Banned Techniques Yielded ‘High Value Information,’ Memo Says  —  WASHINGTON - President Obama's national intelligence director told colleagues in a private memo last week that the harsh interrogation techniques banned by the White House did produce significant information that helped the nation in its struggle with terrorists.

Prosecutors Considering Dropping Espionage Charges Against Former AIPAC Lobbyists  —  Review Comes Amid Reports That Rep. Harman Was Overheard on Wiretaps Agreeing to Seek Lenient Treatment for Them  —  Federal prosecutors are considering whether to drop the charges against two former pro …

Civil War Raging in Right-Wing Blogosphere  —  Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, jazz musician and Web designer Charles Johnson has devoted his blog, Little Green Footballs, to exposing Muslim extremism in and outside the United States.  His targets have included the Council …

How they lie: a case study  —  Did an Obama judicial nominee really express a preference for Allah over Jesus?  No, not by a long shot  —  From the second I read the sentence, I knew there was something fishy about it.  Many years' experience in reading and then looking into rightwing canards set off …

RFK Jr. Blasts Obama as ‘Indentured Servant’ to Coal Industry  —  Critics Say Clean Coal Is a Boondoggle; ‘Clean Coal Is a Dirty Lie’  —  “Clean coal is a dirty lie,” says environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who calls President Barack Obama and other politicians who commit taxpayer money to develop it …

THIESSEN RATIONALIZES MUSLIM TORTURE... Just 48 hours after President Obama was inaugurated, former Bush chief speechwriter Marc Thiessen said Obama “is already proving to be the most dangerous man ever to occupy the Oval Office.”  With a record like this, it's probably unwise to expect …

Just Out  —  Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse predicted on MSNBC the release of a DOJ report on torture memos is imminent, and the report will be “devastating.”  —  A poll of New York state voters shows that 59% support legalizing gay marriage.  —  Calling out the DOJ for “gross abuse of power,” …

THE POLIITICAL LEFT: UNITED IN HATE WITH AMERICA'S FOES  —  Cliff May reminds us that there is a reason why the political left in this country has made common cause with Militant Islamists: … In the few short months that the dedicated leftist Barack Obama has been in the White House …

Somali pirate's smile turns to tears; could face life  —  Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, right, cries as the judge asks his lawyer, Phillip Weinstein, about Muse's age in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday.  The judge ruled he could be tried as an adult.  —  A Somali sea bandit wept as he was hit …

McCain demands White House apology  —  (CNN) - A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security is downright “insulting” to veterans, Arizona Sen. John McCain said Monday.  —  In an interview on FOX News, the Vietnam veteran and former Republican presidential candidate …

Obama Signs Volunteer Bill With Nod to Kennedy Era  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama on Tuesday became the latest Democratic president to emulate John F. Kennedy's call for national service as he signed legislation to triple the size of the Americorps program and called on Americans to volunteer time to improve their communities.

Matt Drudge Goes Into Hiding  —  Days after Matt Drudge popped up to tell New York magazine about how he doesn't enjoy having sex with men, The New Republic looks into his descent into Howard Hughes-like isolation.  —  As Gabriel Sherman puts it, Drudge fears the media …

Presidents 42 and 43 Team Up for a Chat  —  Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are headed up north for a little friendly back-and-forth.  —  The two will appear at the Metro Toronto Convention Center on May 29, in their first public appearance together since Mr. Bush left office in January.

Banks Reject U.S. Terms for Cutting Chrysler Debt  —  A group of big banks and other lenders rebuffed a Treasury Department request that they slash 85% of Chrysler LLC's secured debt, proposing instead to eliminate about 35% in exchange for a minority stake in the restructured car maker and a seat on its board.

More Miss California: I oppose bailouts and welfare  —  Skip ahead to 2:00.  Dude.  She's one of us.  —  Actually, don't skip ahead.  This clip's even better than the “Today” segment, especially when she talks about what went through her mind when she was asked the question at the pageant.

Democrats Hysterical Over Tea Party Republicans  —  By Mary Kate Cary, Thomas Jefferson Street blog  —  Why is the left so angry?  It's a question posed by columnist Byron York today, and he's got a great point.  With control of House, Senate, and White House, you'd think they'd be sitting on top of the world.

Lieberman: U.S. to accept any Israeli decision  —  The Obama Administration will put forth new peace initiatives only if Israel wants it to, said Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in his first comprehensive interview on foreign policy since taking office.  —  “Believe me, America accepts …

Why Hillary Is President  —  You know those figures that Hillary Clinton strategist Mark Penn used in his WSJ column, the ones that seemed like BS? … Well, they were BS!  Room 8 notes that Penn a) assumed that all bloggers saying they'd like to make money are actually making money.

What Would You Not Do to Stop a Nuke?  —  Assume, arguendo, this hypothetical.  —  It is Inauguration day.  President Obama is about to be sworn is as 44.  Virtually everyone in federal office is there.  Congressmen, Senators, the Supremes, the new cabinet.  Get the picture?