Top of the News: Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke's confirmation hearing today before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation was a bit of a snoozer, unless you were the most devoted of policy geeks. A good thing, too. Locke is going for a position that has been snake-bit for President Obama, with his two previous choices, Bill Richardson and Judd Gregg, pulling out. And how do you compete with the other show in the building: The grilling of the AIG chief executive?

The hearing did showcase the range of Commerce's responsibilities, from the Census and Internet security, to healthy oceans and, of course, trade. Locke was soothing about being a "fair trader" while also being for "free trade." Hmmmmmm. Can you have it both ways in a world with rising nations gaming the system to be export powerhouses, and American living standards struggling against the pull of workers in developing nations who will work for a few dollars a day?

The trade picture darkened, with a new World Bank report cutting China's growth forecast to 6.5 percent this year vs. the Chinese projection of 8 percent. That difference can be substantial in a nation whose growth is essential to the world economy -- including traffic at Washington ports and business for Washington companies -- and its own internal stability. Inflows of private capital have also slowed sharply into Asia as banks have cut lending, investors have de-leveraged and become more risk averse.