Harkin: Reconciliation is a go  —  Sen. Tom Harkin told POLITICO that Senate Democratic leaders have decided to go the reconciliation route.  The House, he said, will first pass the Senate bill after Senate leaders demonstrate to House leaders that they have the votes to pass reconciliation in the Senate.

Massa to retire amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer  —  Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) will not seek reelection after only one term in office.  —  According to several House aides - on both sides of the aisle - the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that Massa …

Pelosi picks fellow Californian to take gavel after Rangel bows out  —  Speaker Nancy Pelosi has picked liberal firebrand Rep. Pete Stark to replace ousted Chairman Charles Rangel on the tax-writing committee, according to a House leadership aide.  —  The decision was made during …

Palin: ‘I joined Fox’ because there's too much ‘opinion interjected in hard news’ in the mainstream media.  —  In January, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) joined paid contributer.  Last night, she appeared on Jay Leno's show and decried the state of the mainstream media as “quite broken …

GRAND JURY TO INDICT EDWARDS  —  The ultimate fall from grace, a Federal grand jury is about to indict John Edwards, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.  —  In another shocker, close sources say Edwards' estranged wife Elizabeth could help send the former presidential candidate to jail!

For It Before He Was Against It: Arcuri Will Likely Vote No On Health Care  —  Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY) voted for House health care legislation in November.  But he says he's almost certain to vote no on the Senate bill when it comes up for a vote in the House later this month, according to a report in the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

The Chief  —  You think it's so great being Rahm Emanuel?  —  One of the enduring mysteries about White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is why he took the job in the first place.  At the time he accepted it, he was the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, a position he'd attained with considerable effort.

GOP colleagues want KBH in Senate  —  In the wake of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's defeat Tuesday in the Texas gubernatorial primary, her GOP Senate colleagues intend to encourage her to remain in her seat and disregard her earlier plans to resign.  —  Hutchison stayed mum about her future as she conceded to incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.

Governor Christie: “Time to Hold Hands and Jump Off the Cliff” - Chris Christie For President?  —  In an amazingly candid appraisal of the sorry state of affairs in New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie laid it on the line in a speech to about 200 mayors at the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

Rep. McHenry Announces Legislation to Put President Reagan on the $50 Bill  —  “Every Generation Needs Its Own Heroes”  —  Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) announced new legislation today, H.R. 4705, that would redesign the face of the $50 bill to include the likeness of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan.

A Death in the Blogging Family  —  The great Jon Swift has died.  That's the “blogging” angle to a personal tragedy.  In reality, the voice of Jon Swift - the hilarious faux conservative blogger whose talent and passion were evident in every post - belonged to Al Weisel …

A Word From the Wise  —  I was traveling via Los Angeles International Airport — LAX — last week.  Walking through its faded, cramped domestic terminal, I got the feeling of a place that once thought of itself as modern but has had one too many face-lifts and simply can't hide the wrinkles anymore.

Fee to Overthrow the Government: Five Dollars  —  Posted by Brian Montopoli Leave Comment - Share - - - Share - E-mail - Print - Font Since 1951, South Carolina has had a law on its books requiring anyone looking to overthrow the government to, well, register with the government.

For Tuesday I Walk to the Village  —  Yesterday was election day in Texas, and I voted.  And I voted.  And then I voted some more.  If my count was correct, I voted fifty-two times.  I voted for Governor, and I voted for U.S. House and Texas House and Texas Senate...OK …

The Texas Taliban  —  There's been talk lately in Texas about seceding from the US.  Even Republican Governor Rick Perry has broadly hinted that Texas should exercise its “tenth amendment” rights.  —  Well, here's a website that makes me think it might be a good idea to let them do it: Repent Amarillo.

Did Republicans use reconciliation for significantly bipartisan bills?  —  Among the odder arguments Republicans are making against the reconciliation process is that the process should only be used for bipartisan bills, and since they refuse to vote for health-care reform, Democrats can't give their package of fixes an up-or-down vote.

Michael Moore: 'Democrats are a bunch of wusses...It's disgusting... I'm sick of them'  —  America's top documentary filmmaker talks “Capitalism,” politics and Oscars with Raw Story  —  Just over a year ago, Michael Moore vigorously campaigned for President Obama and the Democratic Party.

Argentina celebrates diplomatic coup as Hillary Clinton calls for talks over Falklands  —  Giles Whittell, Hannah Strange, Catherine Philp and Martin Fletcher in Stanley  —  Argentina was celebrating a diplomatic coup yesterday in its attempt to force Britain to accept talks on the future …

Gay Marriage Is Now Legal in Washington  —  WASHINGTON — It was cold and drizzling outside the City Courthouse just after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, but no one seemed to mind among the same-sex couples waiting excitedly for the chance to apply for a marriage license.

Dem will push for public option in separate bill if not included in existing package  —  If a public health insurance option is not added to existing healthcare reform legislation, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said Wednesday that he would push for one using a separate bill.