Massa to retire amid allegations he sexually harassed a male staffer  —  First-term Rep. Eric Massa announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election, saying his doctors have told him that he can't continue to “run at 100 miles an hour.”  —  But several House aides told POLITICO …

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.

Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on ‘fear’  —  The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to “save the country from trending toward socialism.”

Key House liberal may vote against healthcare bill  —  Rep. Raúl Grijalva, co-chairman of a progressive caucus, says he's “leaning toward” opposing the legislation  —  WASHINGTON — An influential House progressive says he's less likely to vote for the final healthcare reform bill …

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 …

Exclusive: Unknown DOJ Lawyers Identified  —  A day after a conservative group released a video condemning the Justice Department for refusing to identify seven lawyers who previously represented or advocated for terror suspects, Fox News has uncovered the identities of the seven lawyers.

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!

With Leno, Palin Pushes Back Against ‘Family Guy’  —  In an interview Tuesday night on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” Sarah Palin once again criticized “Family Guy,” the Fox animated series, for a joke she believed was directed at her family, and rebuked the news media for not giving …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Paterson Broke Ethics Law on Receiving Gifts, Panel Charges  —  The state Commission on Public Integrity charged Gov. David A. Paterson on Wednesday with violating state ethics laws when he secured free tickets to the opening game of the World Series from the Yankees last fall for himself and others.

Michael Foot ... above all else a lovely man  —  The tributes will focus on Michael Foot the politician, the minister, the leader, the wonderful orator.  —  They will highlight too his journalism and his writing, and the great causes he supported.  —  I hope that what also comes through …

Toyota's fix is a bust, owners claim  —  New complaints allege sudden acceleration and other problems after recall work.  —  Erick Garcia inspects his work at Toyota of Hollywood while perfecting the fix for shortening the gas pedal of recalled Toyota vehicles.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times / February 3, 2010)

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.

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.

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.

Dobbs, Beck, Palin, Bachmann Share Blame For Rise in Right-Wing Extremism, Says Activist Group  —  Southern Poverty Law Center Cites Violent Incidents; Lou Dobbs Calls SPLC Director ‘Paranoid’  —  Anti-government sentiments in the U.S. have reached levels so high they could result …

FIRED-UP PRESIDENT DEMANDS ‘UP-OR-DOWN VOTE’ ON HEALTH CARE.... Watching President Obama's speech this afternoon on the way forward on health care reform, I noticed something I haven't seen from the always-cool chief executive in a while: real passion.  —  It was unmistakable …

Blizzard of bad jobs news to hit Friday  —  The White House is bracing for an ugly unemployment report on Friday that is expected to be worse because of the three winter storms that hit the East Coast last month.  —  Goldman Sachs predicted the economy will lose as many as 100,000 jobs …