Howard Dean endorses Daley for chief of staff, rips White House  —  Former DNC chairman and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said Wednesday that William Daley would be a “huge plus” for the Obama administration if he is tapped to be the president's new chief of staff.

A very smart speech by Speaker Boehner  —  If you spent the afternoon watching C-SPAN, as I did, you heard applause.  A lot of it.  Over and over again.  And when John Boehner took the podium to be sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives, it swelled back up, and stayed there.

19 Democrats Oppose Pelosi's Bid for Speaker  —  House Democrats had a small uprising on their hands today, when 19 members cast protest votes against Nancy Pelosi, their caucus leader, to be speaker of the House.  —  Ms. Pelosi assuredly had no chance of being re-elected speaker, as Democrats are now in the minority.

Pomp, and Little Circumstance  —  A theatrical production of unusual pomposity will open on Wednesday when Republicans assume control of the House for the 112th Congress.  A rule will be passed requiring that every bill cite its basis in the Constitution.  A bill will be introduced to repeal the health care law.

Hoyer: Tea Party People Come From Unhappy Families  —  On the eve of his demotion by voters from House Majority Leader to House Minority Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Hoyer offered this insight into the psychology of the Tea Party movement: … So, there you have it.

Tea Party leaders not swayed by Lugar meeting  —  Washington (CNN) - Hoping to head off a primary challenge from the right, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, sat down with Tea Party leaders last month but did little to persuade them of his conservative credentials.