Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds  —  Boosted by improved public confidence in his economic stewardship, President Obama for the first time holds a clear edge over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a hypothetical general-election matchup, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Things Are Not O.K.  —  In a better world — specifically, a world with a better policy elite — a good jobs report would be cause for unalloyed celebration.  In the world we actually inhabit, however, every silver lining comes with a cloud.  Friday's report was, in fact, much better than expected …

Religious Caucus Causes Protest in Las Vegas  —  LAS VEGAS — A special Saturday night Republican caucus here intended to accommodate Orthodox Jews who could not vote before sundown became the scene of controversy and confrontation after caucusgoers were told that to be admitted they had to sign …

My choice: Rick Santorum  —  As I wrote earlier, decision time has come to Minnesota, where I live.  Unfortunately, I can't officially participate in that choice, since we have a caucus system rather than a primary — and one cannot cast an absentee vote in a caucus system.

Rocks, Hard Places  —  Greece has reached the latest of many last ditches this weekend.  —  The Financial Times reports: … The overspending, corruption and dysfunction of the Greek state are hard to deny.  But so, almost certainly, too is the truth of what Samaras had to say.

Fathers and Schools: Presidential Parallels  —  Michael Medved has an interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal reflecting on the strange continuity that this election marks the seventh in a row featuring either a privileged son or a man with no relationship with his biological father, and wonders why:

Super Bowl ads: Pete Hoekstra's hits a nerve  —  The campaign of former Rep. Peter Hoekstra for U.S. Senate explained a racially charged Super Bowl advertisement they developed - complete with an Asian actress speaking in broken English - as a reflection of China's increasingly competitive education system.

Deal Is Closer for a U.S. Plan on Mortgage Relief  —  With a deadline looming on Monday for state officials to sign onto a landmark multibillion-dollar settlement to address foreclosure abuses, the Obama administration is close to winning support from a crucial state that would significantly expand the breadth of the deal.

Contraception rule respects religion  —  One of the key benefits of the 2010 health care law is that many preventive services are now free for most Americans with insurance.  Vaccinations for children, cancer screenings for adults and wellness visits for seniors are all now covered in most plans …

Hill Poll: Voters willing to see US attack Iran over nuclear weapons  —  Nearly half of likely voters think the United States should be willing to use military force to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, according to this week's The Hill Poll.  —  Forty-nine percent said military force …

Obama: I'm getting ‘better as time goes on’ at being president  —  President Obama said that he gets “better as time goes on” at his job and that he believes the grassroots movement that propelled him to victory in 2008 will help him win a second term during an interview that aired Monday on NBC's “Today Show.”

The End of Wall Street As They Knew It  —  After surprisingly successful financial reform, public vilification, and politics that have turned against them, the Masters of the Universe are masters no longer.  —  On Wall Street, bonus season is a sacred ritual.

Economic Gains, Questions on Romney Boost Obama's Prospects for November  —  Mitt Romney has solidified his position for the Republican nomination but lost ground in the main event, with improved economic indicators and questions about Romney's wealth and taxes lifting Barack Obama to a head …

The Citizens United catastrophe  —  We have seen the world created by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and it doesn't work.  Oh, yes, it works nicely for the wealthiest and most powerful people in the country, especially if they want to shroud their efforts to influence politics behind shell corporations.

Syria's most senior defector: Assad's army is close to collapse  —  Bashar al-Assad's army is close to a collapse that could plunge the Middle East into a “nuclear reaction”, its most senior defector has told The Sunday Telegraph.  —  In his first full-length newspaper interview …

Coming soon: Individual mandate to buy Chevy Volts  —  President Obama spent more than $85 billion bailing out General Motors and Chrysler three years ago.  Now he claims credit for saving the industry, noting GM's recent return to the top sales spot among automakers worldwide, Ford's record profits …

The race issue rises again  —  The issue of race and American politics, never far beneath the surface during Barack Obama's historic 2008 campaign, is making a loud, overt and surprisingly early appearance in the 2012 presidential race.  —  And no one knows — least of all Obama himself …