Anti-Obama Taxpayer Tea Parties steeped in insanity  —  What, exactly, are the protesters protesting?  The marginal tax rate rising 3% for millionaires?  —  The Web is buzzing with information about how to throw an anti-Obama Taxpayer Tea Party, something organizers hope will be held today from Santa Monica to South Carolina.

Protest stops Tancredo's UNC speech  —  CHAPEL HILL — UNC-CH police released pepper spray and threatened to use a Taser on student protesters Tuesday evening when a crowd disrupted a speech by former Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo opposing in-state tuition benefits to unauthorized immigrants.

Afghan Women Protest New Restrictive Law  —  KABUL — The young women stepped off the bus and moved toward the protest march just beginning on the other side of the street when they were spotted by a mob of men.  —  “Get out of here, you whores!” the men shouted.  “Get out!”

Is the GOP Waving Bye-Bye to Sarah Palin?  —  Worse than Dan Quayle before her, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's bright star has fast faded in the eyes of Washington Republican officials and analysts, calling into question her efforts to become a national party figure ready to run for the White House.

Ron Paul's plan to fend off pirates  —  A little-known congressional power could help the federal government keep the Somali pirates in check — and possibly do it for a discount price.  —  Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and a growing number of national security experts are calling on Congress …

In Minnesota, a Battle Without End for a Senate Seat  —  ST. PAUL — Norm Coleman spends his days in the quiet living room of his small house here, thumbing through stacks of legal papers.  His United States Senate staff and offices vanished at the start of the year, as did his salary …

The Panic of 1825  —  If you're not satisfied with Paul Krugman or Nouriel Roubini as your guide to the current turmoil, you can always rely on E.M. Forster.  It was Forster who grasped the essential drawback of the Internet long before anyone else, depicting, in his 1909 story “The Machine Stops” …

IRS workers see double standard on tax errors  —  The Treasury secretary, who oversees the IRS, didn't pay all his taxes.  Neither did five other top nominees for the Obama administration, or their spouses.  —  Now, as Wednesday's tax deadline looms, some Americans are wondering …

Begala: April 15 is patriots' day  —  Editor's note: Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor, was a political consultant for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 and was counselor to Clinton in the White House.  For another view on taxes, read here

SEAL Sniper Details Trickle In  —  For those Buzz readers hungry for detail about the Somali pirates, my buddy Christian over at DefenseTech offers some details about the techniques behind the SEAL sniper shots.  Read on for some info about the firearms used and who probably played in this most satisfying incident at sea.

In the Age of Pirates  —  I've been thinking lately of starting a new school of foreign service to train U.S. diplomats.  My school, though, would be very simple.  It would consist of a single classroom with a desk and a chair.  At the desk would be a teacher, pretending to be a foreign leader.

Analysis: Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by Western Ships off Somali Coast  —  President Obama vowed an international crackdown to halt piracy off the coast of Somalia Monday soon after the freeing of US cargo ship captain Richard Phillips …

U.S. failed to use best radar for N. Korea missile  —  Gates refused area commander's request  —  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates denied permission for the U.S. Northern Command to use the Pentagon's most powerful sea-based radar to monitor North Korea's recent missile launch …

Iran Says It Plans New Nuclear Offer  —  TEHRAN — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said Wednesday that he was preparing a new proposal to resolve disputes with the West over Iran's nuclear program, opening the door to talks with the United States, the official I.R.N.A. news agency reported.