabeth Edwards Threatens Husband's Ex-Aide With Lawsuit  —  Andrew Young May Be Sued for Allegedly Contributing to Failure of Edwards' Marriage  —  Elizabeth Edwards may be preparing to sue her husband's longtime aide for allegedly contributing to the demise of her marriage.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart to retire  —  Florida Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart will call it quits today, retiring after nine terms representing a heavily Cuban-American district in the Miami area, according to a source briefed on the decision.  —  Diaz-Balart, whose younger brother, Mario …

Pelosi Makes Her Case: A Majority Is 51 Votes  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pinning the blame on Republicans for a lack of bipartisanship in Congress and plans to bypass them if they continue to oppose efforts to enact near-universal health care.

Left frets over fate of 'don't ask'  —  Congressional liberals were heartened when Barack Obama pledged to repeal “don't ask, don't tell,” but their initial elation has given way to concerns the repeal will stall in the penalty box of presidential promises: the U.S. Senate.

Poll shows Obama with slight lead over generic Republican for 2012 campaign  —  President Barack Obama holds a two point lead against a generic Republican opponent for reelection in 2012, according to the latest Gallup poll.  —  Those surveyed by Gallup picked Obama over the Republican 44 …

Obama Takes Several Gambles in Bid to Defuse Nuclear Standoff With Iran  —  WASHINGTON — As President Obama adds economic pressure and military containment to force Iran's leadership to negotiate on its nuclear program, he is taking three big bets on his ability to defuse an increasingly tense confrontation.

2 ex-employees say Blackwater billed government for prostitute  —  Two former employees of Blackwater Worldwide have accused the private security contractor of defrauding the government for years with phony billing, including charging for a prostitute, alcohol and spa trips.

A Greek crisis is coming to America  —  It began in Athens.  It is spreading to Lisbon and Madrid.  But it would be a grave mistake to assume that the sovereign debt crisis that is unfolding will remain confined to the weaker eurozone economies.  For this is more than just a Mediterranean problem with a farmyard acronym.

Food stamps  —  I can't get over the fact that one in eight Americans are on food stamps.  —  Graph credit: The New York Times.

Feds push for tracking cell phones  —  Two years ago, when the FBI was stymied by a band of armed robbers known as the “Scarecrow Bandits” that had robbed more than 20 Texas banks, it came up with a novel method of locating the thieves.  —  FBI agents obtained logs from mobile phone companies corresponding …