Senate on the Verge of Approving Stimulus Bill  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate was on the verge of giving final approval on Friday evening to an economic stimulus package of some $787 billion, readying it for the signature of President Obama, who has said he is eager to sign it in an attempt …

Why Gregg Bailed  —  When he took the job, Republicans searched for a diplomatic way to ask: Are you crazy?  —  After 16 years as a Republican senator from New Hampshire, Judd Gregg has a lot of friends among GOP lawmakers, and in the past two weeks, many of them — perhaps most of them …

Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife  —  Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband — an influential member of the local Muslim community — reported her death to police Thursday.

Addicted to fake outrage  —  I'm not sure if it's because we're strung out on “Lost” episodes, or if it's because we're still suffering from a post-9/11 stress disorder that makes us crave “breaking news” alerts, or if it's because the economy has turned us into distraction junkies.

THE WHITE HOUSE BUBBLE  —  From NBC's Chuck Todd  —  Obviously, I'm one of the newbies here in the White House press corps, so maybe I'm unfamiliar with the ways of how this place works.  I have to say, nothing is more frustrating than covering an actual event here at the White House …

APNewsBreak: Blackwater dumps tarnished brand name  —  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Blackwater Worldwide is abandoning its tarnished brand name as it tries to shake a reputation battered by oft-criticized work in Iraq, renaming its family of two dozen businesses under the name Xe.

Authoritarianism Just Around the Corner  —  It's possible you've also already been following the debate prompted by Damon Linker's attack on Andrew Bacevich's vision of conservatism; if not, go here and here and here; here for Linker's response to his critics; and here and here for more.

The Stimulus Plan: A Detailed List of Spending  —  Congress released its compromise of the economic stimulus plan at 11 p.m. Thursday.  Debate began in the House at 9 a.m., with voting set for 1 p.m. Want to know what's in it?  You could read the 1,071-page gorilla they've posted.

Dems target right-wing talk radio  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — More and More Democrats in Congress are calling for action that Republicans warn could muzzle right-wing talk radio.  —  Representative Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat from New York is the latest to say he wants to bring back the …

Specter Vote For Stimulus Hurts Him Back Home  —  Senator Arlen Specter is one of only three Republicans to support the economic stimulus bill in Congress, and the latest Rasmussen Reports survey in Pennsylvania shows that his position is costing him support back home.

Friday Senate Line: Gregg Adds to GOP Pain  —  The withdrawal of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) as President Obama's commerce secretary nominee on Thursday was initially greeted with relief by Senate Republicans who believed that the incumbent might now stay on and seek reelection in 2010.

Bush Aide: Leahy Truth Commission Is ‘Terribly Dangerous’ Idea, Possibly ‘Deadly’  —  Last night on The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly showed a clip of a Fox News producer ambushing Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to accuse him of political hypocrisy for urging an investigation into Bush crimes after he had opposed the Clinton impeachment.

Justice Dept. Investigating Campaign Donations From Lobbying Firm  —  Marvin Hoffman is listed in campaign finance records as one of the many lobbyists with the powerful PMA Group donating money to lawmakers.  But Hoffman is actually a soon-to-retire information technology manager in Marina Del Rey …

Virginia GOP Chair goes all Cro-Magnon on Darwin, on his birthday  —  Yesterday was the birthday of Lincoln and Darwin, and Virginia GOP chairman Jeff Frederick couldn't pass up the opportunity to go all Cro-Magnon on the father of modern biology.  —  Frederick obviously put a lot of thought …

White House books Brown's flight to D.C.  —  Sarah Abruzzese reports:  —  A government plane will ferry Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) back to Washington from his mother's wake in Ohio in time to vote tonight, courtesy of the White House.  —  Brown won't even be leaving until viewing hours end …

Predator drones flown from base in Pakistan, U.S. lawmaker says  —  Sen. Feinstein's surprise disclosure likely to complicate joint campaign against Taliban militants  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. - A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown …

If The Right Were Intellectually Honest ...  This Manzi post would be their argument going forward.  Here's why they are not being intellectually honest, and Manzi's post includes the relevant facts.  The GOP has passed what amounts to a spending and tax-cutting and borrowing stimulus package …

Will the stimulus actually stimulate?  Economists say no  —  WASHINGTON — The compromise economic stimulus plan agreed to by negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate is short on incentives to get consumers spending again and long on social goals that won't stimulate economic activity …

The Audacity of Audaciousness  —  It takes a certain amount of nerve to have an event at the National Press Club and then ban the press from covering it.  —  It takes another level of chutzpah entirely to admit members of the general public to your event at the National Press Club …

Henrietta Hughes says she's not milking the system  —  SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - A woman making national headlines after a tearful moment with President Obama has a new home.  —  Thursday morning, Chene Thompson handed Henrietta Hughes the keys to her home in Hendry County.

Democratic Senator Predicts None of His Colleagues ‘Will Have the Chance’ to Read Final Stimulus Bill Before Vote  —  (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) predicted on Thursday that none of his Senate colleagues would “have the chance” to read the entire final version …

Tax Cuts Won't Work  —  Yesterday's fixes can't help this economy … The congressional debate over the stimulus package may be over, but the larger debate isn't.  Many critics of the bill, which contains a mix of tax cuts and government spending, believe that the government spending part just won't work.