"That's the weak point of the whole summit. We're talking with an outgoing administration."
--Markus Ziener speaking about the upcoming G-20 Summit

Illinois Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich must find a replacement for President-elect Barack Obama, who will resign his Senate seat Sunday. The first-term Senator was the only black in the Senate and the choice of his successor will be a huge political gift to whomever gets it (for Blagojevich as well — he's become reviled since his election in 2002). But with no choice expected soon, Democrats retain a tenuous majority in the Senate — McCain supporter Senator Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., is a wild card — as lawmakers consider economic stimulus legislation.

The Russian parliament is fast-tracking legislation that would create a path for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to return to the Kremlin as president for another two six-year terms. Putin had already served two four-year terms as president from 2000 to 2008, but the current constitution prevents a president from serving more than two terms consecutively. With one-party control, the measure is expected to pass, and quickly, meaning there could be a President Putin in place soon (well before the end of the first term of the President-elect Barack Obama) and until 2021.

When Nebraska's legislature crafted its safe-haven law to protect newborns from abandonment, state lawmakers had the best intentions. But without an age limit set, those best intentions have opened the door to some 30 children being abandoned at Nebraskan hospitals — and those "children" have often been teenagers, never newborns.

"Whether we're convinced if he's dead or not, [Obama] can never give up the hunt for bin Laden. He can not afford it politically, even though in his heart he knows it's a waste of people and money."
--Robert Baer speaking about President-elect Obama's future search for bin Laden

"The controls that might have been written six weeks ago when this bill was signed would perhaps be defunct at this point because of the change in policy. That exposes the soft underbelly of the overall process."
— Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen speaking about overseeing financial bailouts

"This weekend we're going to get spanked. And you know something? Given the mess we've made, we deserve it."
--Peter Morici speaking about the G20 meeting

"When you're in a village, you really do depend on the wild meat."
--Steve Heimel speaking about Sarah Palin and life in rural Alaska

"People are starting to lose their sight, they're starting to lose limbs, they're getting heart disease -- all symptoms of diabetes. They're not aware what they're getting."
--Adam Mynott, speaking about the rapid spread of Type 2 diabetes in India

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but one thing that isn't staying in Sin City is tourists. The economic downturn is keeping visitors — and their dollars — away from Nevada casinos. And from taxi drivers to waiters it seems that all of Las Vegas is feeling the pinch.

"Both in China and here the fall off in tourism is so drastic they weren't making the revenue to pay back those bonds. They've halted their building program in China and fired 11,000 construction workers."
--Ian Mylchreest speaking about the problems of the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas and abroad