Florida's Rubio a star, but an unlikely VP pick  —  (Reuters) - He could be the Republican vice presidential candidate from central casting: telegenic, Hispanic and a fiscal conservative who has been embraced by the Tea Party.  —  That is why Florida Senator Marco Rubio …

Brewer?s tense exchange with Obama  —  It was a tense moment on the tarmac.  —  President Obama, alighting from the stairs of Air Force One in Phoenix this afternoon, was greeted by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who handed him an envelope and the two exchanged what appeared to be some heated sentiments.

Gingrich admits ABC claim was false  —  After nearly a week on the defensive, CNN's John King reports tonight that Newt Gingrich's claim about offering witnesses to ABC News in his defense — to rebut the network's interview with his second wife, Marianne Gingrich — was not true.

The right drops a bomb on Newt  —  Newt Gingrich better hope voters who lapped up his delicious hits on the “elite media” and liberals don't read the Drudge Report this morning.  —  Or the National Review.  Or the American Spectator.  Or Ann Coulter.  —  If they do, Gingrich comes off looking …

Warren Buffett's Secretary Likely Makes Between $200,000 And $500,000/Year  —  Warren Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, served as a stage prop for President Obama's State of the Union speech.  She was the president's chief display of the alleged unfairness of our tax system …

Barack Obama: GOP field ‘wrong for America’  —  President Barack Obama won't say whether he thinks Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich would be a tougher challenger, but, either way, he's certain that the difference between him and the Republican at the top of the ticket will be stark.

How the Schneiderman Panel Could Work  —  Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy  —  I got a lot of response to my post on the new federal financial fraud unit (not to be confused with the old financial fraud unit) looking into mortgage origination and securitization abuses.

Former President John Tyler's (1790-1862) grandchildren still alive  —  Former President John Tyler, born 221 years ago, still has two living grandchildren.  The one-term president isn't a well-known historical figure; he's probably best remembered for helping to push through the annexation of Texas in 1845 …

The iEconomy: Apple's iPad and the Human Costs for Workers in China  —  A staggering manufacturing system in China has made it possible for Apple and other companies to make devices almost as quickly as they can be dreamed up, but for workers, it can be dangerous.

Economy Gives Obama a Lift  —  Mitt Romney mounted a fresh attack on President Barack Obama's stewardship of the economy Wednesday, while a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll raised caution signs for Mr. Romney's strategy of putting the economy at the center of his campaign.

36 Obama aides owe $833,000 in back taxes  —  Pete Souza / White House (Obama addresses his White House staff, file)  —  How embarrassing this must be for President Obama, whose major speech theme so far this campaign season has been that every single American, no matter how rich, should pay their “fair share” of taxes.

Perry's job approval plunges after failed presidential run, News poll shows  —  Gov. Rick Perry, campaigning last week at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Murrells Inlet, S.C., before he exited the presidential race, has seen his job approval rating plunge in Texas, according to a new poll.

Massachusetts Health Reforms: Uninsurance Remains Low, Self-Reported Health Status Improves As State Prepares To Tackle Costs  —  1Sharon K. Long (slong{at}umn.edu) is a professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis.

On FIRE: How the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Sector Drove the Growth of the Political One Percent of the One Percent  —  In the last two decades, finance, insurance, and real estate have made many individuals quite rich, propelling them to stratospheric levels of wealth.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll — January 2012  —  As the Supreme Court prepares to hear legal challenges to the health reform law in March, most Americans expect the Justices to base their ruling on their own ideological views rather than their interpretation of the law, according to the January Health Tracking Poll.

Barney Frank to marry longtime partner  —  Retiring congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will marry his longtime partner, Jim Ready.  —  Frank and Ready plan to wed in Massachusetts.  Frank's home state is one of six states, in addition to the District of Columbia, which permit gay marriage.

Same-Sex Marriage Question To Appear On Maine Ballot  —  Marriage equality activists in Maine have announced that they will proceed with a ballot initiative to strike down the 2009 referendum that overturned same-sex marriage in the state.  The coalition, led by EqualityMaine …