Some cracks in the simpering adulation and conformity of the MSM as AP's Ron Fournier welcomes the Barackstar to Washington. "Analysis: Barack Obama tested by stimulus, scandal":The next president of the United States understands that the power of his office has its limits, even in crisis. He knows, too, how weary voters are of the seamy, transactional side of politics as outlined in the cases involving Richardson and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — the latter a "pay for play" scandal that may ye

Chris Muir cartoon.Presumably those thrown off the campaign plane are on their own.P.S. Carol Marin tempting fate:The press corps, most of us, don't even bother raising our hands any more to ask questions because Obama always has before him a list of correspondents who've been advised they will be called upon that day.We reporters have earned our own membership in the Bizarro universe.Who are we, after all? The ones rapid-firing at Rod Blagojevich with tough questions until we drive him from the

Monday promises to be a fun filled day when the government releases portions of the Blago tapes:Days before Gov. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, top Senate Democrat Harry Reid made it clear who he didn’t want in the post: Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones. Rather, Reid called Blagojevich to argue he appoint either state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, so