New Hampshire's only remaining Republican member of Congress, Senator Judd Gregg, is emerging as a key ally for President Obama and is now said to be under consideration for appointment as Commerce Secretary. If he were to be appointed to that post, the Governor of New Hampshire, Democrat John Lynch, would appoint his successor. If he were to appoint a Democrat, and if Al Franken holds on to win the seat in Minnesota, then the Democrats, with the help of Independents Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders, would have a 60 vote, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. It's no wonder, then, why Republicans are calling on Gregg to remain at his post. I hope Senator Gregg tells President Obama that he is flattered, but that his place is in the Senate. If he does not, then unless he gets a guarantee from Governor Lynch that his replacement will be a Republican, I can only conclude that Senator Gregg is not a loyal member of the GOP. I find that hard to believe and, therefore, can only conclude that Senator Gregg will say no to the offer.

Even as they get billions in taxpayer money, banks are tightening credit lines, making it even more difficult for those taxpayers to spend money.

While the economic news is still bad, the rate of decrease in economic activity was not as bad as thought, driven mainly by the fact that inventories of unsold goods are on the rise. It seems the producers of goods can't cut production as fast as consumers can cut consumption.

Another cabinet nominee in some tax trouble.

The subject of an infamous photograph, Ted Landsmark, which depicted him, and African-American, being attacked by a white, flag-wielding demonstrator at City Hall Plaza in Boston at the height of the anti-busing controversy, writes a column calling for the end of busing in Boston.

The Prime Minister of Turkey is hailed as a her0 for standing up to Israel at the Davos conference. If Israel loses Turkey, their only friend in the Muslim world, then they are in real trouble.

South Korea makes military preparations after North Korea declares all their recent agreements to be null and void. The North Koreans have a history of making bellicose statements, but with the leadership situation there uncertain (the "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il is said to be in poor health) these statements are even more worrisome than usual.

Could the "exclusionary rule", the Supreme Court ruling that allows evidence to be thrown out when police screw up, be on the way out?

Peggy Noonan says President Obama missed an opportunity with the stimulus package.

Here is a completely different take on the same issue.