Read the full post by Rev Lennox Yearwood, Jr. on the Huffington Post

While watching the President Obama address Congress last night, I was thinking about what progressive groups need to do better to support our President. Then, watching the Republican response from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, (I too was born in Louisiana and to immigrant parents), I was struck by how disingenuous his speech was. He argued that based on the experience from Hurricane Katrina federal stimulus dollars for his State would be counter-productive.

After President Obama's encouraging address, Governor Jindal's remarks were a stark reminder of why as progressives we need to organize and rally our base more than ever.

In an interview published in the Washington Times on February 19th, the newly appointed RNC Chairman, Charles Steele of Maryland, says he is going to take the RNC into uncharted territory - Hip Hop marketing. The exception that proves the rule of course is the one-hit disaster from a couple years back - MC Rove.

Read more for some excerpts from the Washington Times article by Ralph Hallow...

The Roots are playing Powershift!

All you need to know about Powershift 09 is at www.powershift09.org.

All we can say is join us if you can, at this historical summit of young people who want to see bold action to save our climate.

We are offering a special discounted registration rate of $45, for the 3 day conference. Simply enter the sponsor code dcpowershift when you are filling out your registration form. It's that easy!

Next month rapper T.I. will begin serving about a year in prison on weapons charges. But before he enters his cell, he's trying to teach kids not to make the same mistakes he did in his MTV show 'T.I.'s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go.'

The House passed a $787 billion plan to resuscitate the economy Friday. The measure was passed 246-183, with no Republican 'yes' votes.

In a major victory for President Barack Obama, Democrats muscled a huge, $787 billion stimulus bill through Congress late Friday night in hopes of combating the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Artists from around the world expressed their feelings about former President George W. Bush on a shoe or pair of shoes. The exhibit 'Farewell Shoes for Mr. Bush' runs through Presidents Day.

Republican Sen. Judd Gregg has withdrawn his nomination for commerce secretary. Gregg was President Obama's second choice for the post.

President Barack Obama paused to mourn those killed in the crash of Continental flight 3407 and the life of Sept. 11 widow Beverly Eckert who was one of the people lost Thursday night.

The heads of eight big banks told members of Congress they feel the public's pain stemming from the financial meltdown and are making changes, as the AP's Mark Hamrick reports.

Republican Sen. Judd Gregg has withdrawn his nomination for commerce secretary. Gregg was President Obama's second choice for the post.

President Barack Obama tells a Florida audience that he knows they want Washington bickering to end and Congress to swing into action, passing a massive bill promising to improve business conditions.

As the Senate passed its version of the economic stimulus bill and the Treasury Department unveiled new plans to help banks, President Obama tied his political fate to the economy.

Read more for a special message from T.I. about the Hip Hop Caucus' Speak to Obama initiative

Israelis head to the polls today to elect a new prime minister. This is their fourth election in a decade.

This was an interesting hour long press conference. President Obama addressed the stimulus package and even recent revelations about steroid use in major league baseball. Veteran reporter Helen Thomas asked her first question of the new President, after being banned from the Bush White House. Also a first, the Huffington Post representing New Media got a question in, and about prosecuting Bush at that!

Biden says definitively that "America will not torture" and that we will shut Guantanamo.

New RNC Chair, Steele, addresses the American people on the GOP economic perspective:

A deal was announced on the emergency stimulus plan in the Senate. The New York Times Reports: Senators Reach Accord on Stimulus Plan as Jobs Vanish.

After days of debate, a divided Senate reaches a deal on an economic stimulus package. The compromise - pushed by a group of about 20 moderates Democrats and Republicans - totals a reported 780 billion dollars in spending and tax cuts - down from a bill that carried a price tag of 937 billion.

The Senate blinked after President Obama pointed to January's unemployment and told Congress to stop bickering.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery Thursday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is often deadly, although the court said doctors apparently found Ginsburg’s cancer at an early stage.

President Barack Obama said his goal in office was to pursue peace in the Middle East. But, as the AP’s Tracy Brown reports that goal is going to be hard to accomplish.

President Obama has created an economic advisory board to help steer the economy out of a tailspin. The board is led by former Fed chair Paul Volcker.

The Democratic leader says lawmakers have made progress on an economic recovery package and the Senate could vote as early as Friday afternoon.

President Barack Obama will visit two cities hit hard by the economic downturn as he promotes his stimulus plan. Obama will visit Elkhart, Ind. and Ft. Myers, Fla.

President Barack Obama imposed $500,000 caps on senior executive pay for the most distressed financial institutions receiving federal bailout money.

By a vote of 290-135, the House passed legislation to concur with the Senate amendments to H.R. 2, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act, sending the bill to the President’s desk for his signature. This legislation reauthorizes and improves SCHIP.

Here is Chairman Waxman speaking on the bill.

As U.S. forces in Iraq continue to hand over security issues and sites to Iraqi forces, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is confident Iraq’s troops can handle the transition of power.

Tom Daschle’s decision to withdraw his nomination as HHS secretary clouds hopes that President Obama will make significant progress on health reform in his first 100 days.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that the United States is concerned about recent behavior in Iran. Clinton added the state department is doing a review of all tactics on how to approach Iran.

Daschle withdraws his Nomination because of personal tax problems.

Despite signing an executive ordering restricting the role of lobbyists in government, President Barack Obama is making some exceptions.

Secretary Clinton is sending the administration’s Mideast Envoy back to further work at resolving the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Mayor Kilpatrick was regarded by many as the first “Hip Hop” Mayor.