Not much news to report this evening. It's all Blagojevich, Caroline and stories we've been talking about for days. The Illinois Supreme Court won't remove the Governor; Caroline toured upstate NY.

Chrysler has shut down production of cars for a month; Bernie Madoff got better bond conditions today with a condition of home detention -- at night only; Attorney General Mukasey recused himself from Madoff's case because his son, a lawyer with Bracewell and Giuliani (yes that Giuliani) is representing a Madoff exec; and Madoff's wife Ruth may be under investigation.

Former Soprano's actor Lillo Brancato's jury is deliberating his fate on felony murder charges -- they asked to review evidence this afternoon; Georgia legislators push to eliminate the jury unanimity requirement in death penalty cases.

Obama has picked Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration.

If there's something you'd like to talk about, here's a place.

lilburro offers us two more diaries on the intelligence community and the Obama Administration. Jacob Freeze questions our silence regarding the wiretapping of two Democratic governors by an unreliable Bush Justice Department.

This is an Open Thread.

I'm watching the Biggest Loser live finale tonight. I hope Michelle wins. The first hour of the show will recap the season in case you didn't watch. All the contestants show up and you get to see how much they've changed. Update: No spoilers please, we're all on different time zones and I want to be surprised.

If I weren't watching Biggest Loser, I'd watch the 1978 movie FM (trailer here)which is replaying on VH1. I've seen it many times, and I've liked Michael Brandon since the 70's when he was in Lovers and Other Strangers and did a tv movie with Kim Novak called "Third Girl From the Left", a Maggie May type story where Novak plays an aging chorus girl who falls for Brandon who delivers her groceries. (Here's a great photo of him from back then.)It's never been released on VHS or DVD that I know of. Brandon was briefly married to Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner and moved to England years ago when he married his co-star in Dempsey and Makepeace. A few years ago he starred in the London play "Jerry Springer the Opera."

What are you watching tonight?

I will be out of pocket for the rest of the business day. So here is an Open Thread to tide you over until J and TChris arrive.

This is an Open Thread.

lilburro has a new diary on the intelligence community and the Obama Administration. Well worth the read.

This is an Open Thread.

Denver hasn't dipped to 15 degrees below zero since 1901. Wind chill factor is 36 below. I didn't even open the door today.

Our homeless shelters are operating above capacity. The Rocky Mountain News reports the Salvation Army may cut services despite increased demand due to lagging donations.

Yet, Senator-elect Mark Udall and his competitor broke fundraising records this year, taking in $20 million between them. At his first fundraiser for 2010 last week, Sen. Ken Salazar raised $400k in one night.

Politics over charity? Priorities, anyone?

Open Thread.

I am going to try and do a daily open thread that features the better diaries written by our readers. Today we have 2 new ones from Jacob Freeze - Obama's Crooked Muse, discussing the dealings betwen Penny Pritzker and the FDIC and Obama And FDR: The Politics of Low Expectations. We also have a new diary from lilburro, who has been stellar on the issues involving the intelligence community and Obama, Rand Beers for CIA Chief.

If you write quality diaries, I will be sure to feature them in an Open Thread. So please do. This is an Open Thread.

At least it is midday where I am.

This is an Open Thread.

I have a busy day ahead. Hopefully, J and TChris will be around. In the meantime, here is an Open Thread.

This is an Open Thread.

It's a court day for me, so here's an open thread for you.

All topics welcome.

I'm headed out for dinner with the TL kid for his birthday. Here's an open thread for topics we haven't discussed today.