Just 53% Say Capitalism Better Than Socialism  —  Only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 20% disagree and say socialism is better.  Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure which is better.

Bush Aides Challenge Biden's Boasts of Oval Office Slapdowns  —  Aides to former President George W. Bush are challenging the veracity of Vice President Joe Biden's claim this week of having privately castigated Bush.  —  FOXNews.com  —  Aides to former President George W. Bush are challenging …

Lawmaker defends comment on Asians  —  Call for voters to simplify their names not racially motivated, Terrell Republican says  —  AUSTIN — A North Texas legislator during House testimony on voter identification legislation said Asian-descent voters should adopt names that are “easier for Americans to deal with.”

The curious case of 200 nearly identical MSM headlines  —  The following headlines have appeared in newspapers within the last 24 hours.  This is not an inclusive list.  —  • Third of Illinoisans went without health insurance in last 2 years: Sun-Times

Obama to Push Immigration Bill Despite the Risks  —  While acknowledging that the recession makes the political battle more difficult, President Obama plans to begin addressing the country's immigration system this year, including looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal …

Banks Holding Up in Tests, but May Still Need Aid  —  For the last eight weeks, nearly 200 federal examiners have labored inside some of the nation's biggest banks to determine how those institutions would hold up if the recession deepened.  —  What they are discovering may come as a relief …

Fact and Fiction on Gay Marriage Polling  —  In contrast with The Weekly Standard's Michael Goldfarb, with whom I have have a relatively honest disagreement (see yesterday's post here and Michael's response here), the National Review just doesn't appear to have its facts straight about gay marriage.

Eugene Robinson: George Will “Crossed the Line”  —  The pushback on George Will continues as Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson slams Washington Post columnist George Will.  Robinson also becomes the first Postie to note the role played by Will's editors in helping him attempt to deceive the Post's readers.

The Elephant in the Room: Obama vs. United States  —  The president is contemptuous of American values.  And one key nominee prefers the judgment of other countries and global elites.  —  Watching President Obama apologize last week for America's arrogance - before a French audience that owes …

House rejects Gov. Kaine's unemployment benefits amendments  —  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's Republican-run House of Delegates rejected a proposed expansion of unemployment benefits Wednesday, along with $125 million in federal stimulus cash to pay for it.

With ‘Annapolis,’ a Warning to Israel  —  WASHINGTON—Watchers of Middle East politics were quick to take note of a line in President Obama's address before the Turkish Parliament on Monday in Ankara, in which he mentioned “Annapolis.”  —  By bringing up the word, Mr. Obama was sending …

Chicago ‘Tea Party’ Rejects Michael Steele  —  While the organizers of the Washington, D.C. anti-spending “Tea Party” have given a speaking slot to Alan Keyes, that other failed African-American Republican Senate candidate from Maryland, Michael Steele, has been dissed by the crew behind the Chicago Tea Party.

Obama Risks Liberal Backlash on War Funding  —  WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to request new funding from Congress for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he risks a backlash from antiwar lawmakers.  —  Mr. Obama is expected to seek congressional approval of $75.5 billion for the wars, perhaps as soon as Thursday.

Men's Underwear Sales, Greenspan's Economic Metric, Reveal Crisis  —  As chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan was known for using quirky, proletariat metrics to judge the temperature of the economy.  The most famous of these, as recounted by NPR's Robert Krulwich in January 2008, were the sales of men's underwear.

Top 3 Conservatives Who Deserve a Biopic  —  One of the most controversial Hollywood films last year was “Milk”.  It was praised by liberals and gay-rights supporters — and simultaneously labeled leftist propaganda by many conservatives.  —  Personally, I am opposed to the brand …

Arne Duncan and a New Pornographer  —  Spotted: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan introducing flame-haired indie goddess Neko Case at the 9:30 Club last night.  But ... why?  Is the Cabinet member a devoted Neko fan, or is she a big supporter of education reform?

Sole Minnesota Senator Has Problems Built for 2  —  As the fight over a United States Senate seat from Minnesota seems certain to drag into a sixth month, forgotten in all the fussing is the senator left behind.  —  Amy Klobuchar, the “other” senator from Minnesota, the one whose election was not contested …

Navy Tracking Pirates and Their U.S. Hostage  —  WASHINGTON — A U.S. Navy destroyer kept close watch Thursday on a lifeboat holding four Somali pirates and their hostage — an American ship captain — one day after the pirates briefly seized a United States-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Africa.

A.P. Exec Doesn't Know It Has A YouTube Channel: Threatens Affiliate For Embedding Videos  —  Here is another great moment in A.P. history.  In its quest to become the RIAA of the newspaper industry, the A.P.'s executives and lawyers are beginning to match their counterparts in the music industry for cluelessness.

Israel Cries Wolf  —  ISTANBUL — “Iran is the center of terrorism, fundamentalism and subversion and is in my view more dangerous than Nazism, because Hitler did not possess a nuclear bomb, whereas the Iranians are trying to perfect a nuclear option.”  —  Benjamin Netanyahu 2009?  Try again.