At Glenn Beck Tea Party: ‘Burn the Books!’  —  At a “Project 912 Glenn Beck Tea Party,” an unnamed speaker rants about “infiltration by the Communist Party” (a John Birch Society talking point), says that digital cable boxes are “brainwashing machines” planted in our homes by the government, and swears to stop paying taxes.

Hostage killed as French storm yacht  —  • Four freed as two Somali pirates are killed in ocean raid  —  • Operation highlights plight of US captain Richard Phillips  —  A French military operation to free a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates backfired yesterday when one of the hostages …

Chinese Bias for Baby Boys Creates a Gap of 32 Million  —  BEIJING — A bias in favor of male offspring has left China with 32 million more boys under the age of 20 than girls, creating “an imminent generation of excess men,” a study released Friday said.  —  For the next 20 years …

Sullivan's Errant Tea Party Shot  —  Given that The Masters is on this week - and on Twitter - which is pretty cool (it's a shame Dean Barnett didn't live to see that, even if I still think he didn't give Tiger Woods the credit he deserves), anyway, there's no reason to give Andrew Sullivan …

Ma Nishtaneh in the White House?  Who's Who at the Obama seder.  Brisket and kugel  —  (White House photo) (See below for ID's)  —  President Obama and his family hosted a seder at the White House on Thursday, the second night of Passover.  Last year Passover fell during the Pennsylvania primary …

Democrat in NY-20 now leads by 35  —  Republican Jim Tedisco has cut Democrat Scott Murphy's lead slightly, to 35, in the special election for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's (D-N.Y.) former House seat, as absentee votes continue to be counted.  —  Murphy took the lead Friday morning after more than 1,400 …

AARP Responds To Progressive Bloggers' Advertising Complaints  —  There's been a recent debate in the blogosphere about who - or more importantly, who's not - advertising on various political blogs.  AARP is a non-partisan organization that strongly supports all reaches of the online community …

Obama may get ASU honor after all  —  Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University, tells POLITICO that the school is reconsidering its widely mocked plans not to give President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement on May 13 and will “honor him in every way possible.”

With a Reunion Planned, Bush Eases Back Into the Public Eye  —  WASHINGTON — Condoleezza Rice will be there.  So will Karen Hughes and Dan Bartlett and Michael Gerson.  And George W. Bush himself.  —  The old gang is getting back together next week in Dallas for a reunion of sorts …

Karen O and the Future of Whiteness  —  Via the Democratic Strategist, I was interested to read Alan Abramowitz's informative article on the demographic shifts undergirding America's political coalitions.  This is a topic also usefully explored by Ruy Teixeira in his recent report on “The New Progressive America”.

Two killed in Michigan college shooting  —  (CNN) — Two people were shot and killed Friday at a community college in Dearborn, Michigan, in what police believe was a murder-suicide, an official said.  —  A man and woman were found dead in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College …

The Housing Crisis Isn't A Crisis  —  Stand back, says Todd Zywicki, and let the markets clear.  —  Law professor Todd Zywicki of George Mason University is composing a book, Bankruptcy Law and Policy in the Twenty-First Century, in which Zywicki picks a couple of fascinating fights.

Steele Laughs Off The Recession: ‘The Malls Are Just As Packed On Saturday’ As They Were Before  —  This morning, GOP chairman Michael Steele guest-hosted Bill Bennett's talk radio show.  During the program, one caller said he could “debate” whether or not the U.S. is currently in the midst of an economic crisis.

From Pennsylvania Ave. to the Lone Star State  —  After 8 Years in White House, Bushes Easily Adapt to a Simpler Life  —  DALLAS — The new couple at 10141 Daria Place accepted an invitation to a neighborhood dinner party last month.  The guest list totaled eight.  The main dish was chicken potpie.