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.

The Bush Six to Be Indicted  —  Blogs and Stories  —  Spanish prosecutors will seek criminal charges against Alberto Gonzales and five high-ranking Bush administration officials for sanctioning torture at Guantánamo.  By Scott Horton.  —  Spanish prosecutors have decided …

U.S. May Drop Key Condition for Talks With Iran  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration and its European allies are preparing proposals that would shift strategy toward Iran by dropping a longstanding American insistence that Tehran rapidly shut down nuclear facilities during the early phases …

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!  —  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 Convicted of Second-Degree Murder  —  Music producer Phil Spector was found guilty Monday of second-degree murder in the February 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.  —  Jurors also found Spector personally used the firearm while committing the crime at his Alhambra mansion.

Bank Vet Pegged to Run Bailout  —  WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is expected to tap Fannie Mae Chief Executive Herb Allison to head the government's $700 billion financial-rescue program, people familiar with the matter say.  —  In choosing Mr. Allison to head the Troubled Asset Relief Program …

How Bush Ruined the Free Market  —  (or Why Your Cousin on Wall Street Can't Bet With Your Money Anymore)  —  Do you realize it took George Bush longer to “win” his war against a small, third world nation once led by a third-rate dictator than it took us the U.S. to defeat the two empires of Germany & Japan in World War II?

Easter With My Conservative Family  —  A reader writes: … It will get much much worse before it gets better.

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

War By Any Other Name  —  Obama's new terminology has started a trend.  —  The Obama administration has come under intense criticism for replacing the term “war on terror” with the emaciated euphemism “overseas contingency operations,” and for referring to individual acts of terror as “man-caused disasters.”

Pakistan warns Kerry not to attach strings to aid  —  Pakistan warned visiting Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) Monday that Washington should not to attach conditions to the $7.5 billion in aid proposed by President Obama as part of his comprehensive Afghanistan strategy.

Illinois snags chunk of fed stimulus work  —  (Crain's) — Illinois is getting a jump on the federal stimulus program, claiming more than 12% of the road and bridge projects approved so far by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  —  At a televised appearance Monday before about 50 DOT employees …

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 …

Take The Right Seriously, Please  —  We're all laughing at the right's nuttiness, especially the teabagging campaign.  They say Obama isn't an American, that he is a communist, that in ten weeks he is responsible for the bush deficit, that he is planning to put everyone in concentration camps …

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.

Bush Aide Perino to Join Firm Led by Clinton Adviser  —  WASHINGTON — Dana Perino, President George W. Bush's last White House press secretary, will join Clinton administration adviser Mark Penn at public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller, where she will be “chief issues counselor.”