CNN Poll: Blame game in Arizona shootings  —  Washington (CNN) - Americans feel sadness, anger and shock in the wake of the tragic events in Tucson, Arizona, according to a new national poll.  A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday also indicates there's plenty of blame …

The War on Logic  —  My wife and I were thinking of going out for an inexpensive dinner tonight.  But John Boehner, the speaker of the House, says that no matter how cheap the meal may seem, it will cost thousands of dollars once you take our monthly mortgage payments into account.

Scenes From a Marriage  —  In every twisted, wretched, ruinous relationship, there are moments so grim, flare-ups so appalling, that they offer both parties a chance to step back, take inventory, and realize that it's time — far past time, in fact — to go their separate ways.

Chris Matthews Slams ‘Older White People’ for Still Having a ‘Problem’ With Obama  —  Appearing on MSNBC, Monday, to promote his new special on Barack Obama, Chris Matthews attacked “older white people” for still holding bigoted feelings against the first African American President.

Deutsch, Sharpton claim Arizona “has seceded” for not recognizing MLK Day  —  Ah, those layers of fact-checkers and editors in the mainstream media come in handy, don't they?  Thank goodness NBC imposes news standards for its cable channel; otherwise, MSNBC would just spew misinformation and smears to advance a political agenda.

A left-wing blog plays the race card  —  Last week The Post ran an article describing efforts in Wake County, N.C. to end a school desegregation plan.  The article explained that while Democratic and Republican school boards had supported different variations of school integration, parents became fed up:

Amy Chua, a Yale law professor and the woman who has quickly become the infamous “Chinese Tiger mother,” seems to be a taskmaster and a bully.  I don't know her personally, but after reading the episodes she chose to put in her book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” those are the nicest things …

Ricky Gervais Gives Hollywood a Taste of Their Own Sucker Punch-Medicine  —  Dare I say, God bless Ricky Gervais?  —  How many times have those of us in Middle America gotten all settled in for an expected evening of relaxing entertainment, be it at the movies, in front of the television …

Cheney: Obama has learned that Bush policies were right  —  President Obama has “learned from experience” that some of the Bush administration's decisions on terrorism issues were necessary, according to former Vice President Dick Cheney.  —  In his first interview since undergoing major heart surgery …

Arizona statute could endanger Gabrielle Giffords's hold on seat  —  TUCSON - Even as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords shows signs of a near-miraculous recovery, with doctors on Sunday upgrading her condition from critical to serious, a little-known statutory provision in Arizona state law could endanger …

NYT: Say, maybe we should have waited for the facts before blaming the Right  —  Don't worry, though, because the New York Times' public editor (their term for ombudsman) “shares the view to an extent” (emphasis mine) that the Times and the media rushed to put the Tucson shootings in a political context.

Love, Actually  —  A dog, ‘Leao’, sits for a second consecutive day, next to the grave of her owner, Cristina Maria Cesario Santana, who died in the week's catastrophic landslides in Brazil, at the cemetery in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janiero, on January 15, 2011.  By Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty.

ABC News Exclusive: Capt. Mark Kelly Talks to Diane Sawyer About Wife Gabrielle Giffords' Recovery; Says She Is Still Looking Out for Others  —  Rep. Gabrielle Giffords smiles at her husband and has even given him back rubs, her doctors said today.  —  The tracheotomy tube in the throat …

House GOP schedule slips on spending cuts  —  House Republicans are falling behind in their aggressive schedule and are unlikely to consider a major spending-cut bill this month.  —  The GOP had hoped to hold a floor vote by late January on legislation rescinding already appropriated funds …

Obamateurism of the Day  —  Obviously, most Hot Air readers disagree with my assessment (and Allahpundit's) of Barack Obama's speech last Wednesday evening at the University of Arizona.  They also blame Obama more for the odd tone of the event, with its whooping and whistling and t-shirts, than the university that organized it.

Michael Steele: Republicans ‘could have used a few more brothers in the house’  —  Michael Steele said he brought African Americans into the GOP fold during his tenure as chairman of the Republican National Committee and predicted the new House majority will cooperate with President Obama on certain issues.

Obama Lauded on Response to Tucson; More See Chance of Political Conciliation  —  78 Percent Approve of Obama's Response to the Arizona Shooting  —  Americans divide on the risks posed by the tone of the country's political discourse but approve overwhelmingly of President Obama's attempt to redirect it.

Macon Bacon  —  This about ErickErickErickErickson just showed up in my email from the excellently named David Davidson (I kid you not): … I can see why there is no hurry to get his replacement in place.  It's not like he was showing up for work anyway:

No. 2 bank overcharged troops on mortgages  —  NBC News exclusive: JPMorgan Chase also improperly foreclosed on homes  —  Below:  —  on TODAYshow.com -  — More from: - TODAY - Nightly News - Meet the Press - Dateline - Morning Joe - Hardball - Countdown - Rachel Maddow - msnbc tv

New Call Not to Raise Debt Cap  —  WASHINGTON—Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely GOP White House hopeful, called on congressional Republicans to block an increase in the limit on federal borrowing, and he proposed legislation that he said would prevent a U.S. default on its loans.

Berlusconi ‘paid for sex many times’  —  Italian PM housed women for free at Milan housing complex and allegedly knew woman at centre of row was under-age, say prosecution documents sent to parliament  —  Silvio Berlusconi's political career is once again in jeopardy after prosecutors today accused …

Ex-Swiss Banker Gives Data to WikiLeaks  —  LONDON — A former senior Swiss bank executive said on Monday that he had given the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, details of more than 2,000 prominent individuals and companies that he contends engaged in tax evasion and other possible criminal activity.

Another Texan Running for President?  —  Texas governor Rick Perry's high-profile battle with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) couldn't have come at a better time.  The fight may not be over in time for the 2012 presidential elections, and he very well may lose, but no matter what happens …