Making the Leap in Business News

One of the biggest names on the new Web site is Tom Ricks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Fiasco," who took a buyout from the paper and will write a daily blog on military matters. Blogger Daniel Drezner will shift his blog on global economics to the revamped site. And ex-Clinton administration official David Rothkopf will focus on Washington power brokers. D.C. journalist Laura Rozen will head a reported blog on national security and foreign affairs. And there will be yet another blog devoted to all things Hillary.

In a classic Glasser touch, a team of conservatives will critique Obama's foreign policy from the right.

She's already got a nice piece up on the 10 worst predictions of 2008, leading off with:

" 'If [Hillary Clinton] gets a race against John Edwards and Barack Obama, she's going to be the nominee. Gore is the only threat to her, then . . . Barack Obama is not going to beat Hillary Clinton in a single Democratic primary. I'll predict that right now.' --William Kristol, Fox News Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006."

Post Editor Resigning

In more Post news, Phil Bennett announced this morning that he is stepping down as managing editor after being passed over for the top job, triggering speculation about who will replace him in the newsroom's No. 2 job. I've got the details here.

In other news . . . Bill Richardson withdraws before we all have a chance to wallow in the scandal? That seems rather unsporting. Why didn't this leak out earlier, before Andrea Mitchell caught wind of it soon before the official announcement?

Instead, it was handled in true No Drama Obama fashion.

Obama's choice for Commerce secretary "withdrew from consideration for that job on Sunday, saying a pending investigation into whether his administration gave lucrative contracts to a political donor would have "forced an untenable delay" in his confirmation," the New York Times says.

The announcement "was a setback for the president-elect, who has assembled his cabinet in near-record time. It raises questions about the thoroughness of Mr. Richardson's vetting, deprives the Obama administration of a prominent Hispanic -- Mr. Obama has, however, named two other Latinos, Representative Hilda L. Solis of California and Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, to cabinet posts -- and leaves a hole in the new White House economics team at a critical juncture."

Jake Tapper: "Sources tell ABC News that officials on the Obama Transition Team feel that before he was formally offered the job of commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was not forthcoming with them about the federal investigation that is looking into whether the governor steered a state contract towards a major financial contributor."

Also: "A source close to Richardson told Politico, 'There are too many unanswered questions and while he thinks the results of the grand jury will turn out in his favor, he doesn't want to distract attention from the administration.' A Senate aide told Politico there had been 'nervousness' within the Senate and more specifically the Senate Commerce Committee about the grand jury probe in recent weeks."