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 …

The White Man's Protest  —  I've been trying to figure out when FOX News actually covered a bona-fide live protest that they didn't condemn or ridicule.  Can you think of one?  How many anti-war protests were held since the Iraq war began in which FOX proclaimed that they would give it wall …

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 …

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 ...

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.

Goldberg tells Hannity, “I'm sorry, Sean ... but we have to stop going out of our way to find fault with every single thing he [Obama] does.”  —  Wow that is about the 4 or 5 time in the last few days that an Fox commentator has voiced support for Pres Obams.  Kirstin Powers , Mara Liasson, Bill O'Reilly, Bob Beckel and now Goldberg.

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 …

As Murphy Goes Up, Republicans Object to Second-Homers, Democrats Allege Ethnic Bias  —  The front lines.  —  HUDSON—Attorneys representing Republican Assemblyman Jim Tedisco are objecting to nearly every absentee ballot mailed to Columbia County from the five boroughs or Florida.

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.

Poll: Obama earns nation's trust  —  Three months into his presidency, Barack Obama stands out as perhaps the most trusted figure in American politics.  —  In a new Public Strategies Inc./POLITICO national survey of 1,000 registered voters, Obama outdistances figures on both the left …

A Sniper's Precision View to A Kill  —  The three quick shots off the fantail of the USS Bainbridge that terminated the piracy incident in the Indian Ocean early Sunday night made a number of points for various pointy-headed political pundits to chew on, cudlike, for a few weeks.

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?

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.

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.

Time for bottles in coal mines  —  President Obama hails the fact that stimulus projects are coming in “ahead of schedule and under budget.”  Yay — but boo.  —  Ahead of schedule is good.  Under budget — well, ordinarily that's a good thing.  But the point of the stimulus is to increase spending!

Gay, Proud and Conservative  —  A new group asks the GOP to return to its Reaganite roots.  —  'There's a stereotype that if you're gay, you're liberal - and if you are a conservative, you're a bigot.  Well, there are people like me who are gay and conservative, and we think it's important that we have a voice.

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” …

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 …