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An article published in today’s Roll Call, exposes the politics that earmarks play in Congress.

The article cites a letter from Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairwoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI) who explicitly states, “Inherently, we understand that this earmark process is not equitable… There are a few examples of where your help could significantly assist a few members in highly contested races.”

In February, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released a list of 29 members that are potentially vulnerable, not surprisingly, 20 of those members received airdropped earmarks in the omnibus appropriations bill. 

This letter appears to request taxpayer dollars to aid in political campaigns, which is improper and possibly illegal.  The earmark distribution process must be investigated to ensure that no federal laws are being broken.

Blogs have come a long way since Dec. 17, 1997, when Jorn Barger coined the term "weblog" to describe the list of links on his Robot Wisdom website that "logged" his internet wanderings. In the decade hence, blogs have come to dominate the net, from 100 million personal diaries to the breaking news sections of the august The New York Times.

"The public can find themselves in a dialogue with politicians and leaders that simply wasn't possible before," he said. "(Blogging is) a tool that you can use to do anything. Change the world or put up your restaurant's daily menu, and anything in between."

Video showed firefighters breaking a window and spraying flames with a hose.

The building, built between 1871 and 1888, is located across a driveway from the White House and houses the vice president's offices.

Also called the Old Executive Office Building, it was originally built for the State, War and Navy Departments and is an example of the French Second Empire style of architecture, according to a government Web site.

“This bill is the culmination of 12 months of procrastination, broken promises and misplaced priorities. Experts looking for an explanation of Congress’ historic low approval ratings should look no further than this bill.”

I'm Shocked but not surprised.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears has revealed that she is with child.

The Zoey 101 star confirms her expectant status in OK! magazine's new issue and says that the father is longtime beau Casey Aldridge.

"It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected," Spears says. "I was in complete and total shock and so was he."

... That’s according to Sen. Fred Thompson’s Iowa Executive Director, Robert Haus, a self-proclaimed "fossil" of Iowa politics who has worked for candidates like Sen. Chuck Grassley, Bob Dole, and Steve Forbes.

Of course, Haus was referencing the endorsement Thompson recently picked up of popular conservative Iowa Congressman Steve King, and juxtaposing it with John McCain's endorsement by The Des Moines Register.

I talked to Haus while he was on the way to an event -- the fourth Thompson event of the day for him.  Haus was understandably upbeat, especially considering David Yepsen's column about Thompson today.

Haus tells me Thompson has been received quite well:

“I think, just based on the reception we’ve seen in the last 24 hours, it’s been nothing short of spectacular." 

“... It’s hoots and hollers and 'hell yeas' from the back of the room.  It’s almost Revivalesque.  It’s stuff we’re not used to in Iowa," says Haus.

He also tells me he's also surprised by the number of folks who are undecided, and the number of folks who are unhappy with the candidates they are currently supporting.

When asked to talk about organization, Haus is slightly less optimistic.  Regarding whether or not Thompson will have organizers in all 99 counties, Haus says they are working hard every day to build an organization:  “We’re going to build the ark until the rain starts," he quips.

He also notes that this year is unique, adding: “None of us have campaigned this hard over Christmas.”  This is true.  Most campaigns get a brief reprieval before the Cuacuses on say, January 17.  This year, of course, the caucus is on January 3.

One thing is clear:  Anyone watching Iowa had better not write Fred Thompson off just yet ...

Note: If you’re interested in Iowa politics, I recently also spoke with Romney’s Iowa Communications Director, Tim Albrecht