Ben S. Bernanke, who is expected to take over at the Fed in February, will almost certainly echo Mr. Greenspan's step, raising rates at his first meeting next year, in part to demonstrate his commitment, too, to keeping inflation under control. But for all the similarities of their actions upon taking office, Mr. Bernanke faces a fundamentally different set of circumstances than those that Mr. Greenspan confronted 18 years ago.

To Fight Rising Prices, Fed Nominee May Need New Weapons

Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, the former head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, was forced to step down as a member of its board on Thursday evening.

The move came after the board began reviewing a confidential report by the inspector general of the corporation into accusations about Mr. Tomlinson's use of corporation money to promote more conservative programming.

Broadcasting Ex-Chairman Is Removed From Board

Lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee are circulating drafts of three bills that would give federal agencies the ability to write regulations preventing digital radio and TV broadcasts from being pirated.

Something's gone seriously wrong when you have to hold someone at gunpoint to get them to pay you for a product that they obviously want (but don't "need").

Copyright was a first-approximation solution to valuing information that served well enough for the first 100 years or so. Its really showing its age now, though, and we're in desperate need of a new system.

Broadcast flag bills circulate on the Hill

The new attempt at nominating a second Supreme Court justice presents a rare opportunity for Mr. Bush to revitalize his political base and to put his mark on the court at a time when the White House is besieged.

This is probaby risky for the president. It doesn't seem like the administration has nearly the political capital for a protracted battle over this nomination.

Bush Nominates Alito for Supreme Court Seat

With the announcement of a new Supreme Court nominee expected as early as Monday, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, warned President Bush on Sunday not to pick one of the candidates said to be on the president's short list, Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Parties Set Stage for Showdown on Court Choice

I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff and one of the most powerful figures in the Bush administration, was formally accused today of lying and obstruction of justice during an inquiry into the unmasking of a covert C.I.A. officer.

Libby Indicted

Two leading science organizations have denied the Kansas board of education permission to use their copyrighted materials in the state's proposed new science standards because of the standards' critical approach to evolution.

The National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association said the much-disputed new standards "will put the students of Kansas at a competitive disadvantage as they take their place in the world."

Wow!

2 Science Groups Say Kansas Can't Use Their Evolution Papers

Coincidentally or not, Ms. Miers's withdrawal, ostensibly over the principle of separation of powers as it relates to White House papers, is the very scenario that some conservative commentators have suggested as a face-saving ploy for the nominee and the White House. And while Mr. McClellan insisted that Ms. Miers had decided on her own to withdraw, there were no indications that the White House had tried to dissuade her.

Like Tom's explanation of the filibuster showdown a few months ago. Now things may turn ugly if the fundies demand the nominee who will overturn Roe v. Wade that they think the last election entitled them to and the dems dig in their heels. The administration probably lacks the political capital at this point to shout that down.

Miers Withdraws Nomination for Supreme Court

President Bush nominated Ben S. Bernanke, his top economic adviser, to replace Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.

At least from this article, the guy sounds decent. He hasn't announced plans to upgrade the Bureau of Engraving with new, high-speed printing presses, at least :P

Bush Nominates Bernanke to Succeed Greenspan as Fed Chief

Japan's parliament approved the privatization of the country's postal service Friday, setting in motion the creation of the world's largest private bank and delivering a crucial victory in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform program.

The upper house passed the closely watched legislation on a vote of 134 to 100, paving the way for its enactment. The powerful lower house overwhelmingly passed the package on Tuesday.

The bills authorize splitting up and selling off Japan Post's delivery, savings deposit and insurance services by 2017. The system controls some 330 trillion yen ($2.9 trillion) in savings and insurance deposits.

Japan Parliament Passes Postal Reform Bills