Rudy gearing up for DC run  —  Confident that he'd have a chance to win, Rudy Giuliani is rounding up his top political advisers for a possible 2012 presidential run, sources tell Page Six.  —  Sources say the tough-talking former mayor “thinks the Republican race will be populated …

In U.S., 46% Favor, 40% Oppose Repealing Healthcare Law  —  Three-quarters of Republicans favor repeal; 64% of Democrats oppose it  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans do not strongly endorse the new Republican House majority's efforts to repeal the landmark healthcare legislation passed last year.

Obama mouthpiece Robert Gibbs was forced out by new henchman William Daley  —  I wondered yesterday whether Robert Gibbs jumped or was pushed and noted that President Barack Obama's words indicated that it was “not an entirely voluntary departure”.  —  It's being reported by John King …

Private Sector Improves Jobs Picture Only Moderately  —  The United States economy ended the year by adding 103,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department said Friday, a number that missed expectations.  In addition, the unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent last month from 9.8 percent.

MA Supreme Court Deals Banks a Major Blow on Foreclosure Fraud, in the Ibanez Case  —  In a major ruling in the Massachusetts Supreme Court today, US Bank and Wells Fargo lost the “Ibanez case,” meaning that they don't have standing to foreclose due to improper mortgage assignment.

Levi's Vindication: The Self-Exposure Of Sarah Palin  —  As a long-standing Palin hysteric, I have to confess a mite less concern in 2011 than at any time since she has been farcically commanding the attention of the political class.  Not much has changed essentially: Palin's favorable ratings remain roughly where they have been.

EXCLUSIVE: Sonny Bono's Widow - Rep. Mary Bono - In Lurid Photo Scandal With Woman Investigated By FBI  —  Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack has been caught on camera in a lurid scandal where another woman is apparently licking her breast.  —  RadarOnline.com has exclusively obtained the photo …

Parts of the Constitution inadvertently skipped in ‘historic reading’ on floor  —  The U.S. Constitution has still never been read in its entirety and in order on the House floor.  —  During Thursday morning's “historic reading,” one member apparently skipped Article 4 Section 4 and part …

The Texas Omen  —  These are tough times for state governments.  Huge deficits loom almost everywhere, from California to New York, from New Jersey to Texas.  —  Wait — Texas?  Wasn't Texas supposed to be thriving even as the rest of America suffered?  Didn't its governor declare …

Harvard Economist Estimates Health Repeal Would Destroy Up To 400,000 Jobs Per Year Over Decade  —  Just as House Republicans gear up to repeal the “job killing” Affordable Care Act, the Department of Labor is reporting that the U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs last month, pushing the jobless rate down to a 19-month low of 9.4 percent.

White Flight  —  President Obama's path to a second term may rely on states shaped by the same social forces he embodies.  —  Right turn: Sen. Marco Rubio's supporters in Florida included many whites who voted for Obama in 2008.  —  By any standard, white voters' rejection of Democrats …

To House GOP, illegal immigration is a jobs issue  —  With Republicans now in control of the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Eric Holder and other Justice Department officials are going to be answering a lot of questions in the next two years.  “We're going to start fast,” …

House approves resolution fixing problem with missed swearing-in  —  The House has just approved H.Res. 26, which is meant to fix the problems created when two Republican members were not properly sworn in on Jan. 5.  —  The resolution was approved over Democratic objections in a 257-159 vote.

For House Members Looking to Save Money, a Day at the Office Never Ends  —  WASHINGTON — Hansen Clarke, a newly elected Democrat from Michigan, is coming to Washington with a “warrior's mentality” to help stave off unemployment and foreclosures in metro Detroit.

Bachmann for President?  'I'm Going to Iowa - There's Your Answer'  —  ABC News' Rick Klein reports: Rep. Michele Bachmann confirmed to ABC News today that she's considering a run for president in 2012 — albeit with a non-traditional sense of her own timeline for making a decision.

Investigation into death of Notorious B.I.G. heats up  —  Los Angeles (CNN) — A task force made up of local and federal law enforcement agencies is actively pursuing leads into the 1997 slaying of hip hop artist Christopher Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls or Notorious B.I.G. …