Breaking: Reid Signals Support For Reconciliation Vote On Public Option  —  In another surprising step forward for the public option, Senator Harry Reid's office says that if a final decision is made to pass health reform via reconciliation, the Majority Leader would support holding a reconciliation vote on the public option.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg is diagnosed with cancer … U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey's 86-year-old senior senator, was diagnosed with treatable stomach cancer in the last 24 hours and will begin chemotherapy today.  —  The Democrat still plans to finish out his current term …

Pawlenty compares administration to Tiger Woods, voters to scorned wife  —  Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) on Friday told voters to follow the lead of Tiger Woods' wife Elin Nordegren and “take a nine-iron and smash the window out of big government.”  —  Pawlenty, who is considered …

Is the next GOP presidential candidate a CPAC speaker?  —  There's no question that the next GOP presidential nominee will have spoken at this year's CPAC conference, a top Republican lawmaker said Friday.  —  Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Oversight …

A Sensible Response to Terrorism  —  As you probably know, a white guy entranced by an extremely version of Tea Party-style right-populist paranoia deliberately crashed an airplane into an IRS building in Texas yesterday.  I'm not especially interested in debating semantics …

Krugman Don't Know Health Insurance  —  When I debated Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman on health care reform, I asked him if he was familiar with the work of University of Pennsylvania economist Mark Pauly.  Pauly is a leader in the economics of health insurance.

John Ashcroft: Civilian Trials For Terrorists Have ‘Use And Utility’  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  In an acknowledgment that throws a wrench in Republican talking points, former Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Friday that the criminal justice system does, indeed, have a role to play in trying terrorist suspects.

Bachmann: Obama ‘intending to fail’  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) urged conservatives on Friday to fight to prevent an American “decline” created by the policies of President Barack Obama.  —  In a long and meandering speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference evoking …

F.B.I., Laying Out Evidence, Closes Anthrax Letters Case  —  WASHINGTON — More than eight years after anthrax-laced letters killed five people and terrorized the country, the F.B.I. finally closed its investigation of the matter on Friday.  The bureau released a 92-page report adding eerie …

Rapper Sky Blu says Mitt Romney used ‘Vulcan grip’ on him in plane fiasco  —  Sky Blu, singer of the band LMFAO, says Mitt Romney had him in a ‘Vulcan grip’ while aboard an airplane Monday night in Vancouver.  —  Mitt Romney used a “Vulcan grip” on rapper Sky Blu?  —  Wow.

Holder admits nine Obama Dept. of Justice officials worked for terrorist detainees, offers no details  —  Attorney General Eric Holder says nine Obama appointees in the Justice Department have represented or advocated for terrorist detainees before joining the Justice Department.

Profit-Seeking Palin Reportedly Rips CPAC As A Profiteering Convention  —  One leading Republican who is conspicuously absent from this year's CPAC is Fox News pundit Sarah Palin.  A source told Politico that Palin declined the invitation because she “does not want to be affiliated” …

Frustrated Owner Bulldozes Home Ahead Of Foreclosure  —  Man Says Actions Intended To Send Message To Banks  —  MOSCOW, Ohio — Like many people, Terry Hoskins has had troubles with his bank.  But his solution to foreclosure might be unique.  —  Hoskins said he's been in a struggle …

India row over Jesus beer image  —  The government in the Indian state of Meghalaya has confiscated textbooks showing pictures of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a can of beer.  —  The book has been used for primary classes and has caused a furore in the north-eastern state, where more than 70% of the population are Christians.

Ellsworth to run for Indiana Senate  —  Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth announced today that he will seek the seat being vacated by Sen. Evan Bayh.  —  “After many conversations with Hoosiers this week, and with the love and support of my family, I have decided to run for the U.S. Senate,” Ellsworth said in a statement.

IOWA POLL RESULTS - FEBRUARY 2010  —  The Research 2000 Iowa Poll was conducted from February 15 through February 17, 2010.  A total of 600 likely voters who vote regularly in state elections were interviewed statewide by telephone.  —  Those interviewed were selected by the random variation …

Gays, gay marriage foes spar at CPAC  —  The young crowd at CPAC doesn't seem terribly interested in the issue of same-sex marriage, but there's been a bit of shadow boxing between the gay Republican group GOProud, which got a booth over objections from social conservatives …

CPAC audience boos former GOP Rep. Bob Barr for saying waterboarding is torture.  —  This afternoon, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held a debate titled “Does Security Trump Freedom?” that featured former GOP congressman and Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr …