Pelosi calls for grand jury to investigate key Bush staffers

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked the Justice Department on Thursday to open a grand jury investigation into whether President Bush's chief of staff and former counsel should be prosecuted for contempt of Congress.

'The Economist' Scores the Debate for Obama!

IT HARDLY seems possible, but there have been no fewer than 20 televised debates in the long struggle to settle the Democratic nomination. The latest was in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday February 26th. For Hillary Clinton it represented a final chance to unsettle Barack Obama ahead of the next round of primaries, and she failed.

More people are tapping their 401(k) for cash

Trent Charlton knew the risks when he borrowed $10,000 from his 401(k) and cut his retirement savings in half.

Answer Desk: A hostile takeover playbook

If Microsoft has the cash to buy rival Yahoo, why can’t it just call up a stock broker and? buy? all of Yahoo's stock? The Answer Desk, by msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.

A Sit-Down with Warren Buffett - Thoughts on Business

Noted from a Q & A at Emory's Goizueta Business School with (according to Forbes) the world's second richest man, Warren Buffet.

Hollywood's Greatest On-Screen Pairs

When the right chemistry is in place, one plus one equals big box office hit.

The most overpriced suburbs in America

While many of the nation's homeowners are worried about falling home prices, others would argue they're not falling fast enough.

The End of America

A must see

Early Voting Wave as Reaction to Systemic Disenfranchisement

Texas Republicans have worked overtime to make it harder for key Democratic voting groups to vote and be represented fairly. The redistricting games they’ve played are infamous. And for the Prairie View A&M University precincts, they put the early-polling place more than seven miles from the school. So what did the students in this video do?

Seldom-read home loan docs must change: experts (Reuters)

Reuters - The papers that U.S. borrowers sign
when buying a house are piled so high that few people read them
all, and even fewer absorb the information.

Answer Desk front page

There are ways to minimize losses in a stock market downturn, and you can even profit from one. But each technique, from stop-loss orders to short sales to “put” options, has drawbacks.

Existing home sales hit 9-year low (AP)

AP - Sales of existing homes fell for the sixth straight month in January, dropping to the slowest sales pace on record. Median home prices were also down and many analysts predicted further price declines in the months ahead given high levels of unsold homes.

Clinton to Obama: "Shame on you"

(CNN) -- A visibly angry Sen. Hillary Clinton lashed out Saturday at Sen. Barack Obama over campaign literature that she said he knows is "blatantly false." Clinton jabbed the air with her hands as she told a crowd in Cincinnati, Ohio, that two Obama mailings spread lies about her positions on universal health care and the North American Free Trade

Best Buy to ramp up China expansion, shuns partners (Reuters)

Reuters - Top U.S. electronics retailer Best Buy
Co , facing stagnant sales at home, said on Friday it
would ramp up its expansion in China but would not grow through
partnerships with local rivals.

AP Survey: Superdelegates Jump to Support Obama

The Democratic superdelegates are starting to follow the voters—straight to Barack Obama. In just the past two weeks, more than two dozen of them have climbed aboard his presidential campaign, according to a survey by The Associated Press. At the same time, Hillary Rodham Clinton's are beginning to jump ship, abandoning her for Obama.

Amtrak's New Look: Screeners, Dogs, Guns

Amtrak says new procedures won't hold up the flow of passengers.

Russ Feingold: "I Voted for Barack Obama"

Senator Russ Feingold, a progressive icon who was the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act in 2001, proposed the first timeline for bringing the troops home from Iraq and sought to censure Bush over warrantless wiretapping, said he voted in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary for Barack Obama.

"Ready on day one?" - How about ready in time for primaries?

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign failed to file a full slate of convention delegate candidates for Pennsylvania's April 22 primary despite a deadline extension. That's a full 10% of delegates she could be missing in a time when every one of them seems to count so much... if they are from the right states, of course.

No Oil, No Peace, No Problem

In 'Fuel of War,' players can have fun as an oil shortage spurs a new world war.

Bloomberg claims "fraud" in count of Obama votes in New York

Mayor Bloomberg charged yesterday that "fraud" was behind the unofficial results in the New York Democratic presidential primary that produced zero votes for Barack Obama in some districts. Get ready for Texas and Ohio.

JC Penney quarterly profit falls (Reuters)

Reuters - J.C. Penney Co Inc on Thursday
reported a lower quarterly profit on Thursday after sales fell
as its middle income shoppers clamped down on spending in the
wake of a shaky U.S. economy.

