L.A. TIMES: Will Leon Panetta be the next body under Obama’s bus? Getting kinda crowded down there. More at The Swamp. The White House doesn’t sound worried . . . but, then, they weren’t worried about Daschle, either.

POLITICO: Carter Tries to Push Rangel Out. “Republican Rep. John R. Carter of Texas offered legislation Wednesday that would require Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel to relinquish his gavel until the ethics committee completes an investigation into Rangel’s finances. Under the rules of the House, members must consider Carter’s resolution by next Tuesday, forcing Democrats to confront Rangel’s ethics in the same week they will try to move the massive economic stimulus and a handful of late appropriations bills.”

More on Rangel’s problems here. Plus, After Daschle and Killefer, why should Rangel get a pass?

NORM GERAS: One-eyed in Gaza. “In the outpouring of hatred towards Israel today, it scarcely matters what part of it is impelled by a pre-existing hostility towards Jews as such and what part by a groundless feeling that the Jewish state is especially vicious among the nations of the world and to be obsessed about accordingly. Both are forms of anti-Semitism. The old poison is once again among us.”

ON PJTV, Michelle Malkin and I talk with special guest Joe Wurzelbacher about the “stimulus” bill, the transition, and what Michael Steele should be doing. Free link, no registration required.

POLITICO: “Obama appears poised to break his campaign pledge to give the public five days to review a bill before he signs it.”

UPDATE: More: Obama’s five-day rule: Broken again.

“INDUSTRIAL POLICIES FAIL. So will this one.”

UPDATE: “Oy, what a mess.”

HAS BARACK OBAMA gone to war with Nancy Pelosi?

UPDATE: Chris Bowers: Which Side is Obama On?

MICHAEL BARONE: Warning to Obama and Democrats: Republican Party Is Coming Back in Virginia. Plus, Support for GOP Rises on Generic Congressional Ballot.

Hope and Change! (Both via Dan Riehl).

WALL STREET JOURNAL: Panetta Earned $700,000 in Speaking and Consulting Fees, Forms Show. “The White House’s nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon Panetta, has earned more than $700,000 in speaking and consulting fees since the beginning of 2008, with some of the payments coming from troubled banks and an investment firm that owns companies that do business with federal national security agencies.”

MORE ON RAY KURZWEIL AND GOOGLE’S university project.

DAVID GERGEN comments on Tom Daschle’s reputation for integrity.

RASMUSSEN: 50% Say Stimulus Plan Likely to Make Things Worse. “Many Americans simply accept the notion that no matter how bad things are, Congress could make them worse. Most voters currently rate Congress’ performance as poor, and most expect that lobbyists will have more influence on the legislation than voters or the president. When reacting to the economic downturn, 46% of Americans remain more concerned that the government will do too much while 41% worry it will do too little.”

UPDATE: Byron York: “On Capitol Hill, you can feel the Republicans’ growing sense of confidence. They’ve scored a lot of hits on the stimulus bill, and now they’re aiming higher.” I think the stimulus bill is a bad one, and I’m glad to see the Republicans trying to kill it rather than — as I had feared — just holding out for some payola before going along and providing bipartisan cover for a massive looting operation. Let’s see if they can hold things together and not screw it up.

MY SHAME: Tennessee beer tax is nation’s highest.

TOM DASCHLE: Not a victim of the tax code.

JOHN HAWKINS REVIEWS Doug Feith’s War and Decision, now out in paperback. Our interview with Feith is here.

THIS SEEMS HOPEFUL: Obama’s promised health care overhaul delayed. Given the way the financial overhaul is going, I’m for delaying this on past 2012. Or maybe 2032.

WHY WE SENT rovers to Mars. I thought it was to keep tabs on the Gray Aliens’ underground bases there.

NEWSWEEK: LOSING CONTROL: How Obama lost control of the agenda.

SO REFINED! Bacon-flavored mints.

STIMULATING THE AUTO BUSINESS by making interest on auto loans deductible? Hey, let’s support the housing market by making home mortgage interest a refundable tax credit!