IN Dem Misses The Deadline  —  Restaurant owner Tamyra d'Ippolito (D) has enough signatures to make the ballot in the race to replace Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), she told Hotline OnCall in a brief interview, but an official in a key district says she has failed to reach the threshold.

Secret Joint Raid Captures Taliban's Top Commander  —  WASHINGTON — The Taliban's top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials.

Tea Party Lights Fuse for Rebellion on Right  —  SANDPOINT, Idaho — Pam Stout has not always lived in fear of her government.  She remembers her years working in federal housing programs, watching government lift struggling families with job training and education.

WOULD THE WHITE HOUSE PRESENT ITS OWN BILL?.... Last summer, the White House explicitly said that when it came to health care reform, it would gladly allow Congress to write the legislation itself.  President Obama would establish the vision and lay out the principles, but let lawmakers do what lawmakers do.

Sens. seek Obama boost on campaign trail  —  GOP hopes to see him on stump  —  President Obama kicks off what might be called his “Save the Senate” tour this week, heading west to campaign for two embattled Democrats trailing badly against Republican challengers - including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Democrats Accused of “Empty Words” on Immigration  —  There's a very strong editorial today in La Opinion on the issue of immigration reform.  Translated, the title reads, “No More Empty Words.”  It lays responsibility for any inaction on immigration this Congress squarely at the feet of Democrats.

What's the Deal?  —  One of the most intriguing news stories of the past week is the murder of Hamas terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.  The team that carried out the assassination allegedly included eleven members, ten men and a woman.  They were evidently traveling on fake passports …

Election 2010: California Governor  —  California Governor: Brown 43%, Whitman 43%  —  Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman now runs dead even with likely Democratic nominee Jerry Brown in California's gubernatorial contest.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely California …

Oh, Canada for HRC if Pres. Palin?  —  From NBC's Courtney KubeSecretary of State Hillary Clinton could not escape U.S. politics during her trip to Saudi Arabia.  Early this morning during a town hall meeting with students at Dar Al Hekma College, a student asked Clinton if she thinks Sarah Palin …

Most Americans think Congress should start over on healthcare reform, poll says  —  In a brutal assessment of the Democratically authored healthcare reform bills pending in Congress and the party's approach to healthcare, more than half of the respondents to a new Zogby International-University …

In Bid to Revive Nuclear Power, U.S. Is Backing New Reactors  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama told an enthusiastic audience of union officials on Tuesday that the Energy Department had approved a loan guarantee intended to underwrite construction of two nuclear reactors in Georgia, with taxpayers picking up much of the financial risk.

Milbank writing Beck book: ‘Tears of a Clown’  —  Dana Milbank recently wrote how a Fox News star has really “captured the moment,” before posing the question: “Is Glenn Beck America?”  —  Milbank, who only had about 750 words to tackle that question in his Washington Post column …

Lake Erie Frozen over; First Time in 14 Years  —  Following a cold snap in the Northeast, Lake Erie's surface is virtually frozen over for the first time in about 14 years.  —  The ice ranges in thickness between paper thin along the northern shore and several inches along the southern shore, where many people are ice skating.

Another case of TSA overkill  —  Just when I thought I was out of the Transportation Security Administration business for a few columns, they pull me back in.  —  Did you hear about the Camden cop whose disabled son wasn't allowed to pass through airport security unless he took off his leg braces?