Buffett: Bank Woes Are 'Poetic Justice'

Legendary billionaire investor says people drank "toxic Kool-Aid."

Commodity prices help lift Wall Street (FT.com)

FT.com - US stocks rose on Tuesday as energy and mining companies were lifted by soaring commodity prices.

Deval Patrick: I asked Obama to use my words

Two days after the Clinton campaign first published videos on YouTube that sparked allegations of plagiarism on the part of Barack Obama, the press was still on the case. And in an appearance on ABC News' Good Morning America on Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, an Obama friend and supporter, addressed the issue.

In Recessions, Doing the Job Is Not Enough

Career coach says no job is safe, and the workplace is no place for modesty.

Answer Desk: Tax rebate riddles

As readers sit down to the annual brain-teaser of filing their income tax returns, this year offers a new enigma. Will I get one of these tax rebates from the government?

The Campus Emergency Business Boom

The Ill. shooting may aid the already booming emergency notification business.

Answer Desk: Not a win for tax dodgers

Actor Wesley Snipes' recent acquittal on tax fraud charges is being taken as a victory by a band of tax "protesters." But, they are overlooking a key fact: Snipes still faces jail time.

United to Charge $25 to Check Second Bag

The airline, struggling with high fuel costs, hopes to raise more money this way

New York Times Plans to Cut 100 Newsroom Jobs

"The newspaper will bow to growing financial strain and cut 100 newsroom jobs this year, primarily through attrition and buyouts, but layoffs are a possibility, the executive editor said."

Bush: Seize the property of those not of our vision in Iraq!

Official Executive order from Whitehouse.gov! "I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq"

Raising Obama

To those who have known the candidate since boyhood, it’s not just those “dreams from my father” that make Obama a contender, but also his mother’s daring, his grandmother’s grit, and his own relentless drive.

Possible Election Fraud in New York Primary

City election officials this week said that their formal review of the results, which will not be completed for weeks, had confirmed some major discrepancies between the vote totals reported publicly — and unofficially — on primary night and the actual tally on hundreds of voting machines across the city.

Who's No. 1? $14.3M License Plate Buyer

Man pays record amount for car license plate at Abu Dhabi auction.

At Halliburton/KBR, sexual assault is part of the workplace.

Jamie Lee Jones, a young computer tech, was gang-raped on her fourth day by coworkers after being drugged; the other, Tracy Barker, was sexually assaulted by a State Department employee. Both immediately reported their assaults, only to have KBR first lock them in isolation, then question their accusations.

Countdown Special Comment on FISA: President Bush Is A Liar

Not that it's a big surprise..

Fox News Radio Compares Obama to Hitler [AUDIO]

Fox News Radio host Tom Sullivan took a call from a listener who stated that when listening to Barack Obama speak, "it harkens back to when I was younger and I used to watch those deals with Hitler, how he would excite the crowd and they'd come to their feet and scream and yell." Sullivan then played a "side-by-side comparison" of a Hitler speech a

Housing's Hot in S.D. and … Nowhere Else

Sales of existing homes fall in 45 states but S. Dakota sales rise.

The Clintons' Terror Pardons

The FALN clemencies provide a disturbing example of how the abuse or misuse of presidential prerogative, under the guise of policy, can be put in service of the personal and private activities of the president's spouse -- and beyond the reach of meaningful congressional oversight.

Air Rebel: 'Any Publicity Is Good Publicity'

Irish airline's Ryanair's cheeky ads draw censure, but get everyone talking.

Treasurys fall on strong retail sales (AP)

AP - Treasury prices fell Wednesday after a new retail sales report showed an unexpected increase in consumer spending for January after the dismal holiday season.

Buffett bond insurer offer boosts US stocks (FT.com)

FT.com - Wall Street opened higher on Tuesday after Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, offered to take over $800bn in municipal bonds currently insured by bond insurers Ambac, MBIA (NYSE:MBI) and FGIC.

Want a Mortgage? Now is Not the Time

Survey shows "significant numbers" of lenders have tightened credit standards.

Sad, self-absorbed shoppers spend more

If you’re sad and shopping, watch your wallet: A new study shows people’s spending judgment goes out the window when they’re down, especially if they’re a bit self-absorbed.

Countrywide to Help More Borrowers

Troubled lender will expand programs to aid those behind on payments and others.

