Taliban Chief Claims Responsibility for N.Y. Shooting Massacre  —  A Pakistani Taliban militant leader has claimed responsibility for the attack on a U.S. immigration center in New York state in which 13 people were killed, Reuters reported.  —  “I accept responsibility.  They were my men.

Summers Received Hundreds Of Thousands In Speaking Fees From TARP Recipients  —  Barack Obama's chief economic adviser, Larry Summers, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees last year from firms that have direct financial interests before the government or are intimately involved …

Administration Seeks an Out On Bailout Rules for Firms  —  Officials Worry Constraints Set by Congress Deter Participation  —  The Obama administration is engineering its new bailout initiatives in a way that it believes will allow firms benefiting from the programs to avoid restrictions imposed …

Obama lauds NATO allies for Afghanistan support  —  STRASBOURG, France (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Saturday said he is “pleased that our NATO allies pledged their strong and unanimous support” for the new U.S. strategy toward fighting militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Being a “Public Christian”  —  Reacting to the Iowa gay marriage ruling today, Rod Dreher writes: … I realize its often hard to appreciate how your words will come across to those who don't share your beliefs, but good grief, is it possible to be more oblivious?

Pitchforks and Pistols  —  Lately I've been consuming as much conservative media as possible (interspersed with shots of Pepto-Bismol) to get a better sense of the mind and mood of the right.  My read: They're apocalyptic.  They feel isolated, angry, betrayed and besieged.

Gates Planning Major Changes in Defense Programs, Budget  —  Proposal Said to Move Focus To Counterinsurgency Efforts  —  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is expected to announce on Monday the restructuring of several dozen major defense programs as part of the Obama administration's bid …

Sarah Palin Lashes Out at Levi Johnston for Sex Talk on Tyra  —  Levi Johnston is in big trouble at the Sarah Palin household.  —  After taking about sex on The Tyra Banks Show, Johnston - the 18-year-old father of Bristol Palin's baby - was hit with a blistering response from Bristol's mother, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Conservatives Holding Up Increasing Number Of Key Obama Nominees  —  Conservatives in Congress and in the media are attempting to block or delay a growing number of critical nominees for what amount to ideological witch hunts and self-interested horse-trading.

GOP Rep Blasts Rush As Not “Serious” And An “Entertainer”  —  Uh oh — looks like another Republican may be forced to go on the Limbaugh Death March.  —  In comments that passed unnoticed, Rep Zach Wamp of Tennessee, who's running for Governor, blasted Rush Limbaugh twice on CNN as a mere …