GEE, DO YOU THINK? Richardson withdrawal leaves gap in Cabinet picks. Plus, reader Jim McKee emails: “They told me if I voted for McCain, I’d have a President who didn’t properly vet his nominees–and they were right!”

UPDATE: Burris heads to Washington.

NOTHING SAYS “BUILD AN INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE ECONOMY” like 600,000 new government employees! Hope and Change!

RANGEL UPDATE: Rangel Ethics Probe Incomplete, Despite Pelosi’s Prediction.

GLENN GREENWALD and bogus video.

UPDATE: Greenwald responds in the comments.

ANTI-VACCINE ACTIVISM in New Jersey. Some thoughts of mine are here.

WILL HARRY REID BARRICADE THE SENATE DOOR?

UPDATE: Mickey Kaus wonders about a Burris / Blago / SEIU connection.

IS IRAN in trouble? I certainly hope so. “In short, we are dealing with a regime that is very concerned about its future, and is not very comfortable with its friends, allies, and proxies.”

FEELING THE CHANGE! “President-elect Obama has chosen anti choice, pro abstinence education, anti embryonic stem cell research, anti labor, anti union, anti same-sex marriage and anti civil union Tim Kaine to chair the DNC.” It’s not too late to display the bumper sticker!

UPDATE: From the comments: “More evidence that he’s combining the Democratic and Republican parties into the Obama Party.”

FINE WITH ME: Democrats Debate Methods to End Stem Cell Ban.

LOOK WHO’S buying IndyMac.

SPARRING WITH the reality-based community.