Paterson Interviewing Senate Candidates

The five members of the state board convene Tuesday to resume the dispute over rejected absentee ballots.

Unofficially, Franken has a 46-vote lead over Coleman. Permalink

Even nine months later, Obama can't quite lived down his less-than-stellar campaign bowling outing in Pennsylvania.

Finishing a round of golf in Hawaii Monday, the president-elect remarks, "That was pretty good, right?"

A woman fires back: "Better than your bowling." Permalink

The Treasury added $6 billion Monday night to the $17.4 billion bailout, chiefly to help the financial arm of General Motors Corp.

The Treasury Department is injecting $5 billion directly into GMAC in exchange for preferred equity shares that pay an 8% dividend. GMAC also is issuing warrants to Treasury in the form of preferred stock.

The government will also lend $1 billion to GM that the automaker will invest in its financing arm. Permalink

Five people approach a security checkpoint near the Obama compound Monday carrying a gift of informational DVDs about the conflict, asking to deliver it to the president-elect.

The Secret Service declines to let them give Obama the box wrapped in gold ribbon and a letter they wrote him.

One tells a reporter: “I don't think he's taking a vacation, he's preparing to be the next President. I'm deathly afraid he'll continue the failed policies of the Bush administration."

Read pool report here. Permalink

The International Monetary Fund's top economist generally endorsed the Obama administration's approach to economic stimulus. Permalink

Tom Daschle attended a community meeting in Dublin, Ind. where residents complained that healthcare costs were too much and coverage was too low. Permalink

A closely-watched index shows home prices in 20 cities slumped 18% from October 2007-October 2008.

Home prices now at March 2004 levels. Permalink

WashPost front: Local reforms backed by Education Secretary Nominee Arne Duncan drawing close attention.

Expert: "Duncan's willing to try new things... I expect that experimentation to continue on a national scale." Permalink

New York's governor urges Obama and Biden to back an $800 billion economic stimulus package.

Would include $500 billion to help state governments and $300 billion on infrastructure.

Adds: "No state has been more severely impacted by this crisis than New York, the home of Wall Street and the global capital of business and finance...." Permalink

Former top Bush aides Dowd and Bartlett say the 2005 hurricane "was the tipping point" in which "the president broke his bond with the public."

Their comments are a part of an oral history of the Bush White House that Vanity Fair magazine compiled for its February issue. Permalink

While the president-elect hasn't lived in Hawaii for 30 years, the state still hopes his roots and his current vacation will mean big bucks for its tourist industry. Permalink

Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter delivers a 7-pound, 4-ounce boy. Permalink