In Defense Of The Tax-Day Tea Parties  —  The of tea-party enthusiasm on the American right has provoked a fairly typical reaction from the organized American left.  It's a fake.  It involves tea bags and (a) Dick Armey.  It's got the consistency of astroturf, not natural grass.

Scenes From the DC Tea Party: More Photos!  —  Here's a supplement to Aaron's great photo spread from this afternoon's rally.  —  Remember: Fox News reported on these rallies.  It didn't promote them!  —  This was a popular theme, along with references to images of President Obama's bow to the King of Saudi Arabia.

CNN's Roesgen grills tea party protestor who calls Obama a “fascist,” says protest “highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network Fox”  —  This whole FARCE is custom made for cable news, not the MSM of network TV.  The MSM cant cover something 24/7 like CNN or FOX can.

Gov. Perry Talks Secession for Texas at Tea Party: “Texas Can Leave Union If It Wants To”  —  All the insane talk coming from the Limbaugh National Convention is spreading into the fabric of the entire GOP.  Listen to Texas Gov. Rick Perry say: … These republicans are talking treason in my mind.

NY-20 Judge: Most Objections Invalid  —  ALBANY—Judge James Brands just ruled that most of the over 1,200 contested absentee ballots in the race to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in Congress were objected to improperly based on discrepancies in their applications.  This means many more ballots will be counted.

Release of the President and Vice President's Tax Returns  —  As another demonstration of the President's commitment to openness and transparency, today the White House issued the following releases making the President and Vice President's tax returns public:  —  For the President:  —  THE WHITE HOUSE

Statement by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on the Threat of Right-Wing Extremism  —  The primary mission of this department is to prevent terrorist attacks on our nation.  The document on right-wing extremism sent last week by this department's Office …

Afghan Women Protest New Restrictive Law  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — 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!”

N.S.A.'s Intercepts Exceed Limits Set by Congress  —  WASHINGTON — The National Security Agency intercepted private e-mail messages and phone calls of Americans in recent months on a scale that went beyond the broad legal limits established by Congress last year, according to government officials.

Dems won't vote on Palin's three names for Senate seat (Updated)  —  State Senate Democrats are refusing to vote on the three names that Gov. Sarah Palin forwarded as appointees for the open Senate seat.  They obtained a legal opinion this morning saying it is illegal for Palin to submit more than one name.

World Agenda: Nicolas Sarkozy puts Barack Obama in the doghouse  —  Why the master of America's new First Mutt is no longer in good odour with President Sarkozy  —  France has been cooing along with everyone else over the arrival of Bo Obama at the White House, but the master of America's …

Overhaul of Florida Voting Rules Is Proposed  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican lawmakers, who control both houses of the Legislature, have proposed sweeping changes to the state's election laws, including new procedures on registering voters, and requiring voters to use a provisional ballot if they move shortly before an election.

Air War College (Montgomery, AL)  —  As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL, Wednesday, April 15, 2009  —  Good morning.  It's a pleasure to be back at Maxwell.  —  As you may know, this week I am visiting each of the service war colleges …