Playing by Clinton Rules  —  Barack Obama had a theory.  It was that the voters are tired of the partisan paralysis of the past 20 years.  The theory was that if Obama could inspire a grass-roots movement with a new kind of leadership, he could ride it to the White House and end gridlock in Washington.

Clinton supporter is armed and dangerous  —  Together, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell make an odd pairing.  Clinton is the model of message discipline, a politician whose steely demeanor and unerring ways cause voters to question her authenticity.

Party Donations Show G.O.P. Edge  —  WASHINGTON — For all the success that Democratic presidential candidates have had in raising money — taking in a combined total of over $500 million in the current race — the Republicans are beating them in one crucial area of fund-raising: the money being raised by the parties themselves.

On the Red Phone  —  Here's an idea for an Obama ad: a montage of Clinton's Sybillish personalities that have surfaced during the campaign with a solemn voiceover at the end saying, “Does anyone want this nut answering the phone?”  —  How is it that she became the one who's perceived …

The Great Non Sequitur  —  WASHINGTON — She threw the kitchen sink at him.  Accused Barack Obama of plagiarism.  Mocked his eloquence.  Questioned his truthfulness about NAFTA.  —  Wasn't enough.  Hillary Clinton still faced extinction in Ohio and Texas.  So what do you do when you have thrown the kitchen sink?

Paul hints presidential campaign will end soon  —  (CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is hinting that his run for the White House is about to end, saying the “presidential campaign will soon wind down.”  —  His comments came two days after Sen. John McCain became the presumptive GOP nominee.

Freedom Means Responsibility  —  Nearly 16 years ago in these very pages, I wrote that “'one-size-fits all' rules for business ignore the reality of the market place.”  Today I'm watching some broad rules evolve on individual decisions that are even worse.  —  Under the guise of protecting us …

Dumb and Dumber: An Essay and Its Editors  —  I've never watched Oprah Winfrey's show, bought a Celine Dion CD, read “Eat, Pray, Love,” or fainted at an Obama rally, although he is my preferred candidate.  According to Charlotte Allen, that makes me an “outlier,” an exception that proves the rule that women …

FALLON ON HIS WAY OUT?  —  Via ThinkProgress, Thomas Barnett suggests that Admiral William Fallon may be on his way out as CENTCOM chief. … There was much gnashing of teeth in the lefty blogosphere when Fallon was hired; why would we need a Navy admiral in CENTCOM unless we wanted to attack Iran?

Housing, Bank Troubles Deepen  —  Foreclosures Reach  —  A New Record;  —  Home Equity Falls  —  Two crucial barometers of the nation's housing market have worsened markedly in recent months, ratcheting up pressure on policy makers in Washington for action to stem the growing housing crisis …

Row over military uniforms in public  —  Plans to urge soldiers, sailors and airmen to wear their uniforms in public were in disarray last night after RAF personnel were ordered to dress in civilian clothes while off-duty because of persistent threats and abuse.

Over the Top  —  An overview:  —  From the first voting in Iowa on Jan. 3 she had to prove that Clintons Are Magic.  She wound up losing 11 in a row.  Meaning Clintons aren't magic.  He had to take her out in New Hampshire, on Super Tuesday or Junior Tuesday.  He didn't.  Meaning Obama isn't magic.