Brian McGrory is impressed with Scott Brown's early steps as the new Republican U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. I agree. It appears Senator Brown understands that he was elected by Independents, and that he has only two years before he must defend the seat. This means making every effort to work with everybody, potential friend and foe alike. This means being non-ideological as often as possible. Of course, it will also help enormously if President Obama in 2012 looks at least as bad as he does now.

J.D. Salinger has died. Here is the obituary in The New York Times. Salinger was 91 when he died in Cornish, New Hampshire, where he had lived for many years. A veteran of World War II, Salinger landed on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944 as a member of the 4th Infantry Division. I never did like Catcher in the Rye much, but perhaps that is because we were required to read it. I wonder if we will see some new material now that he has passed away? I'm sure I am not the only one pondering that possibility.

Rich Lowry says Justice Alito's mouthing of the words, "not true" during the State of the Union speech pretty much sums it all up.

Obama on the retreat as his people consider moving the KSM trial to someplace other than Manhattan.

Charles Krauthammer examines the scandal surrounding the treatment of the Christmas Day bomber. Clearly, the problem really centers on the fact that Obama and his people believe terrorism is a criminal justice problem, rather than a national security problem.

Paul Krugman ridicules the President's plan to reduce the deficit.

Michael Barone says the Democrats are falling as fast as Republicans did in 1974 when they were discredited by Nixon and Watergate. He even believes things could be worse for Democrats this November than they were in 1994.