Court declares Franken winner; Coleman to appeal  —  After a trial spanning nearly three months, Norm Coleman's attempt to reverse Al Franken's lead in the recount of the U.S. Senate election was soundly rejected today by a three-judge panel that dismissed the Republican's lawsuit.

Right-wingers who hit ‘President Pantywaist’ have egg on their faces after U.S. forces killed pirates  —  You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player!  —  DOWNLOAD  —  PLAY  —  Before yesterday's remarkable success story on the high seas off the coast of Somalia …

Fox host: 'It's now my great duty to promote the tea parties.  Here we go!'  —  Fox News host Neil Cavuto regularly claims that when he aggressively advocates for the anti-Obama “tea party” protests on air, he is simply covering them as a journalist.  But Stuart Varney, Cavuto's fill-in host …

Phil Spector guilty in Lana Clarkson's death  —  Latest story: Phil Spector convicted of second-degree murder  —  Phil Spector has been convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of actress Lana Clarkson six years ago.  An L.A. Superior Court jury reached its decision …

Loosening Cuba Restrictions, Obama Leaves Door Ajar  —  WASHINGTON — In abandoning longstanding restrictions on the ability of Cuban-Americans to visit and send money to family members on the island, President Obama demonstrated Monday that he was willing to open the door toward greater engagement …

We Farm Out The Krugman-Bashing (And Help Truth Get Its Boots On)  —  Eddy Elfenbein of Crossing Wall Street criticizes Paul Krugman's fixation on Tom DeLay:  —  Paul Krugman writes about Tom DeLay: … These are the kinds of the things Krugman writes that are so frustrating.

Reticent Justice Opens Up to a Group of Students  —  Justice Clarence Thomas has not asked a question from the Supreme Court bench since Feb. 22, 2006.  He speaks only to announce his majority opinions, reading summaries in a gruff monotone.  Glimpses of Justice Thomas in less formal settings are rare.

Palin's New Disaster  —  Blogs and Stories  —  The governor is reeling after nominating for attorney general a man who allegedly defended the right of men to rape their wives.  Now, Max Blumenthal reports, she may dump him to save herself.  —  While priming her political machine …

CNN Poll: Obama not making U.S. less safe  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - A new poll indicates Americans don't agree with former Vice President Dick Cheney's recent assertion that President Barack Obama's actions have increased the chances of a terrorist attack against the United States.

Views of Income Taxes Among Most Positive Since 1956  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A new Gallup Poll finds 48% of Americans saying the amount of federal income taxes they pay is “about right,” with 46% saying “too high” — one of the most positive assessments Gallup has measured since 1956.

PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY AND THE RESCUE OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.  —  After foolishly setting up the hostage situation with Somali pirates as a test of Obama's mettle, the right has been really desperate to convince themselves that President Obama could not possibly have authorized the use of force …

Balls to the mall, y'all...  I get email (click image to...en[large]gorge): … It's almost like they want to be mocked.

Rush & Me, Today  —  I'm not listening.  I have two pressing deadlines.  But I keep getting a lot of email about it.  For instance: Jonah, Apparently Rush is pointing out the absurdity in your praising Obama and not praising those who were directly responsible for the rescue by being absurd.

Ban on Drooping Drawers Faces Legal Challenge  —  RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — As fashion statements go, the young men's “sagging pants” look, with trousers slung low enough to reveal a generous swath of boxer shorts, has some lamentable drawbacks.  —  For one thing, it can veer perilously close …

Sebelius lowballed donations from abortion doctor  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's health secretary nominee got nearly three times as much political money from a controversial abortion doctor as she told senators.

Still Regressing Toward the Mean  —  Barack Obama's “approval index” as measured by Rasmussen Reports (the difference between those who strongly approve and strongly disapprove of his performance) has declined steadily since his inauguration.  There is nothing surprising about this …

OpenSecrets.org Goes OpenData  —  Award-winning website from the Center for Responsive Politics now provides 20 years of downloadable money-in-politics data—for free  —  WASHINGTON — Politicians, prepare yourselves.  Lobbyists, look out.  Today the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics …

The Jackson $5 million?  —  The Sun-Times has learned that 2 members of Chicago's Indian community sent word to Blagojevich's camp that Jesse Jackson Jr. would raise $5 million in exchange for Obama's Senate seat  —  Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's camp was told last year that U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. …

MSNBC Developing a Weekend Politics Show for NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd  —  Get ready for more of the “Goateed Guru.”  —  According to multiple network sources, MSNBC is in the process of developing a weekend political show to be moderated by Chuck Todd …