Sarah Palin displays her pitch-perfect populism  —  The snows that obliterated Washington in the past week interfered with many scheduled meetings, but they did not prevent the delivery of one important political message: Take Sarah Palin seriously.  —  Her lengthy Saturday night keynote address …

Protests in Iran - LIVE  —  Protesters have clashed again with the Iranian security forces amid official celebrations to mark the 31st anniversary of the revolution.  Follow live updates  —  4.15pm:  —  That report by about Mousavi's wife being attacked has been confirmed by his website, according to AP.

Joe Biden update: Iraq one of Obama's ‘great achievements’  —  Who knew?  —  Thank goodness, Vice President Joe Biden went on CNN to chat with Larry King Wednesday night.  So many think things are not going so well for the Democrat administration, as The Ticket chronicled here.

Pelosi Makes Her Case: A Majority Is 51 Votes  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pinning the blame on Republicans for a lack of bipartisanship in Congress and plans to bypass them if they continue to oppose efforts to enact near-universal health care.

Elizabeth Edwards Threatens Husband's Ex-Aide With Lawsuit  —  Andrew Young May Be Sued for Allegedly Contributing to Failure of Edwards' Marriage  —  Elizabeth Edwards may be preparing to sue her husband's longtime aide for allegedly contributing to the demise of her marriage.

Time for Obama to go ‘gangsta’ on GOP  —  Editor's note: Roland S. Martin, a CNN political analyst, is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of “Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith,” and the forthcoming book, “The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House.”

Diaz-Balart To Retire  —  Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) will announce later today he will not seek another term, CongressDaily reports this morning.  —  Diaz-Balart is the 18th House GOPer to step down, and one of the few who holds a seat that Dems could target.

Food stamps  —  I can't get over the fact that one in eight Americans are on food stamps.  —  Graph credit: The New York Times.

2 ex-employees say Blackwater billed government for prostitute  —  Two former employees of Blackwater Worldwide have accused the private security contractor of defrauding the government for years with phony billing, including charging for a prostitute, alcohol and spa trips.

Left frets over fate of 'don't ask'  —  Congressional liberals were heartened when Barack Obama pledged to repeal “don't ask, don't tell,” but their initial elation has given way to concerns the repeal will stall in the penalty box of presidential promises: the U.S. Senate.

Obama Takes Several Gambles in Bid to Defuse Nuclear Standoff With Iran  —  WASHINGTON — As President Obama adds economic pressure and military containment to force Iran's leadership to negotiate on its nuclear program, he is taking three big bets on his ability to defuse an increasingly tense confrontation.

Sarah Palin's Bracelet: I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means **UPDATED  —  Chalk up yet another tick on the board of things that Palin doesn't understand: … As a mother, I am flabbergasted by the symbolism of this on many levels.  I understand wanting to keep something close …