California Struggles to Close a Projected $41 Billion Deficit  —  LOS ANGELES — The state of California — its deficits ballooning, its lawmakers intransigent and its governor apparently free of allies or influence — appears headed off the fiscal rails.  —  Since the fall …

GEORGE WILL EMBRACES PALIN-ISM.  —  There needs to be some sort of Godwin's Law variant for conservatives who try to argue against global warming because they remember that Newsweek dipped into pop-science in the mid-70s and touted “global cooling.”  Call it Will's Law, after George Will …

THE PARTY THAT LOST ITS MIND  —  Have you heard about the marsh mouse?  The little swamp critter that got $30 million of stimulus bill spending thanks to Nancy Pelosi?  Of course you have!  The mouse was highlighted on Drudge and chortled over by Glenn Beck.  One Republican congressman actually dandled a toy mouse in debate.

Justice Dept. to Critique Interrogation Methods Backed by Bush Team  —  The Justice Department's ethics office is in the final stages of a report that sharply criticizes Bush administration lawyers who wrote legal opinions justifying waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods …

Historians rate Lincoln best president, Bush 36th  —  (CNN) — It's been 145 years since Abraham Lincoln appeared on a ballot, but admiration for the man who saved the union and sparked the end of slavery is as strong as ever, according to a new survey.  —  Lincoln finished first in a ranking …

Right & wrong is not about religion  —  At least according to most Americans.  The full report of the Pew Religious Landscape Survey has some data not available on the website.  There is a question of the form: When it comes to questions of right and wrong, which of the following do you look to most for guidance?

G.O.P. Governors Support Obama  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama must wish governors could vote in Congress: While just three of the 219 Republican lawmakers backed the $787 billion economic recovery plan that he is signing into law on Tuesday, that trifling total would have been several times greater …

Sure the Israeli right won?  Peace lost?  Look closer  —  To judge solely from the gloating, the right conclusively won last week's election.  Hawkish politicians were swift to crow triumph.  Hardline analysts and legions of talkbackers have positively glowed in pronouncing the end of the left …

Cheney pushed Bush to grant Libby pardon  —  WASHINGTON - In the waning days of the Bush administration, Vice President Dick Cheney launched a last-ditch campaign to persuade his boss to pardon Lewis (Scooter) Libby - and was furious when President George W. Bush wouldn't budge.

Michelle Obama Causing High Anxiety in High Fashion  —  I have to say, I really love Michelle Obama's personal style.  Don't like it, love it.  She's got a great eye for fashion, she knows what looks good on her, she gracefully mixes high and low pieces to come up with a unique look that suits …

Israel launches covert war against Iran  —  Israel has launched a covert war against Iran as an alternative to direct military strikes against Tehran's nuclear programme, US intelligence sources have revealed.  —  It is using hitmen, sabotage, front companies and double agents to disrupt …

Hotshot greens caught wasting home heat  —  A survey of the homes of top environmentalists has found they leak energy  —  THEY may shout their green credentials from the rooftops, but some of Britain's most prominent environmental champions are living in homes that produce up to half a ton of excess carbon dioxide a year.

Revelations by Senator Are Raising Concerns  —  CHICAGO — Several Democratic lawmakers from Illinois said Monday that they were troubled by revelations about Roland W. Burris, the state's newest senator and a fellow Democrat.  And at least one called for Mr. Burris to come before the state legislature and explain himself.

From the Boston Tea Party to your neighborhood pork protest  —  In Schmucky Schumer's world, these American taxpayers don't exist.  A big crowd of them gathered in Seattle this afternoon to raise their voices in opposition to the trillion-dollar, pork-filled Generational Theft Act of 2009 …

WSJ Op-Ed page plays dumb like it's nobody's business  —  Does any opinion outlet create, and then successfully demolish, more flimsy straw men than the diligent writers at the WSJ?  It's hard to imagine because it's almost if WSJ Op-ed editors require their conservatives opinionists construct lazy, intellectually dishonest arguments.

Pope Benedict to meet Pelosi  —  In a move likely to stoke more controversy about whether Catholic politicians who support abortion rights are in line with the church, Pope Benedict XVI has granted an audience to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  —  The Catholic News Agency confirmed Monday that Pelosi …

A ‘fraud’ bigger than Madoff  —  Senior US soldiers investigated over missing Iraq reconstruction billions  —  In what could turn out to be the greatest fraud in US history, American authorities have started to investigate the alleged role of senior military officers in the misuse of $125bn …