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 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 …

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.

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

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 …

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 Palins, The Johnstons, And Republican Class Politics  —  Now it gets more interesting, doesn't it?  In the Judge Judy world Sarah Palin lives in, there is always the risk of turning into Jerry Springer.  And so an already very messy family situation - the two pregnancies, Trig's and Tripp's …

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 …

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.

Is Silicon Valley a Systemic Risk?  —  Treasury decides to treat venture capitalists like hedge funds.  —  The Obama administration wants to regulate venture capital firms to prevent systemic risks.  Silicon Valley residents are scratching their heads and asking: What risks?

Bail out journalism  —  Other democracies pay for accurate reporting, so why shouldn't the U.S.?  —  » Discuss Article This will be my last column for the L.A. Times.  After four years, I'll soon be starting a stint at the Pentagon as an advisor to the undersecretary of Defense for policy.

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 …

‘Kooks,’ Blue-State Republicans, Rick Moran, and the Messaging Problem  —  Hot Air headlined Rick Moran's lengthy examination of the “kook” charges against Glenn Beck, which involves a discussion of the general problem that conservatives face in terms of messaging.  This passage catches my attention:

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 …

Note to Newt: Back Off Harry Knox!  —  Newt, you've really gone beyond the pale this time.  —  Earlier this week, as a guest on Greta Van Susteren's show on the Fox News Channel, my brother referred to Harry Knox as “an anti-religious, left-wing zealot.”  Newt was responding …

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.

Prioritizing Pakistan's Stability  —  Steven Walt questions the proposition that the threat from al-Qaeda justifies “a costly, long-term engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”  The point I strongly agree with here is that it's not a good idea to overrate the importance of “safe havens” …