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.

Patriot Act extension fails in the House by seven votes  —  House Republicans suffered an embarrassing setback Tuesday when they fell seven votes short of extending provisions of the Patriot Act, a vote that served as the first small uprising of the party's tea-party bloc.

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) …

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 …

Rep. Allen West receives plum speaking slot at conservative gathering  —  Freshman Tea Party Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) will deliver the coveted closing speech on Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).  —  West, the headline-grabbing lawmaker and former Army officer …

Under Banner of Fiscal Restraint, Republicans Plan New Abortion Bills  —  WASHINGTON — All but invisible during the midterm elections, the abortion debate has returned to Congress.  —  Invoking the mantra of fiscal restraint that has dominated House action since lawmakers reconvened last month …

ABC7 poll: Emanuel leading mayor's race  —  ABC7's exclusive poll on the Chicago mayor's race provides a snapshot of how the candidates are doing as we head into the final two weeks of the campaign.  —  Rahm Emanuel's 54 percent share in the survey suggests an overwhelming lead …

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 …

Saudi oil reserves ‘overstated by 40%’  —  US diplomat convinced by Saudi expert that reserves of world's biggest oil exporter have been overstated by nearly 40%  —  • Peak oil alarm revealed by secret official talks  —  • Datablog: Are we running out of oil?

Obama to propose relief for states burdened by debt from unemployment benefits  —  States that have borrowed billions of dollars from the federal government to cover the soaring cost of unemployment benefits would get immediate relief from the Obama administration under a plan to suspend interest payments for the next two years.

Democrats: Justice Thomas should recuse himself in healthcare reform case  —  A group of 73 House Democrats demanded on Wednesday that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from any case examining the constitutionality of healthcare reform.

Plans Near for Freddie and Fannie  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration and House Republicans are settling into a game of chicken over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with each side daring the other to advance a plan for replacing the two housing finance companies.

Testimony  —  The Economic Outlook and Monetary and Fiscal Policy  —  Before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.  —  Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Van Hollen, and other members of the Committee, I am pleased to have this opportunity to offer my views …

Apple's New iPad in Production  —  Apple Inc. has started manufacturing a new version of its iPad tablet computer with a built-in camera and faster processor, said people familiar with the matter.  —  The new iPad will be thinner and lighter than the first model, these people said.

Nelson ‘learning toward’ another Senate run  —  Sen. Ben Nelson has rehired his former campaign manager, sending a strong signal that he will run for reelection in 2012.  —  KETV NewsWatch 7 in Nebraska reports that Nelson has brought back Paul Johnson, the manager of his 2006 Senate campaign.

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 …