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.

Obama, Clinton: Gadhafi should leave Libya ‘now’  —  President Obama told German Chancellor Angela Merkel today that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi should surrender power immediately because of the attacks he has made on his own people.  —  “The President stated that when a leader's only means …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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” …

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.

Newt Gingrich to announce exploratory committee ‘in 10 days’ — in Georgia  —  Update at 7 p.m.: I was on a State Bar panel this afternoon with Randy Evans, the Atlanta lawyer in charge of Newt Gingrich's business interests.  He's quoted below.  —  Before we parted, Evans told me this …

BREAKING: Wisconsin Police Have Joined Protest Inside State Capitol  —  From inside the Wisconsin State Capitol, RAN ally Ryan Harvey reports:  —  “Hundreds of cops have just marched into the Wisconsin state capitol building to protest the anti-Union bill, to massive applause.

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 …

Former president of MADD arrested for DUI  —  MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A woman who was the former president of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter in Gainesville has been arrested for drunk driving.  —  Debra Oberlin, 48, was arrested around 1:00 a.m. February 18 after police …

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 …