* Barack Obama fires up an exploratory committee, thus ending the beginning, beginning the end, or maybe, just maybe, beginning the beginning. [WP, NYT, LAT]

* Democratic Presidential primary to be full of historic firsts, with an African-American and a woman candidate as front runners. [WP]

* Republican Presidential primary to be same as usual, with loudmouth racists up and down the ticket. [WP]

* SCOTUS says "Fuck it, we'll do it later" to eminent domain case. [NYT]

* Lobbyists banging members of Congress have loophole in new reform package. [WP]

* Scooter Libby deserves your pity, as he might never find a jury in this jaded city. [WP, NYT]

* The Washington Post gives its young political readers a glimpse of the ghost of campaigns yet to come. [WP]