ALAN BOYLE REPORTS ON the latest in fusion’s ups and downs.

VIDEO: Talking healthcare on the streets of Chicago.

TUNKU VARADARAJAN ON DAVID FRUM, the “polite-company conservative.”

SHOCKER: Durable goods orders rise less than expected.

CATO’S CHRIS EDWARDS ON HEALTH CARE SPENDING: “When describing spending growth in federal programs, I often need to use words like ‘soaring’ and ‘explosive.’ But growth in federal health spending is almost beyond superlatives to describe it, and it will increase even faster as a result of President Obama’s new health legislation.” Check out the chart.

JENNIFER RUBIN: Repeal And Replace — But First Reveal.

REASON TV: 3 Reasons Health Care Reform Won’t Cut The Deficit by One Thin Dime.

NICK SCHULZ LOOKS AT THE BRIGHT SIDE: As Europe and Asia become ‘veritable old-age homes,’ the U.S. will the enjoy the benefits of a growing population.

ANN ALTHOUSE IS learning about Saul Alinsky.

THE TOXIC BOB BENNETT: Utah Tea Party organizer David Kirkham sends this report from last night’s Republican Party caucusing:

Here is the report on Caucus night here in Utah. Here in Utah we elect delegates to the Republican convention. At convention, if a candidate gets 60% of the delegate vote, they immediately advance to general election with NO primary. This levels the playing field so candidates with relatively little money can challenge an entrenched incumbent.

Tonight I ran for precinct chair in my district. We usually have 40 people show up to caucus night. Tonight we had 67. Everyone running to be a delegate (the chair is automatically a state and county delegate) was allowed a 2 minute speech, then 5 minutes for questions. In my speech I told them I organized Utah’s first Tea Party a year ago. Applause. I told them I have helped to organize more than I can remember–maybe 14 or so. More applause. I told them I was not involved in politics at all before the Tea Parties. I had never even voted in a primary before this year–though I did vote in all the general elections.

I told them about our factory in Poland and how I would NEVER vote for Socialism. My first question was if I would vote for Bennett. I said, “Absolutely not.” “Why not?” I was asked. “Because he voted for TARP and the bailouts. He voted to turn out the lights.” Big applause. The next guy got up and said pretty much the same thing about Bennett (he later became Vice-Chair). A third guy got up and said how much we needed Bennett. He extolled how much we needed his experience and influence. Then, we voted. I got 58 of 67 votes cast in the first count. (Now, I think that was more of a vote for the Tea Party and a vote against Bennett more than anything I said–I’m just another blade of grass in the movement.)

Next we voted for Vice Chair. A Bennett supporter came in last out of 3.

Then we voted for State Delegates. A Bennett supporter came in last out of 2.

Then we voted for County Delegates. We have 5 in our precinct and 6 people ran. County delegates don’t even vote for state seats like Senators at convention–only state delegates do. No matter, the first question EVERYONE asked–“Are you going to vote for Bennett?” The lone Bennett supporter came in tied for last out of the 6–he then conceded the seat.

Conclusion: My Tea Party buddies texted me all night from their own precincts as Bennett supporters fell. EVERYWHERE, Bennett was toxic. In our straw poll, Bennett came in 3rd. Maybe there is hope after all.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Reader Randy Simmons emails: “My caucus was exactly the opposite. At the caucus meeting two years ago there were 8 people who attended. This time there were 45. Forty-two of them supported Bob Bennett. Almost all of them were highly offended by the Club for Growth campaign against Bennett. In private conversations it appeared that nearly everyone would support Mike Lee, Bennett’s main opponent, over Senator Hatch but not over Senator Bennett. This caucus meeting was in Cache County, one of the more conservative areas of the state and I was the only person in the room employed at the university so they were not a bunch of pointy-headed intellectuals living off the state.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: More reporting from Utah. “9 people showed up for the last precinct caucus – there were over 50 last night. I lost by 2 votes. BUT THIS IS THE KICKER — I lost to Senator Bennett’s BROTHER. I knew that I live in a pretty entrenched area for Senator Bennett, and I knew I was running against his brother for state delegate, and I knew it was a long shot – BUT I ONLY LOST BY 2 VOTES.”

MORE: Reader David Cindrich writes:

I went to the first Tea Party in Utah and have been to many since then. Couldn’t stand what was going on in our country. Last night I went to my FIRST caucus meeting in Orem, Utah. I even ran for state and county delegate not having any idea what I was saying or doing. All I knew is I wanted Bennett out for voting for TARP and because he has been in there WAY too long.

The precinct chair, who was reelected, was pretty ambivalent towards Bennett. EVERYONE else who ran for state and county delegate wanted Bennett out. Everyone elected for all delegates, except the chair, was solidly anti-Bennett. I was just happy to take part in the system for the first time. The meeting was packed.

Lots of new people are moving into politics this year.

JULES CRITTENDEN: THERE IS NO FATE: “If conservatives think America is full of rage and Congress will be theirs in November, and they plan on taking that for granted, they might be in for a surprise. November is a long way off. Talking health care for seven months when people have had to listen to it for a year might work, but I doubt it. If it was my campaign to take over Congress, I’d talk fiscal responsibility and government accountability. Everyone will know exactly what you are talking about. Elected leaders that don’t listen, spend too much and think they know better than you do.”

SO LONG, SUCKERS: Hannah Giles says goodbye to ACORN.

JOHN CONYERS: ObamaCare Gets Its Constitutional Authority From The “Good and Welfare Clause.” I’m sure that it’s somehow racist or something to point out that there’s no such thing . . . .

RON BAILEY REPORTS ON MEDICAL INNOVATION FROM THE YEAR 2020: There’s not much, because of health care reform.

That’s been my worry, too.

PROFESSOR BAINBRIDGE: Treasury Securities No Longer Risk-Free? “Why is this happening? Because the financial markets no longer regard the US government’s predilection for deficit spending as sustainable.”

THE CBC HAS A poll on Ann Coulter.

PJTV: Spanked On Healthcare? Now What? With Dana Loesch, Stephen Green, and Scott Ott.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY RACIST: A tax on indoor tanning.

FUN: GOP to Dems: Will you join us in voting to ban Viagra for sex offenders? “Everyone get the joke here? If the Dems amend the reconciliation bill for any reason, they have to send it back to the House for yet another vote. So anything the GOP proposes — anything — they’re basically bound to vote no on. And Coburn knows it. One tasty shinola sandwich, coming up!” That ain’t shinola there, hoss.

UPDATE: GOP wants Obama to enroll in Obamacare.

Plus, reader C.J. Burch emails: “Maybe an entire raft of amendments simply praising American soldiers for their victory in Iraq, praising motherhood and apple pie, praising puppies and kittens. By God I’d have a thousand of them and raise them one at a damned time…or until they made me stop.” Any thoughts of running for Congress, C.J.?

ANN COULTER, victim of Canadian thuggery.

She’s filing a human rights complaint.

MICKEY KAUS: “Toughest Job in Town: Who’s the guy assigned to keep Obama’s ego in check? … Tip: Start by reminding Obama that he won the vote in part by leveraging his weakness–pleading with Democratic Congressmen to save his Presidency. …”

SO IS THIS HOPE, OR CHANGE? Poll: 79% fear U.S. economy could collapse.

MICHAEL BARONE: Democratic incumbents running behind in Obama’s home state.

REBECCA MACKINNON on China and Google.