Federal agency warns of radicals on right  —  9-page report sent to police  —  The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement officials about a rise in “rightwing extremist activity,” saying the economic recession, the election of America's first black president and the return …

Thousands of dolphins block Somali pirates  —  Thousands of dolphins blocked the suspected Somali pirate ships when they were trying to attack Chinese merchant ships passing the Gulf of Aden, the China Radio International reported on Monday.  —  The Chinese merchant ships escorted …

American Tea Party Anthem Singer Lloyd Marcus: “This whole thing is Rush Limbaugh's fault.”  —  From homeless to cause celebre, things are happening fast for the Central Florida singer-songwriter ever since he debuted his now famous “The American Tea Party Anthem” at Orlando's Tea Party three weeks ago.

Even Gillibrand's ballot challenged  —  This just in from Columbia County: when Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's absentee ballot came up in the queue, the poll watchers for Jim Tedisco objected to it, saying the senator was in the county on election day and should have voted in person.

Paterson Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage Bill  —  Gov. David A. Paterson will announce on Thursday plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, according to people with knowledge of the governor's plans.  —  Mr. Paterson's move, which he first signaled last week …

THE GOP'S SILENCE ON MN IS DEAFENING  —  From NBC's Mark Murray  —  While the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released statements last night congratulating Al Franken and ratcheting up the pressure for Norm Coleman to bow out, we haven't heard a peep from national Republicans.

Staged Military Photo Ops Suddenly Awesome  —  Back in 2003, the left was astonished and dismayed that George W. Bush got such a warm Thanksgiving welcome from ...

Burr told family to withdraw everything from bank  —  Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) says when the financial crisis began he encouraged his wife to withdraw all the cash she possibly could from their local bank.  —  During a speech on the economy last night, Burr related his immediate reaction the week the crisis began.

AND A SPECIAL PIRATE ROUND-UP.  —  There's an avalanche of piracy related material today.  Noah Shachtman has a fabulous rundown of what's wrong with several of the major proposed solutions for fighting piracy.  Dave Schuler does pretty much the same bit, and comes to the same conclusions.

Shuster: If you plan on 'tea bagging all around the country, you're going to need a Dick Armey.'  —  On MSNBC's Countdown yesterday, David Shuster — filling in for Keith Olbermann — took Fox News to task for so aggressively promoting the right wing's anti-Obama tea parties.

National Republicans Get Behind Specter  —  National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn released a letter today offering a full-throated endorsement of Sen. Arlen Specter in his coming primary against former congressman Pat Toomey, a decision driven by a concern …

ELIOT SPITZER'S WANDERING EYE ON AG  —  BEHIND Eliot Spitzer's flaccid attempt at re-erecting his public persona is a plan to run for state attorney general in 2010, sources told Page Six.  —  After launching a column on Slate.com, and giving interviews to National Public Radio and the …

Obama Meets Privately With the Dead  —  Musicians Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the band The Dead perform in NYC, March 30, 2009.  (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images )  —  The surviving (and formerly feuding) members of the Grateful Dead had a secret impromptu meeting Monday evening with the man they credit with reuniting them: President Obama.

Democracy and Capitalism  —  I've been thinking a lot lately about the political theory of an independent central bank.  A lot of the libertarians I know have deep issues with the activities of the Fed, which have been largely unaccountable to elected officials.  —  That's a valid critique.

Virginia Republicans are for [Lesbian] Lovers  —  Wow- at the official Republican Party of Virginia Youtube channel- look at what video they loaded as a “favorite” on Youtube.  —  WARNING: DO NOT WATCH VIDEO UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE SOFT CORE PORN SPONSORED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA.

Barbara Bush to Marry in Maine This Summer?  —  While Michelle Obama (and that dude she married) have been enjoying the spotlight during their first few months in the White House, I hear a little stardust is about to sprinkle on the previous family to live there.  —  Summer wedding in Maine, anyone?

The Case of the Missing Month  —  I blogged the Goldman Sachs call this morning, starting at 7 a.m. The newest posts are at the top.  —  7:50 a.m.|  Call Over: The call ended quietly with little additional talk about December.  —  7:45 a.m.|  How Quickly We Forget …

GOP scrambles to show it has ideas  —  House Republican Whip Eric Cantor — the man Democrats dubbed “Dr. No” — is taking great pains these days to prove he has a raft of ideas of his own.  —  Stung by the Democratic barbs, the House's No. 2 Republican is unveiling a “Solutions Center” …

Blagojevich Pleads Not Guilty, With a Flourish  —  CHICAGO — Rod R. Blagojevich, this state's ousted governor who had for months told anyone who would listen that he has done nothing corrupt, finally got to say as much to a judge.  —  On Tuesday, Mr. Blagojevich pleaded not guilty …

Palin's AG Pick Defended KKK Statue, Mocked Offended Student  —  Sarah Palin's choice for attorney general once wrote a column defending the statue of a KKK figure as an expression of free speech and mocked the psychology of a college student who protested the display.