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.

Israel and Iran on the Eve of Destruction in a New Six-Day War  —  There are plenty of arguments against an Israeli attack on Iran.  And all of them are bad.  —  Jerusalem—It probably felt a bit like this in the months before the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israel launched …

BREAKING: Ninth Circuit Prop 8 Ruling on Tuesday — A Guide to Understanding What's Happening  —  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's public information office expects a ruling on Tuesday, Feb. 7 by 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern Time in the Perry v. Brown case challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8.

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.

Karl Rove ‘offended’ by Clint Eastwood's Chrysler ad  —  A Chrysler ad aired during the Super Bowl Sunday night has inspired ire among some Republicans and admiration among some Democrats — with both sides seeing a political message that boosts President Obama.

Who Castrated Ann Coulter?  —  There is no conservative writer that I admire more than Ann Coulter.  She's smart as hell and, more importantly, she is courageous.  She has always been willing to write what other conservatives believe but don't have the guts to say in print.

Congressman Falls for The Onion's Planned Parenthood ‘Abortionplex’ Story  —  Meet John Fleming, the unfortunate Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana who made that wonderful and all-too-common mistake of thinking that an Onion article was real and telling his Facebook followers to read it.

Congressman Sources An Onion Article As Fact On Facebook  —  Partner Buzz  —  Hot Buzz  —  This is my sister's beagle and weenie, dressed up as a dragonborn...  The Single Most Awkward Photo Of Madonna During Her Halftime Show  —  She's really concentrating here.  —  In Your Inbox

Turnover in the House: Who keeps - and who loses - the most staff  —  House members depend on their staff to run their offices, to help them draft and pass legislation, and to advise them on how to vote.  But some members do a much better job of holding onto staff than others.

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 …

Obama criticized for walking out on Jeb Bush  —  Bloomberg's Al Hunt has a long list of examples of what he calls the Obama team's ‘hubris’ — including a recent anecdote where Obama left a fancy black tie dinner before former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush spoke:

“Hidden” mortgage fee paying for payroll tax cut  —  PLAY CBS NEWS VIDEO  —  Just before Christmas, American workers got a rare gift from Washington politicians - the current payroll tax cut would be extended for two more months.  —  At the time, both President Barack Obama …

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.”

Ayaan Hirsi Ali:The Global War on Christians in the Muslim World  —  From one end of the muslim world to the other, Christians are being murdered for their faith.  —  We hear so often about Muslims as victims of abuse in the West and combatants in the Arab Spring's fight against tyranny.

‘We the People’ Loses Appeal With People Around the World  —  WASHINGTON — The Constitution has seen better days.  —  Sure, it is the nation's founding document and sacred text.  And it is the oldest written constitution still in force anywhere in the world.  But its influence is waning.

Sen. Tom Coburn defends relationship with Obama at Edmond town hall meeting  —  EDMOND — U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn on Saturday defended his cordial relationship with President Barack Obama and said American farmers should be allowed to plant more crops to regain America's economic dominance and “run the Chinese into the ground.”

Securing Equal Pay?  There (Should Be) an App for That!  —  Obama State Of The Union , Obama Administration , President Obama , Equal Pay , Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act , Obama Working Women , State Of The Union 2012 , Equal Pay App , Equal Pay App Challenge , National Equal Pay Task Force …

Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Buchanan over financial disclosures  —  The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) violated federal law and House rules by failing in his financial disclosures to report his positions in 17 entities.

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 …

Greece Asked to Destroy Itself In Exchange for Bailout  —  Greek economy being crushed by Troika austerity conditions (photo: Aragorn Bang)  —  Greek bailout talks have deadlocked again, but at the moment the culprit is not the hedge funds seeking a higher payout on the distressed debt they bought …

Berlusconi in Winter  —  In his most extensive interview since leaving office, the former Italian prime minister on what he's learned from being forced out, what he hasn't, and why he still wants to transform Italy.  —  The most ridiculed political figure in Europe insists he is not inclined to dark nights of the soul.