The ultimate reaping of what one sows: right-wing edition  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  Right-wing polemicists today are shrieking in self-pitying protest over a new report from the Department of Homeland Security sent to local police forces which warns of growing “right-wing extremist activity.”

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.

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 …

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.

U.S. Planning to Reveal Data on Health of Top Banks  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is drawing up plans to disclose the conditions of the 19 biggest banks in the country, according to senior administration officials, as it tries to restore confidence in the financial system without unnerving investors.

A Portrait of Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States  —  Unauthorized immigrants living in the United States are more geographically dispersed than in the past and are more likely than either U.S. born residents or legal immigrants to live in a household with a spouse and children.

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.

Pirates attack U.S. cargo ship but fail to board  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Liberty Sun, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship bound for Mombasa, Kenya, was attacked Tuesday by Somali pirates, according to a NATO source with direct knowledge of the matter.  —  The pirates never made it onto the ship.

Obama Team Tells Jewish Leaders: UN Durban Text Crosses “Red Line”  —  In a private conference call with Jewish leaders on Tuesday, the Obama White House reaffirmed that it does not plan to send an official delegation to the United Nations' World Conference on Racism, citing lingering disputes over the language of the draft charter.

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 ...

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.

At the White House, Joking about a Torture Investigation?  —  I was asked to go on Hardball on Tuesday night to discuss the news that Spanish prosecutors are likely to recommend a full investigation be conducted to determine if six former Bush administration officials—including ex-Attorney …

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 …

Bo-bama: First dog has ‘star quality’  —  “He's a star,” President Barack Obama said today of the first family's new dog, Bo.  “He's got star qualities.”  —  The Portuguese water dog officially registered as Amigo's New Hope but known to the Obama family as “Bo” certainly drew a sizeable pack …

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 …

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.

Chalabi charges Bush with conspiring with Iran  —  Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi politician and onetime neo-con heartthrob, has always struck me as smooth as silk but also kind of nutty, especially in his glib assertions of the improbable.  His latest ploy may play better in the Arab world than here in the U.S. …

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.

Taxing Matters  —  Tax Day.  Fox News is flogging Astroturf “tea parties” underwritten by corporate lobbyists, while its pundits warn that raising the top income tax rate to the level it was under Bill Clinton constitutes “socialism.”  The Wall Street Journal editorializes about the evils of the estate tax.

Appeals Court: Marine can't sue Murtha  —  WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Rep. John Murtha cannot be sued for accusing U.S. Marines of murdering Iraqi civilians “in cold blood,” remarks that sparked outrage among conservative commentators.

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.

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?

Begging Hands and Bleeding Hearts Will Only Cry Out for More  —  If you haven't yet read the Congressional Budget Office's scoring of the Obama budget plan, I highly recommend it.  CBO analysts shows several things to be true: 1) for all the talk of transparency and reform …