Rep. Trent Franks: African-Americans were better off under slavery.  —  Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) — one of the most conservative member of Congress, according to a new National Journal ranking — decried the strained state of political discourse in an interview today with blogger-activist Mike Stark.

Greenwald, Weiner Talk Health Care on Morning Joe: No Reason Not to Vote on Public Option  —  I still don't think the Senate/White House bill is going anywhere, either with or without a public option, for reasons I've outlined before — though some seem to be hell-bent on forcing House Democrats to throw themselves on its funeral pyre.

White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers to step down  —  WASHINGTON—White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers told me Friday she will step down next month, after presiding over 330 events in the White House in 14 months.  —  Rogers is departing after achieving a major goal …

Pelosi Says She's Running ‘Most Ethical’ Congress Ever, But Won't Ask Rangel to Resign Chairmanship—For Now  —  (CNSNews.com) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) insisted on Friday that she is running the most ethical and honest Congress in history.  At the same time, however …

Unemployment Extension Fails in Senate  —  GOP Sen. Jim Bunning Blocks Action over Concerns About Swelling Deficit  —  (AP) The Senate failed late Thursday to extend programs for laid-off workers, jeopardizing unemployment benefits scheduled to expire over the weekend.

Hundreds of Chilldren Found in Mass Grave  —  A number of Kurdish coffins found in a mass grave in the South of Iraq  —  Three mass graves were discovered in the sub district of Dubiz in Kirkuk.  Announced the Kurdish daily news paper ASO on Sunday, Feb.21st.

Deaths Rising for Lack of Insurance, Study Finds  —  As members of the Obama administration and Congress met on Thursday to try to find common ground on health care, a new report warned that without comprehensive legislation, more than 275,000 adults nationwide will die over the next decade because of a lack of health insurance.

Ben Nelson: Dems may have to abandon comprehensive health bill, go step-by-step  —  Democrats may have to abandon their effort for comprehensive healthcare legislation in favor of a piecemeal approach, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Friday.  —  Nelson, a centrist Democrat whose vote is critical …

Pawlenty: Let ER's turn away patients to cut costs  —  I missed this the other night but Phoenix Woman over at FDL didn't.  Isn't this special?  Governor Gutshot to Impoverished ER Patients: Get the Hell out!: … From The Hill — Pawlenty: Let ER's turn away patients to cut costs:

Hezbollah chief meets Ahmadinejad  —  Hassan Nasrallah (far right) has made few public appearances since 2006  —  The head of the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has made a rare public appearance in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

WEATHER: HOTTEST JANUARY EVER SAY CLIMATE EXPERTS  —  CLIMATE scientists yesterday stunned Britons suffering the coldest winter for 30 years by claiming last month was the ­hottest January the world has ever seen.  —  The remarkable claim, based on global satellite data …

In Praise Of Inefficiency: A Manifesto  —  Huzzahs could be heard across the country this week when Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jerald Bagley ruled that Florida law doesn't allow cities to use red-light cameras.  The case involved the city of Aventura, but it has other Florida cities wondering whether their traffic cameras are legal.

Coffee Party activists say their civic brew's a tastier choice than Tea Party's  —  Furious at the tempest over the Tea Party — the scattershot citizen uprising against big government and wild spending — Annabel Park did what any American does when she feels her voice has been drowned out …

Obama aides to meet with atheists on White House grounds  —  WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has burnished his Christian credentials, courted Jewish support and preached outreach toward Muslims.  On Friday, his administration will host a group that fits none of the above: America's nonbelievers.