Fed Cuts Interest Rate - Again

How the Fed's latest rate cut impacts credit cards, mortgages and student loans.

Hillary Clinton's "Mission Accomplished" banner

Frank Rick of the NYT writes a FRICKIN ESSAY on the Clinton campaign, backed up with facts.

Scientology Raid Austin, Texas

Pictures from this morning's events in Austin, Texas.

"We have brought to Iraq the worst of America" (Leaked Memo)

In a confidential memo, a long-time Republican, Manuel Miranda, who has served in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad for the past year says the State Department's efforts in Iraq are so poorly managed they "would be considered willfully negligent if not criminal" if done in the private sector.

Are Muscle Cars Uncool?

Makers of the Camaro and the Challenger now cringe at the term "muscle car."

10 Tips: How to score big at yard sales

With a little bit of advance planning, you can greatly improve your experience at garage sales and save serious cash on all sorts of purchases, both big and small.

Too Many McMansions: Ride Storm or Sell?

Many homeowners struggle to find buyers for their million-dollar properties.

ABC News: Cash Strapped Clinton Campaign - Stunt?

Clinton Campaign Staffers Not Going Without Pay

In uncertain times, invest in the long-term

While Wall Street debates whether the U.S. is headed for recession, investors don't have to wait for an answer — they can take steps to limit their risks.

Oval Office Eats for Just $500

Enjoy dishes created for past presidents; plus recipes to cook them yourself.

Anonymous makes it to NPR

NPR Morning Edition find out about Anonymous and the worldwide action day. Interview an Anonymous member/coordinator in California? Seriously.

AP confirms secret camp inside Gitmo

For the first time, the top commander of detention operations at Guantanamo has confirmed the existence of the mysterious Camp 7. In an interview with The Associated Press, Rear Adm. Mark Buzby also provided a few details about the maximum-security lockup.

Women who sexually abuse children and teens

75% of sexual predators are male and 25% are female. 86% of the victims of female sexual predators aren't believed, so the crimes go unreported and don't get prosecuted. Considering these facts, arrest statistics for child sexual offenders by gender are meaningless.

Confidence Slides to 14-Year Low

Poll shows decline similar to start of 1990-91 and 2001 recessions.

Another Recession Sign? Spending Slows

December consumer spending showed the weakest growth in more than a year.

Several dead in Israel explosion

At least two people were killed Monday morning in a terror attack carried out by a suicide bomber at a commercial center in the southern Israeli city of Dimona. Magen David Adom emergency services declared a multi-casualty incident.

Recession? Public Says Yes

Poll says six in 10 see recession, while eight in 10 rate economy negatively.

Stocks See Not-So-Super Tuesday

Bad news from the service sector stokes recession fears, stock plummet.

Clinton Push Poll in California: Dirty Tricks Again

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton or one of her well monied supporters is up to the old style down right Rovian dirty politics again. So buyer beware. If you are getting a "POLL" call and they start talking "POLICY" you are not taking a poll at all. You are getting lied too.

Your 2008 Plan for Success

It's a new year, and 2008 can be the best year ever for you and your business.

Airport Luxe: Terminals Spare No Expense

Virgin, British Airways fight for the sleekest, hippest terminal in London.

Mega deals boost Asian stocks (Reuters)

Reuters - Asian stocks rose on Monday, gaining
2.5 percent as Microsoft Corp's $45 billion bid for
Yahoo and China's purchase of a stake in takeover
target Rio Tinto boosted investor optimism over share
valuations.

Americans slow to spend down IRA balances

Americans who have money stored in Individual Retirement Accounts tend to hang on to it for use in the later years of their retirement, according to a study being released Monday.

As economy tumbles, retirees scramble to cope

Rising food and fuel prices, falling interest rates and screeching declines in global stock markets have retirees paring spending to levels some haven't seen in decades.

Where tax savings are: Detailing deductions

With the start of the new tax year, the hunt for tax-lowering deductions and credits is officially on. But new opportunities are scarcer this year.

Exxon Posts U.S. Record $40 Billion Profit

Exxon Mobil breaks its own Q4 and annual profit records.

10 Tips: What to do with tax rebate?

Under a federal government stimulus plan, checks would be sent out in amounts ranging from $300 to $1,200 per household. How should you spend it?

State of the Union by the Numbers

A look at what President Bush said in his final State of the Union Address delivered Monday night. Each word is scaled in proportion to the number of times it was used. Roll over a word for its frequency.