The Real Political Math In Wisconsin … WASHINGTON — The real political math in Wisconsin isn't about the state budget or the collective-bargaining rights of public employees there.  It is about which party controls governorships and, with them, the balance of power on the ground in the 2012 elections.

Protesters at the Wisconsin Capitol disrespectfully have taped signs on and piled junk against the Veterans Memorial.  —  Meade and I confront them, and we're told we're the first people who've had a problem with it.  I try to explain how that attempted defense of the behavior is only going to make it look worse.

Long Bread Lines and Barricades in Libya's Capital  —  TRIPOLI, Libya — A bold play by Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi to prove that he was firmly in control of Libya appeared to backfire Saturday as foreign journalists he invited to the capital discovered blocks of the city in open revolt.

Scott Walker Asked to Leave Local Restaurant  —  Come looking for an article about Scott Walker being booted from a Madison restaurant?  Yes, you came to the right place, but at the request of the restaurant owner due to abusive phone calls, the article has been hidden for the time being.

Budget Battles Without Earmarks  —  WASHINGTON — The fact that Congress remains a spending disagreement or two away from shutting down the government no doubt strikes some as remarkable.  But there is another extraordinary aspect to the fiscal clash unfolding on Capitol Hill: earmarks have disappeared from the budgetary landscape.

Ireland's Ruling Party Crushed at Polls in Fallout From Failed Economy … No luck for Ireland's ruling party.  The government in power paid a price Friday for presiding over an economy that went through the floor when a housing bubble burst, strapping the banks that made the loans and forcing …

First blow to Emanuel team  —  Transition aide quits after ethics violation revealed  —  A veteran politician Rahm Emanuel named to his mayoral transition team resigned her high-level state job last summer and paid a fine for conducting political business on state time, according to a newly filed ethics report.

Gadhafi's Nurse Says She's Going Home  —  KIEV, Ukraine—Embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is set to be deserted by another close ally after his Ukrainian nurse said she was heading home.  —  Galyna Kolotnytska, described in a diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks as a “voluptuous blond” …

To Tea Party, Pawlenty on Obama: ‘What planet is he from?’  —  Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty accused President Obama and Democrats of “coddling” unions and applauded the Tea Party movement as “modern-day Paul Reveres.”  —  Speaking to a convention of Tea Party activists in Phoenix on Saturday …

Biggest Fish Face Little Risk of Being Caught  —  So much for Angelo Mozilo taking the fall for the financial crisis.  —  Late last week, word leaked out that Mr. Mozilo, who had co-founded Countrywide Financial in 1969 — and, for nearly 40 years, presided over its astonishing rise …

Iran Reports a Major Setback at a Nuclear Power Plant  —  Iran told atomic inspectors this week that it had run into a serious problem at a newly completed nuclear reactor that was supposed to start feeding electricity into the national grid this month, raising questions about whether the trouble …

The “Ventriloquist Journalism” Beat  —  Kudos to John for staying after Eric Lipton's fast one, which is a classic in the genre of what I call “ventriloquist journalism”—the highly refined technique by which “news” reporters seek out a source to confirm their preconceived story line with a specific quote.

New Rockford, Illinois tourism ad: Come hide away — like you're a state senator from Wisconsin  —  Cheeky link bait aimed at conservative blogs or earnest ad campaign targeting progressives?  It's the former for the moment, but let's face it — if the fleebaggers succeed in waiting Scott Walker …

DNC chairman: 'We're going to play for the big win' in 2012 election  —  President Obama isn't playing for a narrow victory in his 2012 reelection effort, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine promised Saturday.  —  Kaine, speaking to party members in Washington at the DNC's Winter Meeting …