Webb won't seek reelection  —  Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb plans to announce today that he won't seek reelection, the Senator confirmed Wednesday.  —  Webb appeared likely to face a rematch with former Senator George Allen, whom he beat in a bruising 2006 contest.

Married GOP Congressman Sent Sexy Pictures to Craigslist Babe  —  Rep. Christopher Lee is a married Republican congressman serving the 26th District of New York.  But when he trolls Craigslist's “Women Seeking Men” forum, he's Christopher Lee, “divorced” “lobbyist” and “fit fun classy guy.”

Republicans endure another floor loss  —  House Republicans endured another embarrassing floor loss Wednesday, one day after a vote on the Patriot Act failed on their watch.  —  A bill that would retrieve money already paid to the United Nations failed Wednesday afternoon 259-169, 290 votes were needed for passage.

Democrats: Justice Thomas should recuse himself in healthcare reform case  —  A group of 73 House Democrats on Wednesday demanded U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from any case examining the constitutionality of healthcare reform.  —  Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) …

At CPAC, the race for second place as Paul goes all out  —  The Conservative Political Action Conference's annual straw poll typically indicates three things: Whom CPAC's segment of the conservative base prefers for president; who bought tickets for their supporters; and whether Ron Paul is really trying.

GOP cuts deep as right revolts  —  Faced with a revolt on the right, House Republicans began sketching out more than $40 billion in specific spending cuts Wednesday but may be forced to double their bets with a further across-the-board reduction to appease tea party supporters.

Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation  —  Did Arianna Huffington just sell out her fellow progressives?  —  In the literal sense, she undoubtedly has: The sale of Huffington Post to AOL for $315 million (including a large pile of cash going to Huffington herself) …

The Wages of Disengagement  —  Senator Barbara Boxer is outraged by the slew of new anti-choice bills being offered up by House Republicans: “It breaks faith with a decades-long bipartisan compromise, and it risks the health and lives of women.”  —  Ann Friedman's not buying it:

Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low  —  Egypt ranks among issues on which Obama is best rated  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's approval rating for handling the federal budget deficit has gone from bad to worse in recent months, even as his ratings …

Insurance reality hits House GOP  —  Ask any House Republican about repealing President Barack Obama's health care law, and you'll get the same fiery, self-assured talking points about tearing down what Speaker John Boehner has called a “monstrosity.”  —  But talk to some of the 16 freshman lawmakers …

Aide: Giffords can speak  —  (CNN) — U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, recovering from a gunshot wound to the head sustained January 8, is regaining part of her ability to speak, her spokesman said Wednesday.  —  C.J. Karamargin would not divulge what Giffords has said, other than saying she asked for toast.

Breaking the Sarah Palin Trademark Story: A Lesson in Journalism Ethics … Sometimes a light bulb goes off.  —  One night at 2 a.m. I was reading a story by Matt Lewis about Herman Cain, a possible 2012 presidential candidate from Georgia.  Pursuing the Cain story further …

RNC's former Tampa convention team spent $1 million  —  TAMPA - They rented an exclusive waterfront mansion, wined and dined at five-star restaurants and hired family members and friends, all on the taxpayers' dime.  —  Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's 2012 convention team based …

Who's Policing Amtrak Joe Biden's Rail Boondoggles?  —  At Philadelphia's 30th Street Station on Tuesday, lifelong government rail promoter Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a $53 billion high-speed train initiative and half-joked: “I'm like the ombudsman for Amtrak.”

Why Egypt Should Worry China  —  print recommend Send link clip secure rights  —  BERKELEY - A strictly economic interpretation of events in Tunisia and Egypt would be too simplistic - however tempting such an exercise is for an economist.  That said, there is no question …

Patrick says he considered resigning  —  In book, governor says news stories took toll on wife  —  In early 2007, just weeks after taking office, Deval Patrick seriously considered resigning.  His wife, weeping and unable to sleep, had been admitted to McLean Hospital with depression.

Jackson Lee blasts ‘demeaning’ Pepsi Super Bowl ad  —  Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) took to the House floor Tuesday night to criticize what she called a “demeaning” Pepsi ad that aired during the Super Bowl.  —  In the ad for Pepsi Max, a black woman sitting on a park bench gets angry …

GERKEN: WHY LOBBYING AS THE NEW CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM  —  The following is Part 1 of a two-part guest blog post by Yale's Heather Gerken.  —  Much has been written about the future of campaign finance reform in the wake of Citizens United.  Today I will talk about why lobbying may be the new campaign finance.