People

If sticking your foot in your mouth was an Olympic sport, the MSNBC blowhard would surely be a gold medalist. During last night's State of the Union, the Hardball host praised President Obama's performance, saying "I forgot he was black tonight for an hour." He later "clarified" his statement, saying he meant Obama has transcended race. Really?

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, a lightning rod for anger over Wall Street bailouts, is expected to overcome Senate opposition and win a second term as head of the nation's central bank.

The Senate has scheduled a key vote Thursday that will determine whether Bernanke has at least 60 senators on his side to beat a filibuster aimed at blocking his reappointment. Senate leaders from both parties expressed confidence he would prevail.

On Thursday, President Obama announce that his administration is releasing $8 billion in funding for 13 high-speed rail lines spread across 31 states, and both the short-term and long-term economic benefits for the nation could be substantial.

Once again, the Big Apple may be ahead of the trend. Manhattan real estate mogul Elie Hirschfeld expects the New York real estate market to recover before other areas of the country as overbuilt office space is absorbed and properties are snapped up in distress and foreclosure sales.

Michael Kinsley, the Slate founder and all-purpose genius, is stepping down as editor of the not-yet-launched business site of Atlantic Media, publisher of The Atlantic magazine. He had been in the position since October, and he confirms his departure in an exclusive to DailyFinance.

Pro bowler Kelly Kulick just made history as the first woman to win a Lumber Liquidators Pro Bowlers Association tournament. If you hadn't heard about her feat, you're not alone. Her obscurity is a testament to the sport's identity crisis.

Borders Group CEO Ron Marshall is leaving the company to become CEO of the supermarket chain A&P. Marshall is leaving Borders after less than a year at the bookseller, which just posted poor holiday earnings and is facing substantial layoffs.

Attempting to set a socially-responsible tone, the organizers of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland have announced that participants cannot use limousines, SUVs, or other gas guzzlers at the conference. Unless they happen to be government leaders. Or regular government officials. And, to be completely clear, limos are not actually banned: bankers who show up in them just won't be able to park in the special green-pass security areas. So it looks like the bottom line is this: Prius drivers won't have to walk quite as far as their more wasteful brethren.

Some of the best stories for investors from around the Internet, including stocks to buy and stocks to stay away from, the downfall of a hedge fund, and lessons learned from Warren Buffett.

Thanks, Ben, for saving the country from another Depression. But from here on, the U.S. has a different problem that will require much different thinking to solve. Economist Paul Romer might have just the right approach for today's joblessness.