General Zinni gets undiplomatic treatment from Obama team  —  When retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni told the Washington Times that he was offered the job of U.S. ambassador to Iraq before being passed over in favor of diplomat Christopher Hill, he did not say that one of the outrages …

Losing Control  —  Obama needs to reassert command of the agenda in Washington  —  Barack Obama began making his comeback on Wednesday, apparently aware that he has all but lost control of the agenda in Washington at a time when he simply can't afford to do so.

Support for Stimulus Package Falls to 37%  —  Support for the economic recovery plan working its way through Congress has fallen again this week.  For the first time, a plurality of voters nationwide oppose the $800-billion-plus plan.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found …

Stimulus Setback: Which Side Is Obama On?  —  Sorry for my absence today—I was on jury duty (not selected though)  —  The stimulus bill has suffered a major setback.  Lacking the 60 votes to pass the bill, Senate Democrats have moved to a conference off-site, delayed the vote …

Panetta Earned $700,000 in Fees  —  WASHINGTON — The White House's nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon Panetta, has earned more than $700,000 in speaking and consulting fees since the beginning of 2008, with some of the payments coming from troubled financial firms …

Obama could break 5-day rule  —  Obama appears poised to break his campaign pledge to give the public five days to review a bill before he signs it.  —  Obama scheduled a bill signing for 4:35 p.m. Wednesday, even though the House has yet to vote on the legislation expanding a children's health insurance program.

Cheney warns of new attacks  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney warned that there is a “high probability” that terrorists will attempt a catastrophic nuclear or biological attack in coming years, and said he fears the Obama administration's policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed.

Florida Student Asks Scalia a Question — and Gets Scolded  —  Where others fear to tread, a 20-year-old college student from Tequesta, Fla.,boldly stepped forward Tuesday to ask Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia a question he did not like during a public appearance in West Palm Beach.

Carter tries to push Rangel out  —  Republican Rep. John R. Carter of Texas offered legislation Wednesday that would require Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel to relinquish his gavel until the ethics committee completes an investigation into Rangel's finances.

Bozell to ABC President: You Must Publicly Address Stephanopoulos' Apparent Conflict of Interest  —  Open Letter Demands Public Resolution to Daily Strategy Calls  —  Alexandria, VA - Media Research Center (MRC) President L. Brent Bozell, III has written a letter to ABC News President David Westin calling …

PHIL BREDESEN AS DASCHLE'S REPLACEMENT?  —  He's not the only candidate.  But an array of sources say he's a serious candidate.  And he'd be a very risky choice.  —  Phil Bredesen is the governor of Tennessee.  Before he was the governor of Tennessee, he made his money in the managed care revolution …

The Right Wing's Next Target: Hilda Solis?  »  —  Yesterday, President Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Daschle, withdrew after it was revealed he failed to pay over $100,000 in taxes.  In the wake of Daschle's departure, the right-wing is gunning …

Rush Limbaugh Loses a Popularity Contest  —  America to Rush: Drop Dead by Max Blumenthal  —  Blogs and Stories  —  Congressional Republicans have turned to Rush Limbaugh to lead the battle against Obama.  One problem: A poll says he's less popular than Jeremiah Wright.

Have Mercy on This Spinner  —  Yesterday I was thinking that Robert Gibbs, President Obama's press secretary, reminds me of another recent one: Scott McClellan.  I was reassured, then, to read this comment by Victor Davis Hanson: … It's possible, of course, that Gibbs gets better as time goes on.

Palin takes on Ashley Judd's ‘extreme fringe group’  —  (CNN) - Alaska governor Sarah Palin's support for aerial wolf-hunting has sparked a heated cross-country war of words between the governor and an environmental ad campaign fronted by the actress Ashley Judd, with Palin calling …

‘Mum’ had 80 women raped for suicide missions  —  A WOMAN suspected of recruiting more than 80 female suicide bombers has confessed to organising their rapes so she could later convince them that martyrdom was the only way to escape the shame.  —  Samira Jassam, 51, was arrested by Iraqi police …

Obama signs bill extending kids' health insurance  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a bill extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children, a move he called a first step toward fulfilling …

UN says Hamas seized Gaza food aid and blankets  —  JERUSALEM - A U.N. spokesman says Hamas police in Gaza have seized thousands of blankets and food parcels meant for needy residents.  —  Spokesman Christopher Gunness says Hamas police raided a U.N. warehouse in Gaza City on Tuesday evening.

Conservative Groups Declare Obama's Stimulus Bill a War on Prayer  —  A provision in the House-passed stimulus bill — banning money to be used to renovate schools from being spent on facilities that allow “religious worship” — has ignited fury among those who claim it discriminates on the basis …

The Karl Rove of the Commode?  —  Call it a pipe dream come true: When members of the Conservative Working Group held their weekly strategy meeting on the Hill on Tuesday morning, they were joined by none other than Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher, who had come to offer his thoughts on the economic recovery bill.

Stumbling on Their Sense of Entitlement  —  Tom Daschle still doesn't get it.  —  John Thain never did.  —  Barack Obama gets it sometimes, Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner not so much.  —  Corporate executives think they get it but aren't even close.  —  College presidents …

$500K spent on Dem caucus retreats  —  The House Democratic Caucus spent more than $500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia.  —  On Thursday, Democrats will head to the Kingsmill Resort and Spa in historic Williamsburg, Va., for the three-day planning powwow.