WEDNESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Ouch: “Stocks plunged Wednesday as anxieties on Wall Street flared again amid a weaker-than-expected retail sales report, a new crop of corporate bankruptcies and continued debate over the release of federal bailout funds intended for the financial industry.”
* In response to Republican demands, Tim Geithner’s confirmation hearing has been pushed off until Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration. Obama is still optimistic about Geithner’s nomination.
* It looks like Osama bin Laden is still alive.
* This 5-4 ruling will have a significant impact: “The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of an Alabama man on drug and weapons charges, emphasizing that the exclusionary rule, which generally bars prosecutors from using evidence obtained by the police through improper searches, is far from absolute.”
* Rod Blagojevich was impeached again today, by the new newly sworn-in Illinois House. The final vote was 117 to 1, with the lone “no” vote coming from the governor’s sister-in-law.
* I wonder if we’ll ever know what the emails actually said: “A federal judge has ordered the Bush White House to preserve its e-mails, just days before a new administration takes over.”
* The president doesn’t “give a darn” about his lack of public support.
* It’s great to see Rand Beers join Janet Napolitano’s team at the Department of Homeland Security.
* Speaking of staffing moves, Bill Burton, Obama’s national press secretary during the campaign, will join the White House staff as a deputy press secretary.
* Bush and Limbaugh, BFF.
* The Brad Schlozman story manages to appear even more ridiculous.
* Every day, it seems, the news looks worse for the newspaper industry: “Gannett is implementing a long-rumored furlough program that wil require most U.S. employees to take a week off without pay.”
* The transition office unveiled the official Obama portrait today. It’s the first time that an official presidential portrait was taken with a digital camera.
* It’s great to see Judd Legum blogging again.
* The Speaker is aware of our Internet traditions.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
